Recreation Report

ODFW Weekly Recreation Report

Includes updates to fishing, hunting, crabbing, clamming and wildlife viewing.

August 27, 2026

Deer and elk archery seasons begin Saturday, Aug. 29! Some A&H access areas are reopening to public access just in time for the hunt.

Best bets for weekend fishing:

• Fall salmon seasons on coastal rivers are underway and there is more opportunity to catch wild Chinook and continued opportunity for wild coho this year.
• Rockfish are picking up with a good average catch rate.
• Buoy 10 offers both boat and bank fishing opportunities from August through September.
• Beat the crowds and go fishing for sea-run cutthroat in coastal streams, bays and tidewaters.
• Fish for trout or change up to warmwater game species. See specific zone reports for best bets.

Northwest:

• Trout season is open for Northwest Zone streams. See the regulation booklet for limits, open areas, and bait restrictions. Cutthroat trout are present in most areas open to angling and provide a good fishery in the rivers and streams that will continue to improve from now through the end of the season (October 31).
• Nehalem Bay has "summer" Chinook coming in. These fish are early fall Chinook that start returning to the bay and river in late July and August. Fishing has been fair to good the past couple weeks with multiple fish being caught daily. The Bag limit is one wild adult Chinook per day and five for the season (July 1 to Nov 30) as part of the overall daily bag limit.
• Summer steelhead fishing on the Nestucca and Wilson Rivers has slowed the last couple weeks, but fish are dispersed throughout the fisheries and a few are still being caught. The rivers are low and clear so target first light and use stealth tactics to increase odds of success.
• Trout stocking in the lakes was completed for the spring with some hold over trout in most North Coast lakes. As summer temperatures rise, look to higher elevation lakes that stay cooler for the best chances of success. Lost lake, South Lake, Hebo Lake, Lake Tahoe, and Town Lake are all good options for summer trout fishing.
• Warm water fisheries for bass and sunfish are active and provide some good opportunity for weekend fishing. Cape Meares Lake, Coffenbury Lake, Cullaby Lake, and Vernonia pond all have decent populations of warm water species available to catch. Lake Lytle has a good largemouth bass population, but it is very weedy. The bass populations in Cape Meares and Coffenbury are healthy with decent numbers and size of fish.
• Summer steelhead are still on the move in the Siletz River, but fishing has slowed down. Multiple batches of summer steelhead were recycled to the lower river for additional angler opportunity in May and June. Recycled steelhead have a colored tag at the base of the dorsal fin. Anglers are asked to please report tagged steelhead caught in the Siletz River to caleb.w.yann@odfw.oregon.gov with the date, tag color, and general location where fish were caught to monitor recapture and harvest rates in the basin. Additional summer steelhead were recycled to Olalla Reservoir to provide angler opportunities.
• Trout angling is open in many Mid Coast streams. Sea-run and resident cutthroat can be found in many streams currently open to angling. Anglers are reminded to be aware of daily bag limits, bait restrictions and additional angling closures.
• Warmwater fisheries can be a great option this time of year. Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes can be great places to target largemouth bass, yellow perch, and bluegill. Largemouth bass are doing well at both locations.
• Many Mid Coast lakes received trout stockings this spring: Big Creek Reservoir 1 and 2, Cleawox Lake, Devil's Lake, Thissell Pond, Woahink Lake, Carter Lake, Mercer Lake, Dune Lake, Alder Lake, Buck Lake, Sutton Lake, Olalla Reservoir, Siltcoos Lake, and Perkins Lake. Trout stocking has concluded for the summer and will be reassessed in the fall.
• Siletz River HWY 229 remains closed at milepost 14 indefinitely due to a large land slide covering the road.

Southwest:

• Some of the more popular spots to fish for red-tailed surfperch are along beaches like Horsefall Beach and Whiskey Run. Anglers have the best success fishing with sand shrimp weighted gear on the bottom although power grubs can also work.
• Try warmwater fishing for bass at Ben Irving, Howard Prairie and Hyatt Reservoirs.
• Cooper Creek Reservoir looks nice and clear. Go earlier in the morning or fish deeper for success.
• This is a good time of year to look for cutthroat in the Chetco River estuary. The estuary has very little bank access. Please be mindful of out-migrating salmon and steelhead smolt. If you catch these young salmonids, consider switching to barbless hooks and/or moving to a new location.
• Hemlock and Lake of the Woods are accessible, and people are catching good numbers of trout.

Willamette:

• Detroit Reservoir reports indicate an uptick in kokanee activity in recent weeks.
• Fern Ridge Reservoir warmwater fishing can still be good late in the evening or early in the morning. Look for crappie along the weedy edges on the south side of the reservoir.
• Two-rod validation has been extended through Dec. 31 upstream of Willamette Falls.
• ODFW stocked Blue Lake, St. Louis Ponds, Adair Pond, and Bond Butte Pond in July with channel catfish. These fish, sourced from an approved facility, averaged approximately one pound each and are expected to provide excellent summertime fishing opportunities in these valley ponds.
• Try warmwater fishing for smallmouth bass and yellow perch near underwater structures and drop-offs in Foster Reservoir.

Columbia River:

• Columbia River fall salmon seasons continue, remember regulations can change throughout the season so always check the regulation updates page for details.
• Walleye fishing was good in The Dalles and John Day Pools last week. See the fishing regulation update page for summer fishing opportunities.

Central:

• Anglers can still fish for trout throughout the lower Deschutes. Using a large stonefly nymph or a double nymph setup with an indicator typically does well during the summer months.
• Water clarity and overall conditions at Kingsley Reservoir are great for fishing, should still be good opportunity for trout this summer.
• As the reservoir storage level recedes, anglers report productive brown trout fishing at Wickiup Reservoir.
• Anglers report excellent fishing for recently stocked and holdover trout at Three Creek Lake.
• Anglers report smaller than average 12-16 in but abundant rainbow trout and 15-in kokanee and good fishing at Crane Prairie Reservoir.
• Anglers report good trout fishing and excellent kokanee fishing at Paulina Lake. Kokanee at Paulina Lake is amongst the largest in Central Oregon this year averaging 13-14 inches.
• Positive reports keep rolling in from East Lake with large numbers of rainbow trout in the 16-18-inch range, trophy brown trout over 24-inches, and kokanee 13-15-inches.
• Fall River was recently stocked, and anglers report good nymphing opportunities near the hatchery and the headwaters.

Northeast:

• Fishing for trout will be best near shore especially on the South end of the lake near the inlet of the Wallowa River.
• Try Willow Creek Reservoir for trout, bass, and crappie.
• Penland Lake is producing limits of rainbow trout.
• Try warmwater fishing for bass in the lower Grand Ronde.

Snake:

• Bass and trout can be caught downstream of Hells Canyon Dam.
• Fall Chinook salmon reopened on August 18 on Snake River downstream of Hells Canyon Dam, harvest limits have been adjusted due to low return numbers. See the regulation updates page for more information.

Southeast:

• Catch and Release for Redband Rainbow Trout with no bait is now required through October 31 on all of Upper Klamath Lake including but not limited to Pelican Bay, Crystal Creek, Recreation Creek, Harriman Creek, Odessa Creek, Short Creek, Fourmile Creek, Thomason Creek, Fourmile Canal, Barkley Springs Channel below highway 97 and mouth of Williamson River.
• Yellow perch angling should be excellent in the Williamson River, Sevenmile at mouth, Crystal Creek, Pelican Bay and Fourmile Canal.
• Willow Valley Reservoir is good for largemouth bass, yellow perch and some large crappies.
• The Wood River below Weed Road is fishing well for Brown Trout.
• Crappie fishing in Owhyee Reservoir has been good.
• Perch fishing at Dog Lake continues to be good.

Marine:

• There have been some changes to ocean salmon regulations so be sure to check for updates. See the ocean salmon regulations in either a time and area graphic view or as a map.
• All ports are seeing soft, recently molted, male crab. While these are legal to keep, it is worth noting that they will not be as full of meat or the meat may not be as high quality.
• Take part in a scavenger hunt for science! Explore the tidepools and submit your photos for science (and prizes)! Participate in the Oregon Marine Reserve Partnership's BioBlitz across Oregon's five marine reserves, marine protected areas, and nearby intertidal areas throughout August. No scientific experience is required, just curiosity and a willingness to explore.

Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities.

Angler Education:

Follow these catch-and-release techniques that will reduce fish stress and increase survival: 

• Land fish promptly to prevent over exhaustion and avoid beaching to minimize the time they spend out of the water. Rubberized nets prevent snagging and reduce injury.
• Keep fish in the water while removing hooks and wet your hands before handling fish to protect their slime layer.
• Barbless hooks and pliers or a hook remover tool make release quicker and less harmful.
• Gently support fish in the water until they swim away on their own.
• Avoid fishing during periods of high-water temperatures or poor water quality when fish are already stressed.

Hunter Education: 

Hunter safety conventional courses and field days are available--seats are filling up fast!

Don't miss out, youth upland game bird hunts still available!

Are you planning to hunt in another state this year? Request your Replacement Hunter Safety Card.