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Article

Learn to fish

There are several ways to begin your fishing journey – you can join a friend or family member on their fishing trip, you can attend a free ODFW fishing event, or you can strike out on your own (don’t worry, you can do this). In this article you'll find out what gear you need and where to go fishing in Oregon, along with a few basics of the sport.

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Press Release

Smelt fishery on Sandy River opens 12-7 p.m., Wednesday, March 11

SALEM, Ore. – Recreational harvest of eulachon smelt on the Sandy River will be open from 12-7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11 only. Regulations : Open area: From the mouth of the Sandy River upstream to the Stark Street Bridge. Limit: 10 pounds per dipper. Each dipper must dip smelt…

March 9, 2026

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Article

How to harvest bait shrimp

Mud and ghost shrimp are popular baits for salmon, sturgeon and other marine fish. Learn how simple it is to harvest your own.

Recreation Report

Fishing Report - Central Zone

Central Fishing June 18, 2026 Best bets for weekend fishing: Still spring Chinook throughout the Hood River. The last day of the season is June 30. Stonefly season is winding down but good reports of nymph fishing on the lower Deschutes Anglers report excellent early season fishing at Lava and Little Lava Lakes for large holdover trout Shevlin Park and Metolius youth and disabled fishing ponds were recently stocked to provide excellent angling opportunities. Anglers report smaller than average (12-16-in) but abundant rainbow trout and 15-in kokanee and good fishing at Crane Prairie Reservoir. Anglers report good trout fishing and…

September 05, 2017

Landing page

Living with Beavers

March 26, 2026

Article

2026 Winter Steelhead Roundup

January 6, 2026

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Landing page

Living with nutria

March 27, 2026

Site Sections

Recreation Report

June 18, 2026

Press Release

Commission meets Dec. 11-12 in Salem

SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Thursday and Friday, Dec. 11-12 to set 2026 groundfish regulations and hear an informational briefing on the barbless hook requirement for Columbia River recreational fisheries. Both a Dec. 11 workshop and Dec. 12 meeting will be in a hybrid format, allowing for…

December 5, 2025

Article

Legal hunting methods and weapon restrictions

Refer to current eRegulations for details on weapons and ammunition restrictions. *Use current published regulations by downloading a .pdf on your device. (AI-may contain inaccurate data).

April 30, 2026

Article

2026 spring turkey hunting forecast

Report a banded turkey

March 24, 2026

Article

How to razor clam

Digging razor clams is a challenging and fun recreational pastime with delicious rewards. Continue reading to learn some fundamental skills needed to harvest razor clams.

Article

How to hunt upland game birds

Oregon offers some of the best upland game bird hunting in the West. The state’s diverse habitats support nine species of upland game birds— pheasants, chukar, Hungarian partridge, valley (California) quail, mountain quail, ruffed grouse, blue grouse, sage-grouse and wild turkey. There are upland hunting opportunities in every corner of the state, and one upland bird season or another is open continuously from September 1 through January 31. Throw in a six-week spring turkey season and you can hunt upland game birds in Oregon for more than half of the year! Also, since many of the species share similar habitat…

August 18, 2025

Article

Hunting Sauvie Island’s North Unit

A beginner's guide to waterfowl hunting on Sauvie Island - hunting in the North Unit. Part 4 of a 5 part series.

Article

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.

Article

Who needs a Columbia River Basin Endorsement

All Oregon-licensed anglers fishing for salmon, steelhead or sturgeon (catch-and-release and retention) on all rivers and tributaries in the Columbia River Basin need to have a Columbia River Basin Endorsement (CRBE). Washington-licensed anglers need a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement (CRSSE) from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

January 29, 2026

Article

Youth Upland Bird Hunts

Youth game bird hunt opportunities give young hunters a chance to hunt in a controlled setting with a focus on safety and success.

August 5, 2025

Article

Living with cougars

Cougars currently occupy most of the available cougar habitat in the state and are expanding into lower quality habitats that include human habitation. At the same time, urban areas are expanding into cougar habitat due to population growth and development. Follow these tips to stay safe in cougar country.

March 27, 2026

Article

Turkey Hunter's Guide

Spring is prime turkey hunting season. This is breeding season and successful hunters often set up in a well-camouflaged location and try to call a male turkey into shooting range. To see a male turkey, also called a gobbler, come strutting and gobbling into range is heart-stopping moment for any turkey hunter.

March 24, 2026

Article

Ocean Endorsement

In 2025, the Oregon Legislature established the Ocean Endorsement through House Bill 2342 to generate dedicated funding for marine fish research and assessments. Funds will support critical surveys for popular marine species like black rockfish and build on survey techniques pioneered by ODFW's Marine Fisheries Research Team.

March 12, 2026