ODFW Articles
Need to figure out controlled hunts, find a place to clam, learn how to fish or get directions to a wildlife area? We've got information on all that and more, straight from ODFW biologists and other accomplished hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers.
Header image by Dave Budeau
Where to fish
Lane County offers so much to explore — from coastal lakes and rivers to mountain lakes and streams. The Willamette...
wildlife viewing
In late September, deer and elk begin their annual migration to wintering grounds, and often have to cross roads and...
How to fish
More fish are probably lost because of improperly tied knots than any other single reason. Yet anglers who spend hours...
The Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery Program, funded by the Bonneville Power Administration and administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, pays anglers...
How to fish
DIY and harvest your own
Mud and ghost shrimp are popular baits for salmon, sturgeon and other marine fish. Learn how simple it is to...
How to fish
In some Oregon state waters catch-and-release fishing is required in order to protect valuable fish resources. One way anglers can...
How to fish
Successful steelhead fishing is more about developing a good strategy for finding fish than about fussing over gear, techniques and...
How to fish
Not all of Oregon’s high elevation lakes support fish populations. To help create fisheries in some of these off-road areas...
How-to and where-to tips for beginners
Where to fish
Salmon, steelhead and smallmouth bass offer world-class fishing here year-round. Rainbow trout are stocked in the upper Rogue and in...
How to fish
Summer is a great time to be on the Pacific chasing ocean salmon. Whether you captain your own ship
or...
Where to fish
Wide open spaces, wild windy places, and extreme temperatures characterize Oregon’s largest, most remote fishing zone. Scarcity makes water especially...
Where to fish
The north Willamette area includes the Columbia River from Bonneville downstream to St. Helens and the lower Willamette Basin north...
How to fish
Water conditions, gear and flexibility all matter
Some anglers think coho are more aggressive and easier to catch while they’re still in the open waters of the...
Where to fish
The central area follows the Deschutes River Basin along the eastern slope of the Cascades, and includes the middle reaches...
Where to fish
The southeast area covers the high desert country of Harney and Malheur counties and is the most arid region of...
How to fish
Where-to and how-to fish in Oregon
Fishing isn’t hard, but it can be confusing to know how to begin. Here’s the information you’ll need to get...
How to fish
Warm water temps take a toll on fish
During summer drought and high temperatures, fish start feeling the heat. Give them a break by following these warm weather...
How to fish
It's important to be able to distinguish between the most commonly encountered rockfish. Knowing what you've caught, and how many...
How to fish
With just a couple of tools and a few minutes, The Fish Grip™, originally designed as a safer way for...
Where to fish
Let’s go fishing! not enough time? Think again. If you live in the Roseburg area, there are a number of...
How to fish
The Buoy 10 fishery, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific, offers anglers a chance to catch Chinook and coho...
How to fish
Begun in 2014, the Tag Team Program helps ODFW fish biologists better understand the effectiveness of stocking efforts.
It’s also a...
Impacts on fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing
As much of Oregon continues to experience years of on-going drought, hunters, anglers and wildlife viewers can expect the continued...