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
See the Oregon records for both coldwater and warmwater game fish. And, find the forms to submit if you think you've...
Where to fish
Includes lakes in the Umpqua National Forest and the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness.
How to fish
Wipers, a cross between striped and white bass, reach prodigious proportions in the productive waters of Ana Reservoir. Their size...
Buying a license or permit
Hunting and fishing licenses are generally valid for the calendar year. The exceptions are game bird hunting permits and validations...
How to fish
Two commonly caught species of salmon are coho and Chinook. Fishing regulations require anglers to correctly identify salmon species as restrictions...
How to fish
Rockfish must be released when retention is prohibited or when an angler has reached the daily bag limit, but continues...
Where to fish
Let's go fishing! Not enough time? Think again. If you live in the greater Portland area, there are a number of places...
How to hunt big game
Whether using e-tagging or paper tags
The ODFW electronic licensing system makes it easy to tag your salmon, steelhead and halibut, as well as your deer...
Where to fish
We've asked our fish biologists throughout the state to pick their favorite family fishing locations. These spots are great for...
Where to fish
Not enough time to go fishing? Think again—if you live in the Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Sisters or LaPine areas there...
Buying a license or permit
Buy licenses/tags online and print them immediately from any printer—or choose electronic tagging to carry your documents and tag fish...
Where to fish
Many of the more popular fishing locations across the state are accessible to anglers with disabilities. ODFW tries to keep...
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
If you’re just getting started fishing, or you want to try a new kind of fishing, you’ll need a rod...
How to fish
Crappie are scrappy, hard-fighting fish, and with a two-rod validation you can double the excitement of reeling in these delicious...
How-to and where-to tips for beginners
How to fish
Steelhead have been called the ultimate game fish. These elusive and challenging fish can test an angler’s patience and persistence...
How to fish
Ice fishing is becoming increasingly popular in Oregon as anglers look for new ways to enjoy fishing year-round. Here are some...
How to fish
As temperatures heat up during spring and summer, be on the watch for harmful algae blooms when recreating in Oregon...
Where to fish
A dozen great rivers pour out of the Coast Range Mountains into tidal bays that welcome runs of salmon and...
How to fish
You can purchase an Oregon fishing license online or at an ODFW license vendor. Here are step-by-step directions for purchasing...
How to fish
Use your favorite gear, target sea-runs in late summer, and more
Wide distribution, an aggressive nature and willingness to take bait, flies or lures, makes cutthroat trout a popular target in western...
Where to fish
Known for its high desert climate, sage-covered canyons, glacial peaks and mountain lakes, this zone is defined by the reach...
Most of the wildlife in Oregon evolved with wildfire. And even though fires are intensifying, they are nothing new to...