Search myodfw.com
Showing 681 - 700 of 1038 results
Article
The Oregon Health Authority has issued an advisory for recreationally harvested softshell and gaper clams along the Oregon coast due to arsenic contamination. Visit healthoregon.ogr/fishadv to lean more, including shellfish cleaning guidelines that reduce your exposure.
Article
This list features some of the best performing videos of the year and takes viewers to unique parts of Oregon where biologists work to protect fish, wildlife and habitats for everyone to enjoy.
December 20, 2022
Recreation Report
SW Fishing Aug 7, 2025 Best bets for weekend fishing The Rogue River upstream of Lost Creek Reservoir is the premier summer trout fishery in the Rogue watershed. Anglers can escape the heat of the Rogue Valley, enjoy beautiful scenery, and catch fish. Campgrounds and other public access sites along Highway 62 and Highway 230 are stocked with rainbow trout on a weekly basis between Memorial Day and Labor Day Howard and Hyatt Lakes offers good fishing for largemouth bass right now. Trout stocking Stocked July 28- Aug 1: Rogue River above Lost Creek. Scheduled to be stocked Aug 4-8
September 05, 2017
Article
A dozen great rivers pour out of the Coast Range Mountains into tidal bays that welcome runs of salmon and the sea-going rainbow trout called “steelhead.” Bays are the year-round home to marine perch, rockfish, crabs and clams, while other species come and go with the seasons and the tides. In the Northwest Zone a handful of ponds dot the forested slopes, and there are dozens of dune lakes— many stocked with plump rainbow trout, and some that grow their own largemouth bass, perch, crappie and brown bullhead.
Recreation Report
NW Fishing Aug 7, 2025 Best bets for weekend fishing August 1 st officially starts Fall Chinook Season on the Tillamook, Nestucca, and Necanicum basins. It is really early and there won't be many Fall Chinook until mid-September. All of these basins have reduced bag limits for wild fall Chinook this season so check the regulation updates online before heading out. Summer steelhead fishing has been picking up on the Nestucca and Wilson Rivers. Summers are throughout the fisheries and there have been an increasing number getting caught. Cedar Creek hatchery on the Nestucca has recycled a few as well
September 05, 2017
New pilot program for limited entry parking at Sauvie Island Beaches Free pass required summer weekends and holidays starting July 4
News
Contact
Oregon Fish and Wildlife
odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov
503-947-6002
SAUVIE ISLAND WILDIFE AREA, Ore.— To manage ongoing traffic and parking problems at Sauvie Island Wildlife Area's beaches, ODFW is introducing a new limited-entry parking pilot program.
Starting July 4, vehicles will need a free Sauvie Island Beaches Pass in addition to the Wildlife Area Parking Permit ($10 daily) to park on weekends and holidays at the beaches' parking lots—Walton Beach, Collins Beach, Willow Bar and North Unit. A check station will be in effect on some weekends and holidays to check vehicles for the Pass and Permit.
During hot summer weather, many people flock to Sauvie Island's beaches to swim in the Columbia River. On weekends and holidays, vehicles can outnumber parking spaces by a large margin, leading to traffic jams and safety issues.
The over-capacity of vehicles threatens public safety and wildlife habitat. Visitors who can't find a parking spot park on dry grass along roads, creating a fire risk. Emergency vehicles have been unable to quickly reach the beaches due to traffic jams and double parking.
The level of traffic and parking problems also damages riparian wildlife habitat along the beaches of Sauvie Island Wildlife Area, which is set aside primarily as wildlife habitat for migratory birds. Finally, it impacts residents of Sauvie Island, who report visitors parking on their property and jamming roads, leaving them unable to travel or leave the island on weekends.
"Parking during summer weekends has been an ongoing problem for residents, wildlife area staff, emergency response and law enforcement," said Steve Niemela, ODFW North Willamette District Watershed Manager. "We are testing this new pilot program to see if we can address these problems, reduce impacts to wildlife habitat and residents, and also improve the visitor experience. This pilot program will end after the Labor Day weekend."
"We urge everyone wanting to visit the beaches on weekends and holidays to get their Beaches Pass and Parking Permit before coming to Sauvie Island," added Niemela.
"I have worked this area for over 16 years and in the last several years we have seen a huge increase in recreational use on the Sauvie Island beaches, particularly during periods of hot weather," said SFC Luke Schwartz, OSP Fish and Wildlife Division. "This has created overcrowding on the beaches and in the parking areas, resulting in significant public safety issues."
ODFW is working with Columbia County to obtain an initial 30-day permit for a traffic control check station on Reeder Road. The Columbia County Board of Commissioners supports this effort to address ongoing parking challenges and will continue partnering with ODFW to evaluate the program's effectiveness.
"This is about keeping people safe and making sure we can respond when there's an emergency," said Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley. "We appreciate ODFW's partnership on this pilot program and hope it helps ease the traffic issues that have challenged first responders, residents, and visitors for years."
How the Beaches Pass works
A limited number of free Sauvie Island Beaches Passes will be available in ODFW's licensing system for each summer weekend day and holiday. Passes become available about two weeks prior to the weekend on Thursday mornings at 7 a.m. Passes are now available for July 4-6 and July 12-13.
As availability is limited, visitors are encouraged to obtain a Beaches Pass before making the trip to Sauvie Island. Cell phone coverage can also be limited on Sauvie Island. Note the pass does not guarantee a parking spot at the lot of your choice; typically Walton Beach is the most popular parking area.
Only vehicles traveling to the Beaches (parking at Walton Beach, Collins Beach, Willow Bar and North Unit) are required to have the Beaches Pass. Vehicles parking in other parts of Sauvie Island Wildlife Area are only required to have the Wildlife Area Parking Permit.
How to purchase
Both Beaches Passes and Wildlife Area Parking Permits can be purchased online or by visiting a license sale agent. Customers are limited to one Beaches Pass per date.
To purchase online:
- Go to MyODFW.com and click Buy License.
- Use "Check Out as a Guest" or create an account for easier future purchasing.
- Select the free Sauvie Island Beaches Pass for the date you want to visit; purchase a daily or annual Wildlife Area Parking Permit ($10/$30) if needed.
- When Checking Out as a Guest, be sure to provide an email so a PDF of the documents can be emailed to you.
- Display the Parking Permit and Beaches Pass on your car when parked: Print out the documents at home or at a license agent OR write your ODFW ID (transaction number if you are a guest) on a piece of paper and put it on your car dash. (ODFW staff and law enforcement patrolling the area are able to look up your ODFW ID or transaction number to confirm possession of the pass and permit.)
Check station in effect some weekend hours
During some weekends and hours, vehicles entering the beach area north of Rentenaar Road will need to show both a valid Wildlife Area Parking Permit and the Sauvie Island Beaches Pass at the East Side Check Station on Reeder Road. These can be displayed in one of several ways:
- Printing a copy of both documents.
- Screenshot (or show your phone screen) of both documents: Show the PDF sent to your email after purchase, or login to your MyODFW.com account and show documents from your Recreational Portfolio.
- Display documents in the MyODFW phone app (account required).
This information is also available at sauvieislandparking.com.
###
Photos and video of parking problems, the new passes, and wildlife at Sauvie Island Wildlife Area are available at https://adobe.ly/4l25bwQ
Check out the Latest Recreation Report
Current conditions and opportunities to fish, hunt and see wildlife. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state.
Article
Here are the current volunteer opportunities at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Find the one that's right for you! Learn more about volunteering with ODFW
July 2, 2024
Recreation Report
NE Fishing Aug 7, 2025 Best bets for weekend fishing Trout fishing on the Wallowa River can be good throughout the summer. Large kokanee > 16 inches have been caught in Wallowa Lake this year. Bass fishing is good on McKay Reservoir. Nice sized bass and perch can be found on Willow Creek Reservoir. Trout stocking Stocked Aug 4-8: Wallowa Lake. Additional stocking in NE zone scheduled to resume Sept. 22. Check out the 2025 stocking schedule. Trout stocking maps Check out the ODFW fishing and trout stocking maps to find nearby fishing locations, driving directions and descriptions of amenities
September 05, 2017
Recreation Report
Central Fishing Aug 7, 2025 Best bets for weekend fishing Crooked River flows have decreased and the Bowman Dam tailwater is fishing well. Recent ODFW sampling found good numbers of whitefish and fair numbers of trout in the 10-14 range but fewer larger fish. Following recent stockings anglers report good fishing on the Fall River. Anglers continue to report excellent kokanee and trout fishing at East and Paulina lakes. Anglers report excellent summer bass opportunities at Crane Prairie Reservoir Anglers report good trout fishing at Hosmer and Little Lava Lakes. Positive reports continue to roll in for brook trout and
September 05, 2017
Article
Salmon, steelhead and smallmouth bass offer world-class fishing here year-round. Rainbow trout are stocked in the upper Rogue and in lakes nestled in settings as varied as fir forest and wind-swept dune. Big reservoirs provide fishing for trout and for thriving populations of largemouth bass, catfish, perch and crappie. Coastal bays serve as gateways to rich offshore reef fisheries, and miles of public beach welcome anglers to fish for surfperch against a backdrop of rugged capes.
Article
This newsletter provides a summary of Oregon’s 2023 sport halibut fishery.
February 2, 2024
Workshop and Events
Date
Feb 11 and 12, 2023
Location
Glen Otto Park, 1102 E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, 97060
Article
Known for its high desert climate, sage-covered canyons, glacial peaks and mountain lakes, this zone is defined by the reach of Oregon’s finest trout stream. The Deschutes River is no bigger than a creek when it passes close by South Twin Lake on its way toward Wickiup and Crane Prairie reservoirs. But it soon gains power enough to grow athletic rainbow trout. The considerably tamer Crooked River offers good practice if you’re just learning how to keep your footing in a slippery freestone stream.
Species and Subspecies
This small tan-and-gray sparrow with a delicately streaked upper breast is found in summer in wet mountain meadows where its bubbly song can be heard from low shrubs. It winters in brushy lowland areas where it skulks in tall grass and weeds and is usually seen for only a moment. It breeds locally above 3,000 feet in the west Cascades and winters in the valleys west of the cascades. Hear the song of the Lincoln's sparrow Photo by Kelly Colgan-Azar, Flickr
Species and Subspecies
These lizards are found in open desert shrublands, particularly where islands of sand have accumulated around shrubs and are absent where a dense grass understory would inhibit their ability to run. The Long-nosed leopard lizard eats large insects, such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles, and also takes small vertebrates, including pocket mice, side-blotched lizards, whiptails, and Western fence lizards. Some plant material (flowers, berries) is eaten when available. Photo by Charlotte Ganskopp
Article
The granite peaks of Oregon’s Blue and Wallowa Mountains form the backdrop for many of this zone’s glacier-carved lakes and crystalline streams. Pack trains are a common sight on steep backcountry trails. Bull trout thrive in this zone’s cold, clear rivers, which also sustain rainbow trout and welcome returning runs of hatchery-reared steelhead. Warmwater fisheries are few, but the John Day River offers world-class fishing for smallmouth bass.
Educational Moment
When a turkey is shot in the head with a shotgun, death is usually instant. However, a turkey may flop on the ground for several seconds, even up to a minute, after it’s “dead.” In this case, the turkey isn’t going anywhere so simply wait for it to go still. If the bird is wounded and laying with its head up, you may need to shoot it again – in the head with a shotgun, or in the spine or vitals with an arrow. Don’t try to ring the neck of a bird that’s still alive but not going anywhere
May 19, 2020
Species and Subspecies
Features: These fish have dark blue backs, silver sides and bellies, and very long pectoral (side) fins. Albacore caught off the Pacific Coast are generally 21 to 30 inches long with the largest fish running about 35 pounds. Habitat: Tuna are pelagic species, meaning they spend their lives in the open ocean. Albacore generally show up 15-200 miles or more off the Pacific Coast in mid-July and stick around through September. Albacore are usually found where surface water temperatures are at least 59 degrees Fahrenheit and the water has a distinct clear blue color (this is where chlorophyll levels are
Article
Many of the more popular fishing locations across the state are accessible to anglers with disabilities. ODFW tries to keep the information on this map current but it's always best to check with the waterbody manager for the latest information before going fishing.
Species and Subspecies
Features: Brook trout are easily identified by the worm-like pale yellow markings on their backs and red dots with blue halos and white borders on their lower fins. In small streams brook trout are often 5- to 7-inches long but can reach 25 inches or more in large rivers or lakes. Habitat: Brook trout are an introduced species, first stocked in the early 1900s. They are widely distributed from high mountain lakes to headwater tributaries, and thrive in cold, mountainous streams and lakes where other species are unable to do well. Many barren lakes have been stocked with brook trout
