Fish Report for 11-17-2023

ODFW Recreation Report

11-17-2023
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

No Recreation Report next week

There won't be a Recreation Report on Nov. 22, due to the holiday. But we'll be back at it – same time, same place – on Nov. 29. In the meantime, have a great holiday weekend!‌

Free fishing: A new holiday tradition

Make fishing part of your Thanksgiving weekend plans with friends and family. Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 24-25. No fishing/shellfish licenses or tags are required those two days. Learn more.‌

Best bets for weekend fishing

If your holiday plans don't include a little fishing, why not? Rain or shine there will be plenty of opportunities, including:‌

  • Hatchery trout were stocked regularly in larger lakes and reservoirs throughout the spring and summer. There are still plenty of those fish around, with fewer anglers and no mosquitoes.
  • Anglers can target native trout in rivers that are open year-round and that can have good fishing throughout the fall and winter. These include the Klamath, Lower Deschutes, Fall, Crooked, Metolius, Chewaucan, Blitzen and Wallowa.
  • Chinook salmon fishing can be a good bet on the Kilchis and Wilson rivers that get a later run.
  • There are bright coho running in the North Fork Nehalem and Trask rivers, as well as Beaver Creek.
  • Steelhead have arrived in the Grand Ronde, Imnaha and John Day rivers just in time for holiday fishing.
  • On the westside, first winter steelhead arrived at Nehalem Hatchery this week. It's early and numbers will still be very low, but we're saying there's a chance.
  • Crabbing in the bays and estuaries can be excellent this time of year, especially after a few days of dry weather.

Harvest your Thanksgiving turkey

You've still got a week to bag a wild turkey for your Thanksgiving holiday dinner. We've covered all the basics of turkey hunting, in case you need a refresher.‌

Find duck harvest numbers

If you're wondering how duck hunting has been at ODFW wildlife areas, check the recent harvest statistics on MyODFW.com.



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