2026 Winter Steelhead validation required thru April 30

2026 Rogue South Coast Winter Steelhead Validation is required to target steelhead Dec. 1-April 30.

Silver Creek Falls

Recreation Report

February 26, 2026

ACCESS A REPORT

ODFW Weekly Recreation Report

Includes updates to fishing, hunting, crabbing, clamming, and wildlife viewing.

February 26, 2026

2026 spring bear: Draw results are available and the spring bear forecast is also online now, check your hunt areas and start scouting to prepare before the season opening on April 1.

Central Oregon Sportsmen's Show: Come visit ODFW's booth at the show, March 5-8 in Redmond. Visit the show site and enter to win the Trip of a Lifetime to join ODFW on a Marine Reserves research trip or Rocky Mountain goat survey.

Reminder to report your late season 2025 big game tags by April 15: Report your hunt

Check ODOT Trip Check online for statewide road conditions, closures and updates before you go.

Some wildlife areas closed to the public or closed to vehicles from Feb 1- April 15. Check Wildlife viewing on the weekly recreation report.

This season's last opportunity to hunt Canada, White Fronted and White Goose in the South Coast Zone is Feb. 21 through March 10.

Reminder that a Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation is required for all winter steelhead anglers fishing in the Rogue Basin or on the South Coast from Dec. 1-April 30. A wild steelhead harvest tag is required to keep wild winter steelhead in this area.

Find the weekly trout stocking schedule here.

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!
  • Check the zone in which you intend to fish before you head out. Access can change quickly with winter flooding, snow and ice conditions.

Northwest:

  • Hatchery steelhead on the Alsea River: The early bite has picked up, and fish are reaching our Hatchery traps at the Alsea Hatchery! For up to date upper/lower trap counts click here.
  • The North Fork Nehalem, Wilson and Nestucca have both picked up a little following last week's rain and have some fresh fish showing up. Each location should provide the best opportunity to catch hatchery steelhead.
  • Other basins (including the Little Nestucca, Trask, Kilchis, Nehalem, and Salmonberry Rivers) all have catch and release opportunities for wild steelhead.

Columbia River:

  • An additional day of sturgeon retention has been added for The Dalles Pool (Tuesday, March 3). Initial spring Chinook season days have also been set. More info

Southwest:

  • Applegate, Chetco, Rogue and Umpqua South rivers may show an increase in winter steelhead activity with the recent rains.

Willamette:

  • Several waterbodies have been stocked with trout through February and will continue again in March.
  • Get your gear warmed up for the season on one of the local ponds, trout fishing is fun for the whole family.

Central:

  • Broodstock rainbow trout were stocked into Haystack Reservoir, Ochoco Reservoir, Pine Nursery Pond, North Twin Lake and South Twin Lakes the last week of January and again in mid-February.
  • Report of good trout nymphing actions some days on the Deschutes.
  • Anglers continue to report excellent kokanee and bull trout fishing at Lake Billy Chinook. The Metolius Arm of Lake Billy Chinook will reopen to angling March 1.

Northeast:

  • McKay Reservoir is scheduled to open on March 1.
  • Steelhead are throughout the Grande Ronde, Umatilla, Wallowa, and Imnaha Rivers. The best steelhead fishing will be now through March.
  • Anglers have been catching trout from the shore near the boat launch at Willow Creek Reservoir.

Southeast:

  • Fly fishing around Page Springs has been good this winter.
  • Trout fishing has been good this year for large holdovers at Moon Reservoir.
  • The Upper Williamson River above Kirk Road Bridge is now open year-round. Access remains available.
  • There are some nice holdover trout in the Malheur River. Nymphs and streamers are consistent producers and dry fly fishing can be good on warmer days.
  • Black Crappie and catfishing in Owhyee Reservoir have been good. The best catfishing can be found in the Leslie Gulch area.

Marine

  • Good report of anglers landing rockfish and lingcod around Newport.

Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities.

Angler Education: Learn to fish by taking advantage of a Steelhead 101 event.

Hunter Education: Hunter safety conventional courses and field days are available now--Sign up early and get ahead of the game for the 2026 season!

Learn to Hunt: Register now for Spring Turkey Hunting Workshops—prepare for a more successful hunt.