Best bets for weekend fishing

• North Coast Rivers are fishable and it appears to be a good year for winter steelhead. The Rivers are low and clear now, so anglers will need to adapt their tactics to find success.
• Anglers have been catching fish every day on the Alsea, Siletz and Siuslaw. Water conditions are low, but fishable, and should remain so the rest if this week and into the weekend.
• Anglers have been catching lingcod while fishing along the jetty in Coos Bay.
• Excess hatchery steelhead from the Eel Lake fish trap have been planted in Butterfield and Saunders lakes.
• Anglers willing to hike in below Graves Creek on the middle Rogue report that there are fish holding in the Canyon. Boat and bankies are picking up winter steelhead in the Galice Area more regularly.
• With dry weather in the forecast, fishing conditions on Quartzville Creek should be much improved by the weekend.
• It’s a busy week for trout stocking in the mid and southern Willamette Valley, with the following waterbodies on the schedule: Junction City Pond, Walling Pond, Cottage Grove Reservoir, Dexter Reservoir, Cottage Grove Pond, St. Louis Ponds, Walter Wirth Lake and Alton Baker Canoe Canal.
• Best bet for the Klamath area is native redband trout in the Klamath River from Keno Dam to below the JC Boyle Powerhouse.
• Anglers from the south coast reported good catches of lingcod several days last week. Limits of rockfish were caught as well.
• Central coast crabbing has been fair to moderate with weeks of improved weather and lower rainfall.

Tell us what you think of Oregon’s big game hunting seasons

Before we start proposing changes for the 2021 big game seasons, we’d like to hear from our resident hunters. You can comment through March 3.

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Shed hunt responsibly

It’s that time of year when people head to the woods looking for antlers that have been shed by Oregon deer and elk. It’s also a critical time for big game animals coming through the winter, so shed hunting responsibly can help protect vulnerable animals.

Apply for your 2020 big game hunt

Every year you say you’re going to apply early to avoid the last minute rush. Time to make it happen, though technically you have until May 15.

There are several ways to apply.

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You could draw an additional deer, elk or pronghorn tag

Premium Hunts are your chance to draw a second tag in addition to your controlled or general season tag. Application deadline is May 15, but you don’t have to wait ‘til then to apply.

Learn more about Premium Hunts.