Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife weekly news release
Best bets for weekend fishing:
Fall Chinook seasons are currently underway. On the North Coast, Tillamook Bay, the Nestucca estuary (Pacific City), Trask River, Nestucca River, and the lower Columbia tributaries (Big Cr., Gnat Cr., and Klaskanine R.) will provide the best opportunities. Check the regulation updates including bag limits for wild Chinook here.
As of Aug. 13, approximately 70% of the wild Umpqua fall Chinook quota has been reached.
August 14, 2025 RECREATIONAL OCEAN SALMON ACTION NOTICE: 2nd - Ocean sport salmon closes 12:01 a.m. Tues., Aug. 19 from Leadbetter Pt. to Cape Falcon. Possession of salmon on board a vessel is prohibited in the Columbia River Subarea from Aug. 19. See the Salmon map update page for additional information.
We just stocked millions of trout this year, and some are for you! Check the trout stocking schedule and maps for locations near you.
Fall season on the ODFW Columbia River started Aug. 1 including the popular fall Buoy 10 fishery. Also, summer steelhead retention has been extended until Aug. 31 from the Buoy 10 line upstream to Bonneville Dam. Check the regulation updates for details.
Fish on! Summer steelhead runs are on in the Nestucca and Wilson Rivers. Steelhead are found throughout many Oregon fisheries and some are getting caught.
Nehalem fall Chinook run is revving up with a few getting caught down by the mouth of the bay.
The next stocking for North coast lake trout will be in September (see the schedule below or online). There will be trout available most of the summer, but fishing will get more challenging as the water warms up. Fishing early morning and late evening, targeting higher elevation lakes that stay cooler increasing the odds of success.
The North Jetty of Tillamook Bay (accessible through Barview County Park) provides some good angling opportunities for rockfish and kelp greenling this time of year.
Reminder: the annual razor clam conservation closure runs through Sept. 30 on Clatsop Beaches. The closure restores the clam grounds and allows repopulation. Check tide tables here: https://tides.net/oregon/ and check for any closures. Razor clam digging is still open along the central and south Oregon coast.
Crabbing remains open along the Oregon coast.
It's a great time of year to fish for warmwater species. See our guide.
Thief Valley Reservoir: Daily and possession bag limits for rainbow trout and bass are suspended and harvest is allowed by hand, dip net, or angling as the reservoir is being drawn down.
Phillips Reservoir near Baker City: Chance to catch-and-release tiger muskie, a sterile fish placed in reservoir to manage perch populations. A young angler recently caught a 24-inch tiger muskie! See Facebook video.
The Rogue River above Lost Creek Reservoir is the premier summer trout fishery in the Rogue watershed. Anglers can escape the heat of the Rogue Valley, enjoy beautiful scenery, and catch fish. Campgrounds and other public access sites along Highway 62 and Highway 230 are stocked with rainbow trout weekly between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Haystack Reservoir continues to yield trophy-sized and brood trout in the 16-17-inch range!
Redband trout fishing from bank and boat is fair on Upper Klamath and Agency lakes.
Anglers report excellent kokanee fishing at Lake Billy Chinook and Wickiup Reservoir. Fish at Lake Billy Chinook average 13 inches; while 14–17-inch fish can be found at Wickiup. Tips for catching more kokanee
These examples are for demonstration purposes only. Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities.
Know before you go:
Sauvie Island Beaches Pass required to park through Labor Day on weekends and holidays.
Due to overcrowding at Sauvie Island beach parking lots, weekend and holiday beach parking now requires both the Wildlife Area Parking Permit ($10 daily / $30 annual) and the new free Sauvie Island Beaches Pass during the summer months. Plan ahead for your beach visit, as there are a limited number of free parking permits available each weekend day.
Both Beaches Passes and Wildlife Area Parking Permits can be obtained online or by visiting a license sales agent. Customers are limited to one Beaches Pass per date. Vehicles will also need to show their Beaches Pass and Parking Permit at the Eastside Check Station (Rentenaar and Reeder Rd) during some hours on weekends and will not be able to proceed to the beach parking lots without them--so plan ahead!
Chinook salmon season on coastal rivers
Seasons for fall runs are starting on some rivers. Check the in-season updates page for wild fall Chinook regulations this year. Wild coho season proposals are now online.
E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area shotgun range closed for renovations through October
The shotgun range at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area near Corvallis is closed for renovations. Improvements on the range will include expanding the shooting bays and implementing ADA compliant access to the site. ODFW expects work to be completed by October 31. Updates will be posted on the E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area Visitors Guide webpage. The archery park and other facilities on the wildlife area will remain open.
Hunter Education:
Hunter Safety Education events are updated weekly - space is limited!
Don't wait – sign up now! Check for a date and location that works with your schedule. Register for a class.
Youth Upland Game Bird Hunts - Registration is now open for Youth Pheasant Hunts happening in a number of locations in September. These events give young hunters an opportunity to hunt in a controlled setting with a focus on safety and success. Some hunts require advanced registration via ODFW's licensing system. Youth Chukar Hunt! More opportunities for youth.
Adult Hunter Recruitment Program workshops and events.
These hands-on ODFW workshops will teach you the skills to improve your hunting performance and build your confidence in the field. ODFW offers a variety of classes and workshops statewide, throughout the year. Workshops are designed for adults – ages 18 and older. Register for an event.
Shotgun skills class for adults: Register for event on Sat. Aug 23, starting at 8:00 AM at Bend Trap Club, 29753 U.S. 20, Bend, OR. Hunting license not required to attend. If bringing a personal shotgun, it must be unloaded and inspected before use.
Resources:
Wildfire season
Wildfire information updates here: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/firestats.aspx
Sign up for wildfire alerts on your phone here: Oregon Wildfire Response and Recovery : Homepage : State of Oregon
Toxic algae blooms
Reports of algae blooms that are toxic to people and pets have started. Check the Oregon Health Authority website for updated information. https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/RECREATION/HARMFULALGAEBLOOMS/Pages/AboutAlgaeSeason.aspx
Let baby wildlife stay wild
Young animals are rarely orphaned, so leave them where you find them. Chances are that mom is nearby watching and waiting for you to go away before she rejoins her young. Learn more.
