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Recreation Report

Fishing Report - Willamette Zone

Willamette fishing January 15, 2026 Best bets for weekend fishing: The Willamette River and other water bodies are increasing in activity. Several waterbodies will be stocked with trout this week. Cascade Hike-in Lakes offer beauty, serenity, and the potential for untrammeled fishing opportunities. Trout stocking Stocked the week of Jan 26-30: Walter Wirth Lake, Waverly Lake, Walter Wirth Lake, Junction City Pond, Timber Linn Lake, EE Wilson pond. Check out the trout stocking schedule. Trout stocking maps Check out the ODFW fishing and trout stocking maps to find nearby fishing locations (including high mountain lakes), driving directions and descriptions of…

September 05, 2017
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10 tips for Buoy 10 fishing

The Buoy 10 fishery, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific, offers anglers a chance to catch Chinook and coho salmon fresh from the ocean.
Angler fighting a fish from the boat
Recreation Report

Fishing Report - Northwest Zone

NW Fishing January 15, 2026 Best bets for weekend fishing Winter steelhead fishing is fair to good on the North Coast. The North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum River, and Lower Columbia tributaries (Gnat Cr, Big Cr, and Klaskanine R) all have hatchery steelhead being caught. The Nestucca and Wilson Rivers also have hatchery steelhead returning and those fisheries are off to a good start when conditions are right. Fishing conditions are good right now, but dropping flows will have streams low and clear before too long. Coffenbury Lake and Vernonia Pond have both been stocked with surplus hatchery winter steelhead to…

September 05, 2017
Article

Warmwater fishing in the south Willamette area

The south Willamette area covers the upper Willamette Basin south of Salem and includes the communities of Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, Springfield and Cottage Grove. Fishing for bass and panfish can be outstanding in the Willamette River and its many sloughs, but you'll need a boat for most locations because much of the banks are privately-owned. There also is good warmwater fishing in the area’s larger lakes such as Cottage Grove, Dorena, Foster, and Fern Ridge reservoirs, where crappie and large bass attract both seasoned and causal anglers. There are many smaller ponds inside and near the urban communities that offer…
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How to fish for steelhead

Steelhead have been called the ultimate game fish. These elusive and challenging fish can test an angler’s patience and persistence, but the reward is hooking into a fish that is famous worldwide for its line-peeling runs and spectacular, acrobatic fight.
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Recreation Report

Fishing Report - Southeast Zone

SE Fishing January 15, 2026 Best bets for weekend fishing 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 is currently available. There are some nice holdover trout in the Malheur River below Warmsprings right now. Trout fishing has been great at Chickahominy Reservoir Crappie are abundant in Wolf Creek Reservoir with some nicer fish around 8 inches available. Crappie fishing in Owyhee Reservoir has been good. Channel catfish are a popular option. Find them in the Snake River and…

September 05, 2017
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Warmwater fishing in John Day/Umatilla

The John Day – Umatilla area includes the John Day River and Umatilla River basins, and Oregon’s upper reaches of the Columbia River. The John Day Pool and McNary Pool of the Columbia offer outstanding fishing for bass and walleye, and many fishing tournaments are held here. Anglers also will find good fishing for bullhead catfish, crappie and other panfish in McKay Reservoir near Pendleton and Willow Creek Reservoir just outside of Heppner. For those who enjoy fishing for smallmouth, the John Day River offers one of the finest bass fisheries in the country and a unique opportunity for an…
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Kokanee fishing in Oregon

Kokanee are fun to catch, delicious to eat , and found in lakes and reservoirs throughout the state.
anlger holding up a limit of kokanee
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14 tips for ice fishing in Oregon

Ice fishing is becoming increasingly popular in Oregon as anglers look for new ways to enjoy fishing year-round. Here are some tips to get you started.
Two anglers ice fishing on Diamond Lake
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Fishing Oregon's hike-in lakes

Fishing Oregon’s high elevation lakes is not just for dedicated anglers. It also appeals to hikers and backpackers who head to the backcountry with a sense of adventure and a yearning for quietude.
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Warmwater fishing in the north Willamette area

The north Willamette area includes the Columbia River from Bonneville downstream to St. Helens and the lower Willamette Basin north of Salem. The Columbia and Willamette both offer outstanding warmwater fishing for bass and a variety of panfish including crappie. Good fishing is also available in the area's lakes and reservoirs such as Henry Hagg Lake which has produced state record smallmouth bass and brown bullhead catfish.
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Sturgeon fishing in Oregon

The white sturgeon is one of Oregon's most iconic and distinctive fish species with a lineage dating back to the age of the dinosaurs. Due to population concerns, the sturgeon fishery is highly regulated in terms of retention opportunity and size limits. The structure of retention seasons is likely to change in 2026 with no New Year's Day opener in Bonneville and The Dalles pools, as quotas have been met in just a few days in recent years. Oregon and Washington will hold a joint state hearing Nov. 13, 2025 at 2 p.m. to discuss and lay out a new…
November 1, 2025
A legal-size sturgeon stretched across a canoe seat
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Warmwater Fishing in the Klamath Lake area

Oregon's Klamath and Lake counties offer outstanding warmwater fishing in the region's lakes and reservoirs, and even in the lower reaches of some of the rivers and streams. The area covers the Upper Klamath Basin and extends east to include the Chewaucan and Warner Lakes Basins.
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9 reasons to fish for herring (and anchovies)

To most anglers, herring and anchovies are best known as bait. But they also can be fun to catch and delicious for dinner.
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Gearing up for fishing

If you’re just getting started fishing, or you want to try a new kind of fishing, you’ll need a rod, reel and some tackle. To help you get started, we’ve put together some fishing outfits for trout, panfish (bluegill, crappie, pumpkin seed, sunfish), bass, steelhead, walleye, salmon and sturgeon.
December 19, 2025
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Sturgeon fishing

The white sturgeon is one of Oregon's most iconic and distinctive fish species with a lineage dating back to the age of the dinosaurs. Due to population concerns, the sturgeon fishery is highly regulated in terms of retention opportunity and size limits. The structure of retention seasons is likely to change in 2026 with no New Year's Day opener in Bonneville and The Dalles pools, as quotas have been met in just a few days in recent years. Oregon and Washington will hold a joint state hearing Nov. 13, 2025 at 2 p.m. to discuss and lay out a new…
November 4, 2025
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Oregon's record fish

See the Oregon records for both coldwater and warmwater game fish. And, find the forms to submit if you think you've caught a new record!
December 6, 2019
Recreation Report

Fishing Report - Northeast Zone

Content to come.

September 05, 2017
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Fishing opportunities for youth and disabled anglers

A few waterbodies in Oregon are set aside just for younger anglers and those with disabilities—offering everything from warmwater and stocked trout to salmon and steelhead fishing.
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Fishing regulation updates

These updated rules were adopted after the current regulation booklet was printed, and supersede those printed regulations. Always check for regulation updates before fishing. Find crabbing and clamming updates
January 8, 2026