Recreation Report

Hunting, fishing and wildfire danger

Get the latest updates on access, closures, impacts

With the extreme season in Oregon, hunters and anglers should check ahead about possible closures, restrictions and cancellations. We are updating access conditions as we can in the Recreation Report. However, conditions can change quickly, and in between updates.

To help you find the latest information regarding public access, closures and other wildfire-related issues, we’ve created this webpage on MyODFW.com. Here you’ll find the latest ODFW closures and cancellations, as well as links to land management agencies and their current notices.

Youth pheasant hunts this weekend

At White River, Irrigon, Coquille and EE Wilson wildlife areas

These youth-only hunts are a great opportunity for new hunters to experience bird hunting for the first time and for more experienced youth to get ready for upcoming hunting season. Learn more and register.

Best bets for weekend fishing

What a difference a bit of rain and cooler temperatures can make. Anglers can expect salmon, trout and late-season steelhead fishing to start picking up as we head into fall.

• Fall Chinook fishing on the north coast has been good in the bays, and recent rains will start moving fish into the rivers.
• Coho have arrived at the Sandy and Clackamas rivers and Eagle Creek.
• Chinook fishing has been good on the Umpqua and Rogue, as well.
• Nestucca and Wilson rivers have hatchery summer steelhead throughout the system and this week’s rains could revitalize these fisheries. These fish won’t spawn until December or January and should still be in good shape.
• With cooling temperatures, trout will be getting more active. Lake Selmac, Foster Reservoir, Antelope Flat Reservoir, Delintment Lake and Lake of the Woods are all accessible and should have good fishing.

Halibut anglers get two more days in Columbia Subarea

Two more days – Sept. 28-29 – have been Columbia River Subarea all-depth halibut fishery.

Clamming, and some crabbing, remains closed to nonresidents

Clamming and mussel harvest remain closed to nonresidents along the entire Oregon coast. Crabbing is open to nonresidents from Cape Falcon (between Seaside and Tillamook) south to the CA border.