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
How to fish
There are several ways to begin your fishing journey – you can join a friend or family member on their...
Where to fish
Each year ODFW stocks millions of trout in dozens of reservoirs, lakes and ponds across the state.
Finding these locations...
How to fish
A quick guide to cleaning and storing the fish you catch.
How to fish
Fishing Oregon’s high elevation lakes is not just for dedicated anglers. It also appeals to hikers and backpackers who head...
How to fish
Surf fishing is one of Oregon’s most underutilized fisheries. There are hundreds of places to fish along Oregon’s sandy beaches...
Buying a license or permit
Or redeem your Sports Pac voucher
Find directions purchasing a tag online or from a license vendor, for redeeming your Sports Pac voucher, and purchasing a...
Where to fish
Abundant rainfall feeds the massive Willamette River watershed, tamed by a system of reservoirs stocked annually with hundreds of thousands...
How to fish
Can lead to fast fishing for hot fish
Albacore tuna fishing can offer nonstop action landing fast-moving, hard-fighting fish. Charter trips make tuna fishing accessible to all anglers...
how to buy a license or permit
Some of ODFW's smaller field offices are not staffed to sell licenses to the public. However, staff at our larger...
Where to fish
The granite peaks of Oregon’s Blue and Wallowa Mountains form the backdrop for many of this zone’s glacier-carved lakes and...
how to hunt
Late summer and early fall is wildfire season in Oregon and access to the placed you like to hunt, fish or...
Where to fish
The south Willamette area covers the upper Willamette Basin south of Salem and includes the communities of Albany, Corvallis, Eugene...
Where to fish
The John Day – Umatilla area includes the John Day River and Umatilla River basins, and Oregon’s upper reaches of...
How to fish
Opportunities from beach, pier and jetty
With some simple, inexpensive gear and a little knowledge, anglers of all ages can enjoy a day of marine fishing.
Where to fish
The southwest area follows Interstate 5 from Drain south to the Oregon-California border and includes the communities of Grants Pass...
How to fish
Find links to the current fishing and hunting regulations, as well as in-season regulation updates.
How to fish
Two commonly caught species of salmon are coho and Chinook. Fishing regulations require anglers to correctly identify salmon species as restrictions...
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...
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
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
We've asked our fish biologists throughout the state to pick their favorite family fishing locations. These spots are great for...
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...