ODFW Recreation Report


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
10-6-2023
Website

Western buck deer opens Oct. 7

Here are a few tips to help you get ready for opening weekend.‌

  • Buy your tag. Time's running out. You have until FRIDAY, Oct. 6 to buy your tag.
  • Speaking of lists, look over the Hunters checklist to make sure you've got everything you need for a successful hunt.
  • Do a little "scouting" in the Big game hunting forecast and Recreation Report to find a great place to hunt.
  • If you're e-tagging, download the latest version of the MyODFW app from Google Play or the Apple App store. Here are more e-tagging tips.

Best bets for weekend fishing

Salmon and trout top the list of this weekend's best bets. Here are just a few suggestions.‌

  • Recent rains have pushed Chinook and coho into lower coastal rivers.
  • The best Chinook fishing in the Coos Basin has been in the Coos River, upper Isthmus Slough, Millicoma River, and South Fork Coos River.
  • October is the time for trout anglers to hit lakes and reservoirs in the Rogue watershed. Howard Prairie, Hyatt, Fish Lake are all good bets. Lost Creek Reservoir offers good trout fishing through the fall and winter seasons.
  • In the Cascade hike-in lake, fish will be feeding heavily in preparation for winter. Expect good fishing until snow limits access.
  • For the next few weeks, coho fishing looks very promising on the North Fork Santiam.
  • Fly-anglers report excellent autumn fishing in the Fall River.
  • Salmon fishing in the lower Deschutes remains good, with quite a few coho in the catch.
  • Wood River and North Fork Sprague will only get better as big brown trout move to spawning areas.
  • Trout fishing should be good at Campbell and Deadhorse lakes, which are now accessible and recently stocked.
  • With recent cool and wet weather, steelhead have begun moving into the lower John Day River.

This is just a partial list. Check the zone reports for even more options.‌

CWD check stations, other ways to get your animal tested

ODFW continues to monitor hunter harvested deer and elk for CWD – a fatal, highly infectious disease. What can hunters do to help combat CWD?‌

  • If you pass a CWD check station, stop and have your animal tested. It takes only 10 minutes and is legally required.
  • If you don't find a check station, learn the other ways you can have your animal tested.

Find out more about CWD, check station locations and the ways to have your animal tested.‌

Beach visitors, including dogs: Avoid sea lions on the beach

Each fall, some California sea lions die of leptospirosis on Oregon beaches. If you see a dead or injured sea lion or other marine mammal, keep your distance and report it to the Oregon State Police at 1-800-452-7888. Learn more.‌





More Reports


9-29-2023
Western buck deer opens Oct. 7‌ Here are a few tips to help you get ready for opening weekend.‌ Buy your tag. The...... Read More

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, September 27th, 2023
Imnaha River: Trout and whitefish can be caught throughout the river
Wallowa River: With recent rains, the flow of the Wallowa River has increased
Crane Prairie Reservoir: Trout fishing at Crane Prairie has improved in recent weeks
Hood River: The Hood River is muddy due to rain
Metolius River: The Metolius River continues to fish well
Paulina Lake: Anglers continue to report good trout fishing
Pine Hollow Reservoir: Pine Hollow was stocked the week
Prinevile Reservoir: Prineville Reservoir at 62 percent full
Breitenbush River: The Forest Service Road (FR 46) up the Breitenbush River has re-opened
Santiam River ( North Fork) : Fishing for spring Chinook is now closed
Santiam River ( North Fork) Above Detroit Lake: Flows are currently around 430 cfs
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 1,600 cfs
Alsea River: Fall Chinook is open on the Alsea, and so far the season has been running slow
Kilchis River: Cutthroat are available throughout the river
Necanicum River: The Necanicum could have a few Fall Chinook moving into the lower river
Nehalem River: Chinook fishing has remained fair in Nehalem Bay
Nestucca River: Fall Chinook fishing in the Nestucca has been slow to fair in estuary
Salmon River: Fall Chinook is open and picking up in the Salmon River
Siletz River: Fall Chinook has opened on the Siletz
Siuslaw River: Fall Chinook has started to pick up the last few weeks on the Siuslaw river!
Trask River: The Trask gets a hatchery coho run, and some of these fish should be pushing into the lower river
Wilson River: Fishing is fair
Ben Irving Reservoir: Trout fishing should be picking up with the cooler rains over the last week
Cooper Creek Reservoir: Trout fishing is doing better at Cooper Creek this week
Coquille River: Coho salmon has been spotty on the lower Coquille River
Diamond Lake: Trout fishing should really be picking up right now with the colder weather
Galesville Reservoir: Fishing should be great at Galesville
Lake Marie: Trout fishing should be good now as waters cool off
Lemolo Lake: Trout fishing should be great
Umpqua River: Chinook fishing has picked up in the lower river