Recreation Report

Highlights from this week’s Recreation Report:

Get your gobble on

Spring turkey hunting is open throughout the state and the early birds are harvesting birds. So unearth the camo-wear, practice your calling and check out the 2018 Spring Turkey Hunting Forecast to get the latest updates on local conditions.

Best bets for fishing

Spring can offer some of the best fishing of the year, with almost unlimited possibilities. Check out some of the seasonal opportunities on the MyODFW webpage. In the meantime, here are some highlights from this week’s Recreation Report.

• Dozens of waterbodies throughout the state have been stocked with thousands of trout. And it will only get better.
• If rivers and streams float your boat, the warming spring temperatures, and increased insect hatches are putting trout on the bite.
• It’s not too late to get your spring Chinook. In fact, several fisheries are just heating up. Check out the Columbia above Bonneville Dam and the lower Rogue. Or, be the first to report catching a springer in the Nestucca or Tillamook bays.
• It’s getting warm enough for warmwater fish. There’s largemouth bass in Lost River, crappie in Gerber and Campbell reservoirs, and the elusive striped bass in the Smith River.
• Anglers have reported catching rockfish and lingcod inside the Umpqua jetty and in Coos Bay near the north jetty and other submerged rock structures. 

It’s bear hunting season

The Oregon spring bear season is underway and it’s time to start planning your hunt. The 2018 Spring Bear Forecast can help with an update on local conditions. And don’t forget to check your harvested bear in at an ODFW office after your hunt.

Take the family fishing

ODFW sponsors over 30 free Family Fishing Events throughout the state during spring, early summer and fall. At these events, ODFW staff and volunteers will be there to show you how to bait a hook, cast a rod, and land a fish. We’ll even have rods, reels and tackle for you to borrow for the day. You’ll find a description of all the upcoming events on the MyODFW.com Workshop & Events page.

More information about the Recreation Report

What is the Recreation Report?

It’s a weekly compilation of updates from dozens of fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state organized by activity and by area or zone to make it easy to find the exact updates you’re looking for.

How to Use the Recreation Report

• First, pick an activity report from the choices above – fishing, big game hunting, crabbing and clamming, game bird hunting, wildlife viewing – then on the next page select the zone or area where you’d like to go.
• For example, want to know how the fishing has been on the Crooked River near Prineville? Select the Fishing Report, then pick the Central Zone, and finally find the Crooked River update in the alphabetical list of waterbodies.
• Or, you’re wondering about the pheasant hunting near Biggs. Select the Game Bird Hunting Report tab above, then select the Columbia Area and look for pheasant hunting.
• Finally, just want to know where the best opportunities are right now for fishing, hunting or viewing? Select an activity report and scan the area or zone updates to see what opportunities appeal to you.

Header photo by Kathy Munsel