Fish Report for 12-21-2023

ODFW Recreation Report

12-21-2023
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Last Recreation Report of 2023

We won't be publishing a Recreation Report on Dec. 28, but we'll be back again on Jan. 4, 2024.‌

Happy holidays from the ODWF Rec Report team!

Tight lines and happy holidays from the ODFW fish, wildlife and habitat biologists across the state who contribute to the Recreation Report. And a Happy New Year, too!‌

Last minute gift ideas

Waited too long to find the perfect gift for the hunter, angler or outdoor enthusiast on your holiday list? Order a pass, license or permit online from ODFW and it will be delivered immediately – can't get faster than that. This includes parking passes for ODFW wildlife areas, waterway access permits for longer pontoons, kayaks and paddle boards, fishing/hunting/shellfish licenses, and conservation stamps. Here's a whole list of ideas.‌

Best bets for winter fishing

  • It's still early for most winter steelhead but thanks to the recent rains, fish have been moving into some rivers on the North Coast and the Umpqua.
  • Fishing for stocked trout can be excellent this time of year as fish are trying to bulk up for the winter. Consider low and mid-elevation lakes and reservoirs that were stocked regularly in spring and summer – there are still plenty of those fish around.
  • Trout anglers should also consider native redband trout in rivers and streams on the eastside. There are several eastside rivers that are open year-round – check the zone reports for the latest updates.
  • Look for crabbing in the bays to pick up with the drier weather. This time of year, crab should be large and full of meat.
  • Ocean bottomfishing can be good throughout the winter, as long as the ocean cooperates. At the northern ports, Lingcodfishing has been excellent lately with most anglers catching limits.

Report your hunt

If you purchased a tag for a 2023 hunt, you must report by Jan. 31 – even if you didn't hunt or were unsuccessful. Information from hunters who did not hunt or did not harvest an animal is as important as from those who did take an animal. Find ways to report.‌



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More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, December 20th, 2023

Crooked River: Post-irrigation season flows in the Crooked River below Bowman Dam will be maintained at 100 cfs for the winter
Deschutes River: Anglers have been reporting good trout fishing lately between Warm Springs, Mecca, Trout Creek and Maupin
Fall River: Fly-anglers report good winter fishing in the Fall River
Hood River: Winter steelhead are starting to show up in the Hood River
Prinevile Reservoir: Prineville Reservoir at 59 percent full
Walton Lake: Anglers should be prepared for winter conditions
Detroit Reservoir: Water is again being released out of Detroit to maximize storage for the winter
Santiam River ( North Fork) : River is currently running at around 6,600 cfs at the gauge in Mehama
Santiam River (South Fork): The river is very turbid due to high sediment load
Willamette River: Willamette River Report
Alsea River: Fall Chinook is still open on the Alsea, but the season is just about done
Kilchis River: The Kilchis is getting low but is still fishable
Nehalem River: The Nehalem River is dropping, but still on the high side
Nehalem River- North Fork: The North Fork is getting low, but is still fishable
Nestucca River: Nestucca River Report
Salmon River: The past few weeks of rains have moved fish high into the system
Siletz River: The rains we have had these last weeks have pushed any lingering fish high into the spawning grounds
Siltcoos Lake: Coho fishing on Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes is still open
Siuslaw River: Fish are moving higher upstream
Trask River: The Trask River is a little on the low side, but still very fishable
Wilson River: Wilson River Report
Yaquina River: The slow bite on the Yaquina has gotten even slower the past few weeks
Chetco River: Steelhead are spread throughout the river, but very few anglers are out fishing
Elk River: Good time of year to start looking for the first winter steelhead of the season
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant is still at 13 percent full and filling very slowly
Garrison Lake: Lake is always a good choice for a warm winter day or if rivers are high and muddy
Illinois River: The Illinois River is open to catch-and-release trout and winter steelhead fishing
Rogue River- Lower: Angling pressure has been light, but the few anglers that are out are picking up some winter steelhead
Rogue River - Middle: Summer steelhead are spread out, anglers are reporting spotty success
Rogue River- Upper: The focus on the upper Rogue continues to be summer steelhead and trout fishing


12-19-2023
ROSEBURG, Ore. – Keeping adult and jack wild spring Chinook salmon on the North and mainstem Umpqua rivers will be prohibited...... Read More