Idaho Fish Report

September 18, 2025

Includes updates to fishing, hunting, crabbing, clamming, and wildlife viewing.

Youth pheasant hunts are happening statewide. Find a date and location that works with your schedule. More info.

2025 Big Game Hunting Forecast

Scroll down for updates on hunting and wildlife viewing.

Best bets for weekend fishing:

• Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added more recreational salmon fishing days in the mainstem Columbia River from Sept. 18 – 21 in the on-going fishery. There will also be opportunities for hatchery coho retention thru the end of the year. Visit the Columbia River zone regulations updates page for more details.

• The General Marine Species daily bag limit is reduced to three fish beginning Sept. 18 to lower the risk of an early season closure. The one-fish sub-bag limit for cabezon and the one-fish sub-bag limit for canary rockfish remain in place, and retention of quillback and yelloweye rockfishes remains prohibited. Great weather and ocean conditions since mid-July led to high fishing effort and success.

• The first hatchery Chinook season in the Coquille River since 2021 is underway, along with opportunities to catch wild and hatchery coho. See the reg updates page for details.

• In the Willamette zone, the Willamette River and other water bodies are increasing in activity. Alton Baker Canal will be stocked each week through Sept. 22 with 1,000 hatchery rainbow trout!

• In the NW zone, trophy trout are being stocked in Cape Meares Lake, Town Lake, Coffenbury Lake, Lost Lake, and Sunset Lake this week. These are 2 to 4 pound trout that are fun to catch!

• Foster Reservoir will be stocked this week with 3,000 hatchery trout!

• The seventh annual Rogue River Pikeminnow Roundup is set for Sept. 26 - Sept. 28, offering anglers the chance to win prizes while helping protect native fish. Learn how to enter your photo to win!

• Wild coho seasons open in mid-September on most rivers. Seasons are similar to last year, with additional fishing days in some rivers and an across-the-board season bag limit of 3 fish in rivers that are open due to the strong forecast. Check the in-season reg updates page for details. *(We've heard reports of anglers using AI and getting unreliable and inaccurate data concerning rules and regulations so please check the myodfw.com website, don't rely on ChatGPT!).

• In the Nestucca, Tillamook, and Nehalem Bays wild coho is open three days a week (Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays) from September 10 to October 26, and the bag limit is one wild adult coho/day and 3 for the season.

• Fall Chinook fishing continues up on the North Coast with Chinook being caught consistently in the Nestucca, Tillamook, and Nehalem bays. Basins have reduced bag limits for wild fall Chinook this season so check the regulation updates online before heading out. The wild adult Chinook bag limit is 1/day and 2/season as part of the daily bag limit on the Nehalem. See the regulation updates online for more details.
   
• The salmon bag limit in the Coos Basin increased on Aug. 19 from two to three fish in aggregate, one of which must be a hatchery salmon. More info
   

• Check the trout stocking schedule and maps for locations near you and invite some friends!

• Summer steelhead runs are still on in the Nestucca and Wilson Rivers.

• August and September are good months for the Metolius. Bull Trout have entered the river to spawn and anglers report aggressive takes on streamers..
   

• Anglers continue to report excellent kokanee and trout fishing at East, Paulina, and Odell lakes. Kokanee are beginning to darken in preparation for spawning, but quality fish can be caught into early September.

• Devils Lake was recently stocked with rainbow trout providing a great opportunity for paddleboard, kayak, or float tube fishing.

• When fishing for trout in warmer weather: Fish early morning and late evening, target higher elevation lakes that stay cooler to increase the odds of success. Cascade hike-in lakes offer beauty, serenity and the potential for untrammeled fishing opportunities.

• Anglers report excellent trout fishing in Crooked River.

• Ocean tuna fishing is good out of Pacific City, Bandon and Depoe Bay.

• Howard and Hyatt Lakes offer good fishing for largemouth bass right now.
   

• Fishing for Brook Trout in the Upper Sycan, Upper NF Sprague, Upper SF Sprague, Long Creek, Sevenmile and Upper Williamson will be exceptional.

• Lake of the Woods was stocked this week with 12-14 inch rainbow trout.
   

• Campbell and Deadhorse Lake will be stocked this week and should be great fishing.

• Flyfishing the NF Sprague River with large stonefly patterns should be excellent.
   

• Razor clam digging is still open along the central and south Oregon coast (closed until Oct. 1 on Clatsop beaches). Crabbing remains open along the Oregon coast.

• It's a great time of year to fish for warmwater species. See our guide.

• These examples are for demonstration purposes only. Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities.

• ODFW has received reports of at least six striped marlin caught in the ocean in recent weeks. Billfish like striped marlin aren't a regular sight here—but when warm currents move north and baitfish are plentiful, these powerful predators sometimes make their way within reach of Oregon's recreational fleets.

Know before you go:

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.

Hunting updates:

• Archery seasons are open through Sept. 28. Remember to check for fire closures before you go, see link to Hunting and Fire Danger page for helpful links, Hunting access and fire danger.
   
• Prepare for your rifle hunt – visit your local range for Sight-in Days and test some non-lead ammunition at specified locations – Check the calendar.
   
• CWD testing: Hunters are critical to the effort to detect Chronic Wasting Disease, a serious wildlife disease that has never been detected in Oregon but is found in most surrounding states. Successful hunters, please get your deer or elk tested for CWD, and be in the draw for a prize from OHA! See how here CWD information and check stations.
   
• Forest grouse seasons kicked off statewide Sept. 1, as well as quail seasons in Western Oregon and some fall turkey seasons. Hunters, please turn in mtn quail and forest grouse wings, find a map of collection barrels by following this link: Turning in grouse and mountain quail wings and tails.
   
• Fall turkey season started on Sept. 1 in some areas. Find more information on Fall turkey seasons, techniques and limits in the Oregon Game Bird regulations. *(Use of AI is unreliable and may contain inaccurate data concerning rules and regulations).
   
• Band tailed pigeon season is open statewide from Sept. 15- Sept. 23. See Licensing Requirements for details on obtaining a permit.

Hunter Education:

Look no further: hunter safety courses and field days

Choose between a conventional in-person course or complete one of the online education courses plus an in-person field day. Sign up for a location, date and time that works best with your schedule. Hunter safety education events are offered year-round and taught by certified volunteer instructors statewide. Hunting seasons are coming up fast - plan ahead to secure your seat now! (Events are updated weekly)

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.

Duck, duck, Goose!

Sign up for one of the waterfowl workshops available now, Register for an event.

Resources:

Wildfire season

Know before you go: Hunters need to check for fire-related closures before they head out, some helpful information on this page.

Check for closures on private forest lands through the Oregon Forest Industry Council link here.

State and Federal laws require travelers to carry specific equipment while traveling in forests, prairies and other wild lands during wildfire season. Check BLM closures, rules and requirements here.

View the report