ODFW Recreation Report

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Report Date:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us

Warm weather fishing updates and guidance

Temperatures have moderated in many areas of the state. However, drought and low water levels persist and we can expect water temperatures to spike again later in the summer. Here’s what you should know about fishing in these conditions.

Best bets for weekend fishing

Despite the low water levels and high water temperatures in much of the state, there are still lots of opportunities to have a little fishing fun.

  • On the north coast, sea-run cutthroat trout are moving from the estuaries into the rivers. Upper Tillamook Bay and the Nestucca estuary are great places to target these aggressive trout.
  • Anglers are catching a few “summer” Chinook – an early arriving variant of a fall Chinook – in the Nehalem Bay.
  • In the SW Zone, Fish, Applegate, Willow and Selmac lake are all offering good shots at trout and/or warmwater species.
  • Fishing should be excellent in the Upper Rogue River between Prospect and Minnehaha Creek. This section of river is stocked with 3,500 trout per week through Labor Day.
  • Spearfish anglers have been reporting some success harvesting smallmouth bass in the South Fork Coquille River.
  • Striped bass are biting in the Coquille River.
  • Foster and Green Peter reservoirs have been stocked several times this year, and fishing should be good for both trout and warmwater species.
  • There are some big largemouth bass lurking in the waters of Taylor Lake in the Gorge.
  • Summer steelhead fishing on the lower Deschutes has been slow, but there are fish around in the lower river downstream of Macks Canyon.
  • Fishing for trout should be good at Miller Lake. The lake is getting additional stocked trout originally intended for Fourmile Lake.

Wildfire closures and restrictions updates

Anglers and hunters should confirm access

Fire danger in many parts of the state remains extreme. The Forest Service has closed the Umatilla National Forest to the public, and the Oregon departments of parks and forestry have banned all campfires on their lands east of I-5.

  • To keep up with the latest closures and restrictions on private forest lands, check out the links on this webpage.
  • To help you navigate the status of popular recreation sites on public lands, natural resource management agencies in Oregon have released an interagency status map that shows open, closed and reduced service areas on a single map, regardless of reason for closure.
  • Finally, check the zone reports for updates on specific waterbodies.

Sign up for a youth pheasant hunt

Youth Pheasant Hunts give young hunters a chance to hunt in a controlled setting with a focus safety and success. Here are five reasons they're so popular:

  • No adult competition. Youth hunts happen before the official pheasant season begins.
  • Emphasis on safety. A review of safety procedures, controlled access and a defined hunting area characterize many of the hunts.
  • Increased chance of success. ODFW releases pen-raised pheasants for each hunt, because early success can help build lifetime hunters.
  • Available statewide. There are hunt locations from Ontario to the Willamette Valley to the Rogue.
  • They're free!

Learn more about where to hunt and how to register.

More Reports


OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, July 21st, 2021
Upper Klamath Lake: Water temperatures are extreme on the water surface but much colder in deeper water
Miller Lake: Fishing should be excellent as the lake has been heavily stocked
Wood River: Best section is from Fort Klamath to Weed Road
Butterfield Lake: Boat and bank anglers are still catching an occasional trout
Chetco River: Upper Chetco watershed or tributaries has some great cutthroat trout fishing
Coquille River: Striped bass fishing is starting to pick up again in the lower Coquille River
Eel Lake: Boat anglers have been picking up a few trout
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant will likely be very close to reaching deadpool by mid-summer
Fish Lake : Irrigation withdrawals are continuing to make Fish Lake drop quickly.
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Emergency Regulations Chang
Rogue River- Lower: Numerous summer steelhead are being caught
Rogue River - Middle: Emergency Drought Regulations:
Rogue River- Upper: Upper Rogue River Report
Sixes River: This is a good time of year to fish the estuary for cutthroat
Kilchis River: Decent numbers of cutthroat trout have been seen and reported
Trask River: Anglers will find cutthroat trout throughout the Trask
Wilson River: Fishing on the Wilson remains slow
Detroit Reservoir: The reservoir has been stocked several times in recent weeks
Green Peter Reservoir: The water level in the reservoir has dropped below the bottom elevation of Whitcomb boat ramp
Leaburg Lake: Will be stocked again this week with 933 legal-size rainbow trout
Quartzville Creek: The river is currently running at around 30 cfs
Santiam River ( North Fork) : “Hoot owl” regulations have been rescinded below Big Cliff dam
Santiam River ( North Fork) Above Detroit Lake: The highway along the upper North Santiam has re-opened
Grande Ronde River: Due to the recent Elbow Creek Fire, access to fishing on the Grande Ronde is closed throughout most of the river downstream


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