Fish Report for 2-24-2022

ODFW Recreation Report

2-24-2022
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

2022 Columbia spring Chinook seasons set

See more details here.

Best bets for weekend fishing

With cold mornings, cold water and clear conditions throughout much of the state, it’s hard to put winter steelheading on the best bets list. Though with rain and warmer temperatures in the forecast, steelhead fishing may improve early next week. In the meantime, anglers looking for a fishing fix might want to focus on trout and marine opportunities.

  • Coffenbury Lake, Lost Lake and Vernonia Pond all have surplus hatchery steelhead available. 
  • Central Point’s Expo Pond and Reinhardt Park Pond in Grants Pass received trout stockings last week. Other trout destinations in the Rogue district include Medo Pond, Willow Lake and Lost Lake.
  • The trout stocking season is underway in several waterbodies in the Willamette Valley. Check the trout stocking schedule to find what’s been recently stocked.
  • Fly-anglers should look for hatches on the Fall, Metolius and Deschutes rivers during the warmer parts of the day.
  • The Klamath River Below the JC Boyle Powerhouse is a best bet for redband/rainbow trout. 
  • Ice fishing is holding on at Kinney Lake and Lake of the Woods.
  • Herring are spawning in the lower Coos Bay estuary and Yaquina Bay.
  • Anglers reported recent good catches of rockfish and lingcod near Charleston.
  • Crabbers were catching a fair amount number of crab in Winchester Bay.
  • Lingcod are available to shore anglers, especially this time of year when lingcod are closer to shore where they have nests in rocky areas.

Statistics for big game hunters

Find links to population, harvest and point summary reports that can help you decide what hunts to apply for.

Apply for a Premium Hunt

Premium Hunts offer a long season at the peak of the rut, no preference point advantage (great for new hunters) and an extra chance to hunt on top of your controlled or general season tag. Learn more about what’s available and how to apply.

Two rods allowed on lower Willamette 

Beginning March 1, anglers with a two-rod validation will be able to use two rods when fishing the lower Willamette for all game and non-game species. Except sturgeon, where there’s a one-rod limit. Find more details.



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More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, February 24th, 2022
Blitzen River: River levels are stable and slightly below average
Gerber Reservoir: Targeting yellow perch continues to be your best bet
John C Boyle Reservoir: Fishing is slow
Upper Klamath Lake: Upper Klamath Report
Klamath River - Upper - OR: Upper Klamath Report
Krumbo Reservoir: Fishing from the bank has been productive for large trout
Malheur Reservoir: Ice is currently at least 7 inches thick
Yellowjacket Lake: There is plenty of Ice on Yellowjacket Reservoir
Coquille River: Coquille River Basin Report
Illinois River: With water levels continuing to drop and water gin clear
Lake Selmac: Weed growth is down and all boat ramps are accessible
Rogue River - Middle: Wild steelhead can now be retained above Hog Creek boat ramp
Rogue River- Upper: The summer Steelhead run is still trickling into the hatchery but is likely about over
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): Expect slow fishing and limited access with snow
Umpqua River: Umpqua River Fishing Report
St. Louis Ponds: St Louis Ponds now open year-round thanks to new automated gate
Winchuck River: Current conditions are low and clear
Kilchis River: The Kilchis River is still very low and clear
Necanicum River: The hatchery winter steelhead run on the Necanicum River is about done
Nehalem River: Plenty of catch-and-release opportunity for wild steelhead
Nestucca River: The Nestucca was slow for steelhead last weekend
Trask River: The Trask has been very low and clear
Wilson River: This will be one on the best bets for hatchery winter steelhead for the remainder of the season
Wallowa River: Wallowa River Fishing Report


2-23-2022
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – After reviewing stock status and a slightly improved upriver spring Chinook forecast from last year's actual return, fishery...... Read More