Fish Report for 5-24-2024

ODFW Recreation Report

5-24-2024
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Includes updates to fishing, crabbing and clamming

 

Free Fishing Weekend, June 1-2

On FFW you won't need a license, tag, validation or endorsement to experience some of the best fishing of the year. Take a friend fishing at a recently stocked pond, or make it a family affair at a Free Fishing Weekend event.‌

Let young wildlife stay wild

This is the time of year outdoor enthusiasts start finding seemingly abandoned or orphaned wildlife babies. But young animals are rarely orphaned, so leave them where you find them. Chances are good mom is nearby, just waiting for you to leave before she returns to her baby. Here's what to do if you find young animals alone in the wild.‌

Best bets for weekend fishing

With a long weekend coming up for many people, and some of the best fishing of the year underway, we hope fishing is on your holiday agenda. If it isn't, here's our effort to convince you that it should be:‌

  • There are spring Chinook being caught…, well, all over the place. Here's a partial list: Tillamook and Nestucca bays, and the Rogue, Sandy, Clackamas, Willamette, North and South Santiam, Hood and Snake rivers.
  • Oh yeah, and extra days have been added to the Chinook fishery in the lower Columbia. Find more details here.
  • Summer steelhead fishing has been good in the Lower McKenzie, Middle Fork Willamette, and the North and South Fork Santiam, with inklings of fish in the Nestucca, Wilson, Sandy and Clackamas.
  • Many western Oregon streams and rivers have now reopened for cutthroat trout fishing. If you've never fished these small streams, they can be a hoot. Learn more about why you should give them a try.
  • Anglers are targeting shad in the Coquille, Umpqua and Columbia
  • Trout fishing has been very good at Hyatt, Howard Prairie and Fish Lake.
  • Kokanee are biting at Lake Billy Chinook, Odell, Paulina and Wickiup.
  • The salmonfly hatch on the lower Deschutes River is in full swing! Some anglers wait all year for this. Hit the river and find out why.
  • Trophy-size trout will be going into Heart Lake, Holbrook Reservoir and Lofton Reservoir this week.
  • Bass fishing has started to pick up in all three Hells Canyon reservoirs.
  • When ocean conditions permit, anglers have been landing some salmon and halibut.
  • Finally, thousands of Oregon's most popular game fish, trout, will continue to be stocked this week in locations throughout the state.

These examples are for demonstration purposes only. Check the zone reports for details and more options.‌

Fishing for cash

The Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery Program pays anglers for each northern pikeminnow they catch in the Columbia River. Each pikeminnow caught helps a few more juvenile salmon and steelhead make their way to sea. Read more about the program. ‌



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More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Friday, May 24th

Shellfish biotoxin closes mussel harvesting on central coast
Fish, clam and crab for free during Free Fishing Weekend June 1-2

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, May 22nd

Umatilla River: The spring Chinook fishery on the Umatilla River is open currently
Crescent Lake: Recent reports of good fishing for large brown and lake trou
Davis Lake: Anglers report excellent bass fishing along the reeds
East Lake: Lingering snow may limit access to some boat ramps
Haystack Reservoir: Haystack is currently at 68 percent full
Hood River: Hood River Report
Hosmer Lake: Hosmer Lake Report
Ochoco Reservoir: The reservoir is 97 percent full
Paulina Lake: Anglers report productive rainbow trout fishing and excellent kokanee fishing
Wickiup Reservoir: The reservoir is 72 percent full
Blue River: Will be stocked the week of May 20
Blue River Reservoir: Will be stocked the week of May 27
Detroit Reservoir: Recent rains have filled the reservoir almost to the top
Foster Reservoir: Will be stocked again this week
Gold Lake: Gold Lake fishing officially open for fishing May 22, 2024
Green Peter Reservoir: The water level in Green Peter continues to rise
McKenzie River: McKenzie River Report
Willamette River: Fishing for summer steelhead has been productive
Santiam River ( North Fork) : Spring chinook numbers increased dramatically over the last couple of weeks
Santiam River ( North Fork) Above Detroit Lake: lows are currently around 1,000 cfs
Santiam River (South Fork): Summer steelhead are off to a pretty good start this year
Kilchis River: Angling for cutthroat trout should be fair to good throughout the river
Necanicum River: Trout fishing should be fair to good
Nestucca River: Cutthroat trout fishing should be fair to good
Three Rivers: The Anti-Snagging Gear Restriction went into effect on Three Rivers on May 1
Trask River: Cutthroat trout fishing should be fair to good
Applegate River: The Applegate River opens May 22 for trout fishing
Chetco River: The river reopened to trout fishing on May 22
Ben Irving Reservoir: This should be a good time to fish Ben Irving
Cooper Creek Reservoir: Should be some good trout fishing now
Diamond Lake: Anglers willing to confront the changing weather are catching fish
Elk River: The river reopened to trout fishing on May 22
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is 68 percent full
Galesville Reservoir: No direct reports from anglers, but stories that some of the trophy trout have been caught
Illinois River: The Illinois River opens May 22 for trout fishing
Lake Marie: Lake Marie was stocked with rainbow trout last week
Lemolo Lake: he reservoir was stocked last week
Rogue River - Middle: Flow in Grants Pass is about 3,100 cfs
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): The Rogue above Lost Creek is open for fishing
Sixes River: The river reopened to trout fishing on May 22
Smith River: Striped bass fishing should be good in the tidewater areas
Umpqua River: The mainstem water conditions are looking good
North Umpqua River: Steelhead season is winding down quickly
South Umpqua River : The South reopened May 22 for trout and bass fishing
Blitzen River: The Blitzen is flowing at around 430 cubic feet per second
Delintment Lake: Delintment is now accessible
Heart Lake: Fishing recently has been excellent
Holbrook Reservoir: The reservoir will be stocked with 300 trophy rainbow trout this weekend
Owyhee Reservoir: The reservoir is full and it should be a great year on Owyhee Reservoir
Phillips Reservoir: Phillips held a good bit of water over winter and is now almost 3/4 full
Warm Springs Reservoir: The reservoir is now full and spilling