Idaho Fish Report

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

Controlled hunt draw results are posted! 

Login to your account--go to your Recreational Portfolio--look under Controlled Hunt Wins.

Summertime fishing outlook:

ODFW biologists are monitoring drought and heat impacts on fish. Regulations may change in some areas, and access could be an issue in others. But there is always something to fish for and it could be a great summer to target Oregon's warmwater game fish. View the outlook for your favorite fishing zone this summer and good spots to target warmwater fish.

Columbia River Sockeye opener delayed

until at least June 27. Read the news release here.

New Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permit:

From June 15 - Labor Day, vehicles need a Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permit ($10 daily) to park at Walton, Collins, and North Unit beaches on weekends and holidays. The traditional Wildlife Area Parking Permit will not be valid in these parking areas but can be used at other locations in the wildlife area (Willow Bar and Gilbert River boat ramp) and on summer weekdays. Purchase Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permits online or through a license sales agent. Additional details about the permit are available at SauvieIslandParking.com.

Clean boats and other watercraft after each use to prevent transmission of non-native species.

ODFW Ashland Boat Inspection Station found golden mussels on a boat. Mussels feed on food sources essential for native species and sport fish. They damage irrigation and hydropower systems and degrade water quality. 

Drought impact on stocking schedules.

Some areas are already too warm or shallow to support hatchery fish, which will be diverted to more suitable locations. Check local ODFW offices for the most updated stocking information. 

Wildlife viewing

Is at it’s peak this summer across Oregon! Find opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Catch-and-release techniques will reduce fish stress and increase survival. 

• Land fish promptly to prevent over‑exhaustion and avoid beaching to minimize the time they spend out of the water.
• Rubberized nets prevent snagging and reduce injury. Keep fish in the water while removing hooks.
• Wet hands before handling fish to protect their slime layer.  
• Barbless hooks and pliers or a hook remover tool make release quicker and less harmful.
• Gently support fish in the water until they swim away on their own.
• Avoid fishing during periods of high-water temperatures or poor water quality when fish are already stressed.

Wildfire season is here. 

Check access before you travel, and carry a fire extinguisher, shovel and water in high risk areas. Sign up for alerts and find the latest information on wildfire activity at the Oregon Emergency Management website.

Best bets for weekend fishing: 

• Shad fishing will be hot until July 4, if you’re new to shad fishing find some tips here. 
• Bag limits are lifted for Thief Valley, Pilcher Creek, and Wolf Creek reservoirs. See the news release for more information: Bag limits lifted due to drought
• Fish for trout, see the zone reports for best bets.
• Low tides make it easier to dig razor, butter, cockle and gaper clams. 

 Northwest:

• Cutthroat trout are present in most areas and sea-run cutthroat has started coming in this month. Spring Chinook are in the Lower Columbia Tributaries: Big Creek, Gnat Creek, and Klaskanine R.
• Town lake got an unscheduled stocking of trout from Cedar Creek Hatcheries show pond; these are nice sized trout and should provide some good opportunity this weekend.
• Spring Chinook fishing is in full swing on Tillamook Bay, Nestucca Bay, the Trask River, Nestucca River, and Little Nestucca River. Bays, tidewater, and lower rivers .
• Summer steelhead fishing is improving on the Nestucca and Wilson Rivers.
• Trout stocking in lakes is completed for the summer. There are plenty of hold-over trout for all.
• Warm water fisheries for bass and sunfish are picking up. Cape Meares, Coffenbury, and Cullaby lakes, Lake Lytle and Vernonia pond all have decent populations of warm water species available. Siltcoos and Takenitch lakes are great places to target largemouth bass, yellow perch, and bluegill. Target the margins as fish move in for spawning. Largemouth bass are doing well at both locations.
• Summer steelhead are moving in the Siletz River! Tagged summer steelhead have been recycled to the lower river for additional angler opportunity. Please report tags from Siletz River fish to caleb.w.yann@odfw.oregon.gov for monitoring recapture and harvest rates in the basin.
• Mid-Coast lakes are well stocked with hatchery rainbow trout, cast a line for a summertime fishing adventure.

Southwest: 

• This is a good time of year to look for cutthroat in the Chetco River estuary. The estuary has very little bank access. Please be mindful of out-migrating salmon and steelhead smolt. If you catch these young salmonids, consider switching to barbless hooks and/or moving to a new location.
• If winds are light, Winchuck River and Sixes River estuary can be good places to target cutthroat.
• Trolling at Lost Creek and Applegate Reservoirs continues to be very good.
• Howard Prairie and Hyatt Reservoirs have plenty of legal-size rainbow trout. Holdovers from last year are a good size.
• Spring Chinook are moving through the Middle Rogue, and a few anglers are reporting success. Try plugs or plunking along current seams on the inside bends of the river to intercept them. Early morning or evening when sunlight is not directly on the water will be the best time to intercept migrating springers.
• Cooper Creek Reservoir looks nice and clear. Go earlier in the morning or fish deeper for success.
• Rain and cooler temperatures should make for good fishing conditions in Elk River.
• Cooler weather at Floras Lake with improve the bite.

Willamette: 

• Shad fishing is still productive in the Oregon City area, though catch will wind down soon.
• Anglers are catching Spring Chinook in the Willamette at the “head of channel” between St Johns Bridge and Wapato Bridge. Target these fish early in the morning with 360 trolling methods.
• Detroit Reservoir was stocked with 4,000 trophy trout this week and will receive another 8,000 next week. Anglers are reporting decent kokanee catch. Juvenile spring chinook are active this time of year, feeding and trying to figure out how to migrate downstream. Anglers need to be able to tell them apart from kokanee and release any chinook unharmed.

Columbia River: 

• Steelhead fishing is fair downstream of Rainier.
• Shad fishing is good for bank anglers at Bonneville Dam.
• Walleye fishing is good in The Dalles and John Day pools. For the latest regulations for the summer management season, see the fishing regulation update page.

Central: 

• Still spring Chinook throughout the Hood River. The last day of the season is June 30.
• Stonefly season is winding down but good reports of nymph fishing on the lower Deschutes
• Anglers report excellent early season fishing at Lava and Little Lava Lakes for large holdover trout
• Shevlin Park and Metolius youth and disabled fishing ponds were recently stocked to provide excellent angling opportunities.
• Anglers report smaller than average (12-16-in) but abundant rainbow trout and 15-in kokanee and good fishing at Crane Prairie Reservoir.
• Anglers report good trout fishing and excellent kokanee fishing at Paulina Lake. Kokanee at Paulina Lake is amongst the largest in Central Oregon this year averaging 13-14 inches.
• Positive reports keep rolling in from East Lake with large numbers of rainbow trout in the 16-18-inch range, trophy brown trout over 24-inches, and kokanee 13-15-inches.
• The Crooked and Metolius Rivers continue to provide excellent early spring angling opportunities for redband trout and mountain whitefish.
• Fall River was recently stocked, and anglers report excellent nymphing opportunities near the hatchery and the headwaters.

Northeast: 

• Kokanee fishing has been good on Wallowa Lake.
• Try perch fishing at Phillips Reservoir; there are some large fish!
• Catch nice trout on Willow Creek Reservoir.
• Catch Spring Chinook on the lower Umatilla River.
• Smallmouth bass fishing on the John Day is good this week.

Snake: 

• Bass and trout can be caught downstream of Hells Canyon Dam.
• Bass, perch, and crappie fishing will improve with warm weather in Hells Canyon Reservoirs
• Some large crappie are being caught in Brownlee Reservoir

Southeast: 

• Catch and Release for Redband Rainbow Trout with no bait will be required starting June 15 on Upper Klamath Lake including Pelican Bay, Crystal Creek, Recreation Creek, Harriman Creek, Odessa Creek, Short Creek, Pelican Bay, Fourmile Creek, Thomason Creek, Fourmile Canal, and mouth of Williamson River.
• Willow Valley Reservoir is good for largemouth bass
• Black drake mayflies will be hatching in various rivers in the Klamath Basin.
• Lake of the Woods, Miller Lake and Fourmile Lake will be good for hatchery rainbow trout
• The Wood River below Weed Road is fishing well for Brown Trout.
• Nice holdover trout in the Malheur River below Warmsprings right now.
• Crappie fishing in Owhyee Reservoir has been good.
• Perch fishing at Dog Lake has been good.
• Cascade Ramp at Hyatt is open.
• Deadhorse has been producing a lot of good sized holdover rainbow trout.

Marine 

• See season dates for Pacific Halibut
• Bookmark the Salmon pdf for reference on your upcoming ocean fishing trips.

Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities. 

Hunter Education:

Hunter safety conventional courses and field days are available--Sign up now to get ahead of the game this fall, space is limited! 

Shooting sports:   Aim for a more successful hunt this season by attending one of the many skills events! Choose shotgun, rifle, or all of the above.

Help protect Oregon's wildlife: Turn in poachers

Poaching takes a serious toll on of Oregon's wildlife. You can help by reporting poaching when you take to the field or hit the water this season. Find out more about poaching in Oregon, including ways you can report it.

View the report