Recreation Report

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

April 2, 2026

Spring bear controlled hunt season opened April 1: View tips for your hunt area in the 2026 spring bear forecast online and don't forget to check in your harvest if successful.

Gobble up the insider tips before spring turkey hunting season opens April 15! 2026 spring turkey forecast now available online.

It's not too late to register for an ODFW education Youth Turkey Hunting Clinic or one of the Spring Turkey Hunting Workshops. Sign up now to bag a bird this spring!

Mandatory Report Reminders: 

• Late season 2025 big game tags by April 15. Submit report.
• Trappers submit Furtaker Harvest Report by April 15.

Some wildlife areas remain closed to the public or closed to vehicles until April 15. Check Wildlife viewing on the weekly recreation report.

Reminder that a Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation is required for all winter steelhead anglers fishing in the Rogue Basin or on the South Coast from Dec. 1-April 30. A wild steelhead harvest tag is required to keep wild winter steelhead in this area.

Best bets for weekend fishing:

• As a general reminder for Anglers: Maximize distance from bank anglers and other boats. Safely row or motor around anglers and other boats and avoid motoring nearshore and in shallow areas!
• Trout stocking trucks are transporting fun and excitement to a lake, pond, or reservoir near you. Plan your next fishing adventure with family and friends.
• Grab a shovel, rake, and your shellfish license. Butter, cockle and gaper clams are ready and waiting.

Northwest:

Many small streams, upper river reaches, and tributaries closed to steelhead angling on April 1, check the sport fishing regulations for the waterbody you plan to fish before heading out in April.

• Steelhead fishing on the North Coast is fair but slow. The rivers will remain low this week which may make angling conditions more challenging but there are steelhead throughout the fisheries. The Nestucca, Wilson, and North Fork Nehalem will be the best choices for finding hatchery fish while other basins (including the Little Nestucca, Trask, Kilchis, and Nehalem) all have catch and release opportunities for wild steelhead. It's trout time!
• Most North Coast lakes received the first stocking of hatchery rainbow trout in mid-March and Coffenbury Lake, Lost Lake, and Vernonia pond are getting another stocking this week. Water conditions are good in the lakes, and the trout will be hungry and ready to bite. See the stocking schedule link below for specific areas being stocked. (South Lake in Tillamook County was not stocked in March due to numerous downed trees on the access road. It will be stocked with a double load the week of April 13.)
• Coffenbury Lake, Vernonia Pond, Lost Lake, and Sunset Lake have all been stocked with surplus hatchery winter steelhead to provide additional angler opportunity. Catching a steelhead in still water can be a fun and unique experience and offers a chance for steelhead when the conditions on the rivers aren't good.
• Winter steelhead fishing on the Mid Coast has slowed due to low water conditions. Expected rain this week should get some fish moving for the weekend. Best bets for targeting steelhead are the Siletz and Alsea. After the rain from the past few weeks, lots of fish have pushed in and up into our systems. Double check the regulations before heading out and be aware of seasonal angling closures - some streams will be closed beginning April 1!
• Siletz River HWY 229 is closed at approximately milepost 14 due to a large land slide covering the road. It will be closed for an undetermined amount of time.

Southwest:

• Applegate, Chetco, Rogue and Umpqua South rivers may show an increase in winter steelhead activity with the recent rains.
• Trout stocking has opened opportunities for early success in local lakes and ponds!

Columbia River:

• See the zone report for latest on spring Chinook season.

Willamette:

• Check the Family Fishing event schedule and plan your next outdoor adventure this spring.
• Dust off your gear for the season on one of the local ponds, trout fishing is fun for everyone.

Central:

• Shevlin Park youth and disabled fishing pond is stocked with trout!
• Broodstock rainbow trout were stocked into Haystack Reservoir, Ochoco Reservoir, Pine Nursery Pond, North and South Twin Lakes. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to catch trophy trout from Wizard Falls Hatchery, many in the 4-8 lbs. range. Only one fish over 20 inches long can be harvested each day to give everyone a chance to catch one.
• Anglers continue to report excellent kokanee and bull trout fishing at Lake Billy Chinook. The Metolius Arm is fishing well with bull trout up to 31" being caught.
• The Crooked and Metolius Rivers continue to provide excellent early spring angling opportunities.
• Anglers report excellent nymphing opportunities on Fall River.
• Low snowpack is allowing early access to locations that are typically inaccessible in spring including North Twin and South Twin Lakes, Davis Lake, Crescent Lake, as well as Sprague and Century Gravel Ponds.

Northeast:

• Steelhead can be caught throughout the Wallowa and Imnaha Rivers.
• Kokanee fishing has been good on Wallowa Lake.
• Perch fishing has been good at Phillips Reservoir with some large fish caught.
• Steelhead fishing is good on the Umatilla River.
• Trout can still be found on Willow Creek Reservoir.

Snake:

• Steelhead and trout fishing is good downstream of Hells Canyon Dam.
• Trout fishing will be best throughout the winter in the Hells Canyon Reservoirs.

Southeast:

• Lake of the Woods was stocked with trophy and legal rainbow trout making for a popular fishing location.
• Try taking the kids to fish the Running Y Pond this week for hatchery rainbow trout, pumpkinseed and largemouth bass.
• Best fishing for wild, native trout in the Klamath Basin will be the Klamath River.
• The Upper Williamson River above Kirk Road Bridge is now open year-round. Access remains available.
• Nice holdover trout in the Malheur River below Warmsprings right now.
• Crappie fishing in Owhyee Reservoir has been good.
• Bank fishing for rainbow trout has been good at Ana Reservoir.
• The Cascade Ramp at Hyatt is open. This year at Howard Prairie, the Grizzly, Willow Point and Klum Landing ramps will be available for the first time in many years. Biologists expect a temporary boost in productivity at Howard and Hyatt as large stretches of inundation zone are rewatered and producing aquatic food items again. Trout should be fat and happy!

Marine

• Garibaldi: Anglers landed just over 3 rockfish on average, mostly black and yellowtail rockfishes. Lingcod landings were good at 2 fish per person.
• Depoe Bay: Anglers landed just over 2.5 rockfish, with a mix of black, deacon, canary, and yellowtail rockfishes. Lingcod catches were decent with 1.25 fish per angler.
• Newport: Anglers landed around 3.5 rockfish on average. Lingcod was decent with over 1 fish per angler.
• Charleston: Anglers landed an average of 2 rockfish. Lingcod was good with around 2 fish per angler.
• Brookings: Anglers caught 2.5 rockfish on average. Lingcod was slower with just over 0.5 fish per angler.

Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities.

Hunter Education: Hunter safety conventional courses and field days are available now--Sign up now and get ahead of the game for the 2026 season!

Learn to Hunt: There's still time to gobble up some new skills this spring--Register now for Spring Turkey Hunting Workshops.

Angler Education: Fly-Fishing Workshop is open for registration, learn the basics to hook your next big fish!