Fish Report for 3-9-2023

ODFW Recreation Report

3-9-2023
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Learn to hunt wild turkeys

ODFW will be offering four adult turkey hunting clinics this spring in Monmouth, Bend and Central Point. Learn everything you need to know to start turkey hunting this spring. For more details and to register.

Spring bear opens April 1

It’s the first big game hunt of the season. If you’ve drawn a tag, here are some spring bear hunting tips to help you take home a bear.

And remember, if you do harvest a bear, you must check in at an ODFW office within 10 days of harvest.

Spring kokanee fishing

Kokanee fishing starts to heat up in April, so it’s not too soon to start thinking about where you’ll go fishing. And here are 9 kokanee fishing tips to help you land your limit.

Best bets for fishing 

  • While ice conditions are still good at most popular ice fishing spots -- Fish Lake, Lake of the Woods, and Pilcher, Phillips and Wolf Creek reservoirs – ice conditions will deteriorate quickly with the variable spring weather. Better get out there while you can still do so safely.
  • The trout stocking season is well underway in the NW, SW and Willamette zones. 
  • Still no reports of the first spring Chinook caught on the lower Rogue or mainstem Umpqua, but there have been a lot more anglers trying.
  • There’s still plenty of good fishing for both wild and hatchery steelhead. Keep an eye on water levels. Once they’ve peaked after a good rain or snow melt, be ready to hit the river once they start to fall.
  • Don’t overlook winter trout fishing destinations like the Ana, Lower Deschutes, Fall and Metolius rivers. Just adjust your tactics to the winter conditions.

Need more details? Check out the zone reports.



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More Reports


3-9-2023
March 9, 2023 RECREATIONAL OCEAN SALMON ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in consultation with the Pacific Fishery...... Read More

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, March 8th, 2023
Prinevile Reservoir: Prineville Reservoir is slowly filling
Alsea River: The later returning wild broodstock hatchery fish are being caught in the NF Alsea
Kilchis River: If the rains come in as predicted it should be in pretty good shape early to middle of next week
Miami River: Miami remains low and clear but should get a nice bump early next week
Necanicum River: Will be in pretty good shape early to middle of next week
Nehalem River: Nehalem River Fishing Report
Nehalem River- North Fork: Upcoming rains should have it fishable through the weekend
Nestucca River: Fishing has been moderate but consistent on the Nestucca
Salmon River: The river is low and clear and fishing pressure has been consistent
Siletz River: We are seeing newer fish push into the system
Siuslaw River: The colder temps have made the Siuslaw challenging but conditions have remained fair
Trask River Fishing Report
Wilson River: The Wilson has been low and clear but there are still fish being caught consistently
Applegate Reservoir: The elevation of the reservoir is close to the 1,906-foot mark and the surface temperature is 40oF
Applegate River: The Applegate River is open to trout and steelhead fishing through March 31
Ben Irving Reservoir: Trout fishing has been slow over the past couple of weeks
Chetco River: Anglers will want to keep an eye on flows
Cooper Creek Reservoir: Trout fishing may be good on warmer days
Elk River: Good time of year to run plugs as steelhead are getting pretty aggressive
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant is 23 percent full
Garrison Lake: ODFW conducted some sample netting last week
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie is at 18 percent full
Illinois River: River conditions are forecast to spike significantly over the weekend and early next week
Rogue River - Middle: Current flow is around 1,750 cfs
Rogue River- Upper: The release from Lost Creek Reservoir is in the 1,050 cfs vicinity
Umpqua River: No reports of spring Chinook being caught
North Umpqua River: Steelhead have been moving through Winchester Dam
South Umpqua River : Steelhead fishing has picked up over the last week
Winchuck River: Anglers will want to pay attention to flows as rains this week
Ana Reservoir: The reservoir has been lowered 6 feet to decrease erosion along the bank
Ana River: Anglers have been doing quite well on the river recently
Phillips Reservoir: Throughout the winter, Phillips Reservoir froze over
Pilcher Reservoir: Pilcher Reservoir Fishing Report
Thief Valley Reservoir: Thief Valley Reservoir emptied last year. It is likely that few fish remain in the reservoir
Wolf Creek Reservoir: This winter anglers have had good catches of 10 to 12-inch rainbows