ODFW Recreation Report
by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
2-3-2022
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Apply for a Premium Hunt
Premium Hunts offer a long season at the peak of the rut, no preference point advantage (great for new hunters) and an extra chance to hunt on top of your controlled or general season tag. Learn more about what’s available and how to apply.
Great Backyard Bird Count – Feb. 18-21
Over these four days bird watchers are invited to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them through the Great Backyard Bird Count. Your observations will be combined with others from across the world to help scientists learn more about global bird populations. Learn more about participating in this event.
Best bets for weekend fishing
- There are winter steelhead around, with fish dispersed throughout most river systems. However, with recent dry, warm weather, steelhead anglers will want to switch up techniques for the low, clear conditions. Be stealthy and switch to smaller, lighter presentations
- The warmer weather might also be inspiring bass to bite in warmwater fisheries such as Henry Hagg Lake, Lake Selmac and Emigrant Reservoir.
- On the upper Rogue, anglers are catching some nice winter steelhead between Shady Grove and Dodge Bridge.
- Ice fishing as been good in several locations. Check the zone reports for the best ice fishing opportunities in the SW, NE and SE zones.
- White sturgeon retention is open in The Dalles and John Day pools on the Columbia River.
- When ocean conditions permit, anglers have landing nice catches of bottomfish and lingcod.
Waterfowl hunt for veterans, active military – this weekend
The statewide Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl hunt is Feb. 5. This is a chance for these hunters to have the fields and ponds to themselves for duck and goose hunting. Learn more on page 25 of the Oregon Game Bird Regulations.
Apply for your spring bear tag
If you plan to hunt spring bear this year, you have until Feb. 10 to apply for your tag.
More Reports
1-28-2022
Hunters have ‘til Monday to report your 2021 hunt Hunters have until Jan. 31 to report their 2021 hunts. You can...... Read More
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, January 27th, 2022
Ana River: This can be an excellent time of year to fish Ana Rivers
Malheur Reservoir: The no bag limit emergency regulation on this reservoir is no longer in effect
Owyhee Reservoir: Anglers may have some success targeting redband trout and crappie this winter
Thief Valley Reservoir: Thief Valley Reservoir was very low throughout much of last year
Agate Lake: This is mostly a crappie and bluegill fishery with some bass in the mix
Applegate River: Applegate River Report
Ben Irving Reservoir: New habitat structures in the upper reservoir may produce some good bass
Diamond Lake: Anglers are catching a few out on the ice
Emigrant Reservoir: Don’t expect much for fishing success out here
Expo Pond: Expect very cold mornings with very limited success
Fish Lake : Anglers were still catching fish through the ice this past weekend
Galesville Reservoir: The boat ramp is just usable and anglers are taking advantage of it
Illinois River: Flows continue to drop but are still very fishable
Lake Selmac: Bass fishing should remain fair
Lemolo Lake: Trout should be hungry for those willing to try fishing
Lost Creek Lake: The lake is still well below average
Plat I Reservoir: Plat I is a great place to fish for warmwater fish this time of year
Rogue River - Middle: Winter fish are being caught from Galice to Rogue River
Rogue River- Upper: For the week of Jan. 19, 56 new summer steelhead entered the ladder bringing the year’s total to 3,128 fish
Umpqua River: Good number of fish in the main
Kilchis River: The Kilchis will be getting very low and clear this week
Clackamas River: Winter steelhead can now be found throughout the Clackamas River
Henry Hagg Lake: Hagg Lake continues to receive regular stocking
Sandy River: Winter steelhead can now be found throughout the Sandy River
Santiam River ( North Fork) : For the next few months things are going to be fairly quiet as far as fishing on the river goes
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 4,800 cfs at the Waterloo gage
Timber Linn Lake: Will be stocked this week with about 1,000 hatchery trout
Walling Pond: The pond was stocked last week
Waverly Lake: This lake was stocked last week
Crooked River: Anglers report fair fishing with the recent warm weather
Fall River: Anglers report good fishing in Fall River with the recent warm weather
Hood River: Winter steelhead are currently returning to the Hood River basin
Metolius River: Anglers report hit and miss blue wing olive hatches
Grande Ronde River: Last week, the Grande Ronde River rose about six inches and turned slightly murky
Brownlee Reservoir: Fishing will likely improve later in the year as the weather warm