Search myodfw.com

Showing 821 - 840 of 1394 results

Article

50 places to go fishing within 60 minutes of Portland

Let's go fishing! Not enough time? Think again. If you live in the greater Portland area, there are a number of places you can get to in less than an hour. Directions and times are approximate, mileage and generalized directions are from Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Landing page

Bandon Hatchery Visitors' Guide

Bandon Hatchery was constructed in 1925. Various renovations have taken place since original construction and more are planned for the future. The facility is used for adult collection, egg incubation and rearing of both natural and hatchery fall Chinook, winter steelhead, and trophy-sized rainbow trout.

November 17, 2017

Article

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…

Educational Moment

Ocean Salmon and Columbia River Program February 2025

Tucker Jones, Ocean Salmon and Columbia River Program Manager Summary of 2024 Fisheries and Outlook for 2025 Fisheries The Columbia River Management section of OSCRP has posted a document to the ODFW website with preliminary estimates of 2024 salmon returns and fishery results, 2025 run forecasts for spring Chinook, summer Chinook, and sockeye salmon, as well as a list of currently-known key dates for 2025 fisheries planning milestones. This document is prepared jointly by the ODFW and WDFW Columbia River fishery management staffs each year. This useful document has a table of salmonid returns/forecasts that will be updated on our…

February 25, 2025

Article

2026 Winter Steelhead Roundup

January 6, 2026

1338_three_rivers_steelhead_samiel_camacho_odfw

Article

Gifts for anglers

We asked some of the fisher folk at ODFW for their favorite gift-giving ideas. Here's what they said.

an image of two wading anglers holding nice rainbow trout from the Fall River

Article

Bull trout identification guide

A guide to the field identification of bull trout, brook trout, and their hybrids.

Landing page

Willamette Hatchery Visitors' Guide

Willamette Trout Hatchery and the adjacent Oakridge Salmon Hatchery were combined in 1983 and operate today as Willamette Hatchery. The trout hatchery was constructed in 1922 and the salmon hatchery in 1911. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) rebuilt the salmon hatchery in 1952 to mitigate for fishery losses caused by Hills Creek, Lookout Point and the Dexter hydroelectric/flood control projects. The trout side was rebuilt between 1950 and ‘56. Today, Willamette Hatchery is used for adult holding/spawning, egg incubation and rearing of spring chinook and rainbow trout. In addition, both summer and winter steelhead are reared at this…

November 06, 2017

Article

10 tips for targeting ocean coho

Some anglers think coho are more aggressive and easier to catch while they’re still in the open waters of the ocean. Here are some tips for targeting coho on big water.

Article

10 tips to catch more winter steelhead

Successful steelhead fishing is more about developing a good strategy for finding fish than about fussing over gear, techniques and colors. (Although pink worms really do work!)

photo of an anglers holding a winter steelhead

Educational Moment

How to pluck a wild turkey

There's more than one way to pluck a turkey. Whatever method you choose, don’t just grab a handful of feathers and start yanking. This could rip the very thin skin, and once you’ve ripped the skin it’s difficult to finish plucking. In fact, at that point you may need to resort to skinning the bird. Keep the feet attached to while turkey while plucking it. They’ll give something to hold on to as you rotate and move the carcass around for thorough plucking. Dry plucking a bird – simple but time consuming To dry pluck a turkey, hang it up…

May 19, 2020

image of a hunter beginning to pluck a bird on the gate of his pickup truck

Article

Easy angling in the Willamette Zone

Abundant rainfall feeds the massive Willamette River watershed, tamed by a system of reservoirs stocked annually with hundreds of thousands of rainbow trout. Some of these reservoirs also grow trophy-size largemouth and smallmouth bass, and lots of bluegill, brown bullhead and crappies. Salmon and steelhead navigate the Willamette and its productive tributaries, many of which are also home to rainbow and cutthroat trout.

Article

Commission Workshop agenda: December 11, 2025

Commission materials have moved to MyODFW.com: Commission materials have a new look. ODFW is working to transition its older odfw.com site to a new web platform. Some Commission pages that used to be on the older site have been moved over to MyODFW.com during this transition period. View the agenda Workshop : Thursday, December 11, 2025- 1:00 PM ODFW HQ Commission Room Salem, OR 97302 Meeting : Friday, December 12, 2025 - 8:00 AM ODFW HQ Commission Room Salem, OR 97302

December 11, 2025

Landing page

Combined Angling Tag instructions and location codes

Upon taking an adult salmon, steelhead, legal-size sturgeon or Pacific halibut, the angler must immediately enter the codes for the species caught, ocean port or stream, and the month and day of catch. The information from these tags helps ODFW manage the fisheries and estimate total harvest. Currently nearly 40 percent of anglers use e-tagging. Want to switch from paper to electronic? Login to your account and look under your profile to switch.

August 02, 2018

Article

High lakes stocking schedule - Mid-Columbia District

Includes lakes in the Mt. Hood National Forest, the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness and the Olallie Lake Scenic Area.

July 12, 2023

Article

Tips on avoiding steelhead when fishing

Wild steelhead mortalities are generally low under normal fishing regulations. But with several years of low runs , many anglers are wondering what extra steps they can take to avoid hooking a steelhead while they’re fishing.

May 26, 2022

a close up of a steelhead in shallow water

Article

65 places to go fishing in Lane County

Lane County offers so much to explore — from coastal lakes and rivers to mountain lakes and streams. The Willamette River runs through the Eugene-Springfield metro area and is fed by three major rivers: the McKenzie, Middle Fork Willamette and Coast Fork Willamette. Florence is surrounded by large dune lakes, the Siuslaw River and Pacific Ocean. With so many places to fish, it’s no wonder Lane County is an angler’s paradise. For current regulations, call your local ODFW office or check MyODFW.com.

Press Release

Apply by Oct. 6 to represent sport fishing or commercial salmon industry on R&E Board

SALEM, Ore.—ODFW is seeking qualified applicants to fill one sport fishing position and one commercial salmon industry position on the Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Program Board. Interested individuals must apply by Oct. 6, 2025, use this form on the R&E Board page. The ideal sport fishing candidate will be a…

September 22, 2025

Press Release

ODFW hosts Feb. 2 public meeting on central coast spring all-depth Pacific halibut season

NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting a Feb. 2 public meeting beginning at 6 p.m. to get input on the number and timing of fixed and back-up dates for the central Oregon coast spring all-depth Pacific halibut season. The meeting is in the conference…

January 20, 2026

Press Release

ODFW issues bay clam harvest advisory for Alsea Bay estuary

NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends people avoid harvesting and consuming softshell and bay clams from Alsea Bay estuary after the Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational use advisory for Eckman Lake in Lincoln County. The OHA issued a July 31 advisory due to the…

August 18, 2025