ODFW News Updates

12/18/2025

Best bets for weekend fishing:

  • As a general reminder for Anglers: Maximize distance from bank anglers and other boats. Safely row or motor around anglers and other boats and avoid motoring nearshore and in shallow areas!
  • Heavy rain and flooding has blown out many rivers across the state. Fishing will improve next week, when water levels fall to normal. That makes now a good time to finish holiday shopping and your winter to do list!
  • Winter steelhead are in the North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum River, Big Creek, and Klaskanine Rivers. These streams get early returning hatchery steelhead and will provide the best opportunity for catching winter steelhead in December. Check for flood conditions before heading out.
  • Lost Creek Reservoir has had great reports by folks trolling for rainbow trout.
  • Steelhead fishing is good on the Umatilla River.
  • Approximately 400 brood trout were released recently at Haystack Reservoir. As a reminder, to allow everyone a chance at catching one of these fish, only one fish over 20 inches long can be harvested each day.
  • Anglers report excellent kokanee fishing at Lake Billy Chinook.
  • Steelhead fishing has been good on the Grande Ronde, Imnaha and Umatilla Rivers
  • Yellow perch fishing is still an option in Recreation Creek, Pelican Bay Area of Upper Klamath Lake, Sevenmile Canal Mouth, and Fourmile Canal.
  • Surplus brood trout from Oak Springs hatchery were stocked in Taylor Lake and Pine hollow this week
  • Crabbing in Newport is fair. Crabbing in Waldport has been good. Crab quality is good as shells have hardened and are full of meat.

These examples are for demonstration purposes only. Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities.


2026 Recreational Bottomfish Season Set

On Friday, December 12, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission finalized the 2026 recreational bottomfish season and regulations. Changes from 2025 are in italics and underlined. 

Bag Limits

  • General Marine Species:
  • 4-fish bag limit
  • Canary rockfish: 2-fish sub-bag limit
  • Cabezon: 1-fish sub-bag limit
  • 16-inch minimum size limit
  • Opens July 1
  • Lingcod: 3-fish bag limit
  • 22-inch minimum size limit
  • Flatfish: 25-fish bag limit
  • Sablefish: 10-fish bag limit
  • Offshore long-leader fishery: 10-fish bag limit
  • Canary rockfish: 2-fish sub-bag limit
  • For a 10-fish bag limit to apply, long-leader gear must be used outside (seaward) of the 40-fathom regulatory line
  • 10 midwater rockfish species only
  • Retention of yelloweye and quillback rockfishes remain prohibited.

The bottomfish fishery will again be open at all-depths year-round (no seasonal depth restriction).

Reminder: Beginning in 2026, an Ocean Endorsement is required for most anglers fishing in the ocean from beaches, jetties, and boats except when taking shellfish or when fishing for and retaining salmon or steelhead unless other marine finfish are retained. For more information on requirements and fees, please visit myodfw.com/articles/ocean-endorsement.

Additional information on the recreational bottomfish fishery can be found on the ODFW sport bottomfish webpage.


Lake Fishing

Oregon has some of the most beautiful lakes.  From small mountain cascade lakes filled with ice cold water and  mountain cutthroat trout.  Large natural lakes Like the Klamath with giant Landlocked Steelhead, Lake Trout, Bass and Catfish. Lakes in
every  corner of the state filled  with Bass, Perch, sunfish, catfish  and every species of trout. The lower cascade lakes offer Rainbow, Brown and Kokanee ( a landlocked salmon variety).   Some larger reservoirs offer lake trout and bass.  Many of the lowland and eastern Oregon lakes and reservoirs offer bass, sunfish, crappie, catfish and some even have Walleye.

Rivers and Streams

From the mighty Columbia River to our gorgeous mountain streams.  Oregon offers a wide variety of fishing pleasure.  Trolling or drifting the Columbia for Salmon, Striped Bass or the fighting Sturgeon.  Drift or shore fishing the beautiful Rogue, Umpqua, Mckenzie, Deschues and Snake for Salmon and Steelhead is both exciting and relaxing.  Whether fly fishing or bait fishing our mountaiin streams filled with cutthroat, brook or rainbow trout you will find it not only rewarding but peaceful.  Spring and Summer Steelhead fill the coastal rivers and streams, as well as Salmon.  Coast Sea run cutthoats are a pleasure to catch and eat.

Deep Sea Fishing

From the Chetco/Brookings Harbor to the Mighty Columbia Oregon offers 363 miles of Pacific Ocean Coastline.  The more famous and possibly safer ports are Brookings Harbor on the Chetco near the California Border; Port of Bandon, Coos Bay/Charleston, Winchester Bay on the Umpqua River all south coast; Newport/Yaquina Bay, Depot Bay ( Worlds smallest Port) and Tillamook/Garibaldi central Coast; and finally Columbia River with Warrenton and Astoria.  Oregon coast offers great Rock and bottom fishing,  World classs Salmon fishing.  Lingcod, Halibut and Tuna.  Many ports for you to put your own craft out or join the many Commercial charter fishing vessels.

Sports in the great outdoors
– strengthen your body
and your mind