Welcome to the ODFW Recreation Reports Northeast Zone

Fishing | Hunting | Viewing

Tweet

Print

  FISHING

Rainbow Trout on a stringer - Photo by Bob Swingle, ODFW-

Weekend fishing opportunities

• Several area lakes and ponds have been stocked this spring. Combine that with holdover trout from last season and this can be an excellent time to go trout fishing.

Send us your fishing report
We’d love to hear about your recent fishing experience. Send us your own fishing report through ODFW Fishing Reports -- the information will be forwarded to the local biologist who may use it to update various ODFW resources such as the Weekly Recreation Report.

BULL PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: trout

The access road is now open and fish are still available from last year. The reservoir will not be stocked for few more weeks.

GRANDE RONDE RIVER:  steelhead

The steelhead season closed April 15. The Grande Ronde River will reopen for fishing on May 26. 

Check river flows

HATROCK POND: trout

The ponds have been stocked and the fishing should be good for rainbow trout.

HOLLIDAY PARK POND: trout

Fishing has been fair for carryover trout, and the pond has been stocked recently.

IMNAHA RIVER:  steelhead

The steelhead season closed April 15. The Imnaha River will reopen for fishing on May 26. 

Check Imnaha River flows. 

JOHN DAY RIVER: Trout, smallmouth bass and channel catfish

Steelhead are now spawning in the tributarie, which are closed to fishing. Fishing season above Kimberly will not open until May 26.
Below Kimberly smallmouth bass and channel cat fishing is slow right now but should improve in a few weeks, once snowmelt decreases.

Check John Day River flows.

LONG CREEK POND, CAVENDER POND: trout

Open year-round and both were stocked recently. Fishing is also fair for carryover trout and bass.

MAGONE LAKE: rainbow and brook trout

Open year-round. Ice remains covering the lake; however, the road is now accessible for vehicles.

Yellow Perch

McKAY RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, yellow perch, crappie, bass

Angling for rainbow trout has been fair; fishing for warmwater species has been fair. Warmwater species are taking their time moving into shallow near shore areas with the cool wet spring weather. The reservoir is currently 70 percent of capacity.

McNARY PONDS: trout

The ponds have been stocked and fishing should be good for rainbow trout.

MORGAN LAKE: trout, bullheads, bass

Brown bullhead were the catch of the day at the recent opening day fishing derby.     

OLIVE LAKE: rainbow and kokanee

Access to Olive Lake remains blocked by snow.

PEACH POND (Ladd Marsh): rainbow trout

Legal and trophy-sized trout were stocked the week of May 7. As of January 1, 2012 a parking permit is required to be on the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area. See link below for more information.

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/online_license_sales/parking.asp

ROULET POND: rainbow trout

The pond has been stocked with legal-sized trout and fishing is good.  

ROWE CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

Open year-round but has not been stocked. The reservoir is privately owned so please pick up your litter and follow all posted rules while fishing here.

TATONE POND: trout

The pond has been stocked and fishing should be good for rainbow trout.

TROUT FARM POND: rainbow and brook trout

Fishing for carryover rainbow and brook trout is fair. This pond is ice-free but anglers must walk through snow to get there.

UMATILLA RIVER: spring chinook

Spring chinook season opened April 16, no fish have been counted passing Threemile Dam to date. Anglers are reminded that steelhead season closed April 15.

Updated Threemile Dam fish counts can be accessed at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/fish_counts/

Wallowa Lake - Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

WALLOWA LAKE: rainbow trout, kokanee, lake trout

Anglers are reporting variable catch rates as kokanee have appeared to disperse from the south end of the lake. Some anglers are also finding holdover trout, and a few nice lake trout are being reported.  Surface temperatures were in the upper 40’s as of last weekend. The north-end boat dock is now installed, but there is no dock on the south end at the state park.
 
WALLOWA RIVER:  steelhead

The steelhead season closed April 15. The Wallowa River will reopen for fishing on May 26.

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR: trout,crappie,brown bullhead

Back to the top

  HUNTING

OPEN: COUGAR, SPRING BEAR (controlled season), SPRING TURKEY

Spring turkey hunting forecast

Spring bear hunting forecast

Wolf in Northeast Oregon -Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

Wolves in northeast Oregon

Wolves are protected by state law and it is unlawful to shoot them. Coyote hunters in northeastern Oregon need to take extra care to identify their target as wolves can look like coyotes, especially wolf pups in the mid-summer and fall.

ODFW needs hunters’ assistance to establish wolves’ presence in Oregon; please report any wolf sightings or wolf sign to La Grande office (541) 963-2138 or online.

Hunter orange required for youth
Don’t forget: hunters age 17 and under must wear a fluorescent orange upper garment OR hat when hunting upland game birds (except turkey) and game mammals (deer, elk, bear, cougar, pronghorn, goat, sheep, western gray squirrel) with a firearm.

Use the Oregon Hunting Map to see where to hunt.

BAKER COUNTY

SPRING BEAR: Bear season opened April 15. See the hunting forecast for what to expect. Successful hunters, remember check-in of bear skull is mandatory; see the regulations for details. Biologists recommend propping the bear’s mouth open with a stick after harvest; it makes for easier tooth collection and measuring

TURKEY: General spring turkey season runs April 15 through May 31. Hunters should concentrate their efforts around lower elevation levels where there has been some early spring green up. Hunters can expect to encounter less snow than usual due to the mild winter. Public land hunting opportunities exist on BLM and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest as well as the ODFW managed Elkhorn Wildlife Area. Remember to ask for permission before hunting on private properties.

COUGARS: Cougars can be found throughout Baker County. Spring cougar hunting is most productive in areas with high densities of deer and elk. Due to less snow this winter, deer and elk are at higher elevations than usual. Setting up on a fresh kill, tracking after a new snow, or using distress calls can all be productive techniques. Hunters are required to check in the hide of any cougar taken, with skull and proof of sex attached.   

COYOTE: Coyote numbers are good throughout the district. Try calling in early morning and late afternoon. Pup in distress as well as prey in distress sounds can be productive. Remember to ask for permission before hunting on private properties.

GROUND SQUIRRELS: Squirrels are up and active. Hunters will find much less snow around the county than in previous years, many areas that are normally blocked by drifts will be open. Be sure to ask before hunting on private land.

Black Bear Oregon Fish and Wildlife

GRANT COUNTY

SPRING BEAR season is open thru May 31. See the hunting forecast for what to expect. Remember bears must be checked in within 10 days of harvest at an ODFW office; see the regulations for details. Bears are widely distributed throughout the county. 

SPRING TURKEY season is open thru May 31. See the hunting forecast for what to expect.

COUGAR hunting remains open. Successful hunters, remember check-in of skull and carcass is mandatory; see the regulations for details. 

COYOTE numbers are good in most of the district. Coyotes may respond to distress calls.  Try calling in the early morning and late evening.

GROUND SQUIRRELS are becoming more active. Most squirrels are on located on private land in agricultural fields around the John Day Valley, Bear Valley, and Fox Valley. Please ask permission before entering private lands.

MORROW, GILLIAM and WHEELER COUNTIES

TURKEY season opened on April 15th with mild weather. The Heppner District had a fairly mild winter with little snow in the mountains. Currently there is not much snow on the ground in the forest. Turkeys are still mostly in the lower elevations heading up slope. Hunter should concentrate their efforts in areas that have good spring green up with roost trees nearby and an open understory. Turkeys can be found throughout the forest but have a greater density in the southern portion of the Forest.

SPRING BEAR also opened on April 15. The bear density in the Heppner unit is lower relative to other units but growing. In the early part of the season the open areas of the breaks of the John Day River can be good for spot and stalk. As the season moves into May bear will move more into the northern portion of the forest.

COUGAR hunting is open. Cougar are well distributed in our forested areas. Call with distress calls or cougar vocalizations can be effective when you do not have a cougar kill to work.

COYOTE hunting: By all indications the coyote population is healthy with good numbers of coyotes available for those who wish to pursue them. Watch wind direction to help prevent giving away your location. Calling with game distress calls can be very successful.

UMATILLA COUNTY

BEARS will be distributed in forested stringer areas throughout the County. Foraging bears will be out in open areas and available for glassing throughout the spring. Their numbers have increased and are available on the landscape for harvest. This should persist until the end of the season.

TURKEY are gobbling in forested areas. Hunters will have best luck in low elevation forest areas throughout the season.

Courgar - Royalty Free Image-

COUGAR are well distributed in forested areas of the Walla Walla, Mt. Emily, and Ukiah units. Hunters will have best success by finding a fresh naturally made kill and sitting on it, or by using predator calls. Some success has come from following tracks until the cougar is located.

COYOTE are numerous throughout the District and hunters should have good success calling. Remember to ask permission before hunting on private lands.

UNION COUNTY

SPRING BEAR: Controlled spring bear season is now open. Successful hunters commonly find bears by glassing new “spring green-up” areas below snowline. Bear numbers and hunter access should increase throughout the season, translating to hunter success. Remember, it is now mandatory to check in any harvested bear within 10 days of harvest (please refer to page 34 of the 2012 Big Game Regulations).

TURKEY: Spring turkey season is now open. Many birds will be found in lower elevations on both public and private lands. Locating birds in their roost before daylight will greatly increase success. Setting up near a known roost with a decoy and call can bring in that wary tom. Turkeys rely on their sight for survival, making camouflage and as little movement as possible essential to hunter success. Remember, always ask first to hunt on private land.

GROUND SQUIRRELS: Squirrels are now up and active. The best hunting is often on warm days after the rain and cold weather. Remember, always ask first to hunt on private land.

COUGARS: Cougars are common in Union county. Due to the mild winter, deer and elk can be found at higher elevations. Focus on game rich areas with long ridgelines or saddles that cats typically travel. Setting up downwind of a deer or elk killed by a cougar can be productive. A cougar kill is often covered with material that has been scraped up in about a 10 foot diameter circle around the carcass. Cougars will often drag their kill to the nearest cover next to the kill site (pay attention to drag marks).  You need to be extremely patient and wear camo when calling cougars as they come in slowly and use every bit of cover as they approach.  Using remote calls will focus the cat’s attention away from your blind.  Above all, DO NOT MOVE! - their eyesight is excellent. Finding tracks in the snow, determining direction of travel and setting up ahead of the cat may produce results. Nonresident hunters can include a cougar tag with others tags for only $14.50. All cougars taken must be checked in within 10 days of harvest; call for an appointment before coming in. 

COYOTE: Coyote numbers are good throughout the district. Try calling in early morning and late afternoon. Pup in distress as well as prey in distress sounds can be productive. Remember to ask for permission before hunting on private properties.

LADD MARSH WILDLIFE AREA

Bird hunting seasons are now closed.

New this year, a parking permit is needed for Ladd Marsh. Hunters get the permit free with their purchase of an annual hunting license. Display on car dash. More information

Tom Turkeys -Photo by David Budeau-

WALLOWA COUNTY

TURKEY: Good numbers of birds are available through out the district.  Access has improved in all units.

BLACK BEAR: Spring bear activity continues to improve with warmer temperatures.  Hunter access remains difficult at higher elevations in the Minam and Snake River units, but is much improved in other units.  Hunters should focus their efforts in canyon areas below snow line that have good green grass growth. 

COYOTE:  Good numbers of coyotes can be found throughout Wallowa County.  Calling coyotes with rabbit distress type calls has been effective for hunters.  It is important to choose areas with abundant coyote sign and little human activity. 

COUGAR:  Cougar numbers are strong through out Wallowa County.  Most lions are taken incidental to other hunting; however, calling with fawn bleat, or locating a cougar kill and waiting for a cat to return are often successful techniques.

Back to the top

  VIEWING

GRANT COUNTY

Bighorn sheep can be viewed along the South Fork of the John Day. Sandhill cranes can be seen in Bear Valley. Swallows are beginning to return to the area and can be seen along the South Fork of the John Day. Goslings and ducklings can be seen in the John Day River valley.

Morrow, Gilliam and Wheeler Counties

Spring is here, the first of the sandhill cranes have been spotted heading north, although the really large flocks have not been seen yet.  The yards in the area come alive with species this time of year. One can see white crowned sparrows, house finches, dark-eyed juncos, Aay’s phoebes and, occasionally, lazuli buntings.  

In the grasslands, one can spot meadowlarks, horned larks, loggerhead shrikes, pheasants, grey partridge, and chukars. Northern harriers, red-tailed hawks, Swainson’s hawks and ferruginous hawks can all be seen on their nest sites. There are still a few rough-legged hawks in the area. Short-eared owls, barn owls and great-horned owls can be seen in many areas. Golden eagles can be seen along the canyons. A merlin was seen between Heppner and Condon on highway 206 near Ruggs. 

In the wetlands and riparian areas, one can see black-necked stilts, sand pipers, red-winged black birds, yellow-headed blackbirds, Killdeer, great blue heron, belted kingfisher, and the occasional bald eagle. Cliff swallows have been spotted in areas that support their nests along streams. Osprey can be seen in their nesting areas along the major waterways. 

On the waterways, you can spot mallards, northern shovelers, American coots, northern pintails, Caspian terns, double-crested cormorants, California gulls, ring-billed gull, Canada geese, wood duck, common mergansers and American white pelicans.  

In the forests, you can encounter downy woodpeckers, mountain bluebirds, western bluebirds, Clark’s nutcrackers, and Steller’s jays. Ruffed grouse and blue grouse can be heard drumming as part of their mating ritual. Turkeys can be seen strutting and gobbling in the forest.   

UNION COUNTY

Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area

Note:Beginning Jan. 1, 2012 wildlife viewers and anglers will need a parking permit to park on the wildlife area.  The $7 daily or $22 annual permit can be purchased online or at an ODFW office that sells licenses or at a license sales agent. Learn more about ODFW’s expanded Wildlife Area Parking Permit Program.

Tule Lake Public Access Area and the Auto Route are open for the season. The Glass Hill Unit is also open to public access. Visitors are advised to carefully read posted signs and consult game bird regulations before entering the wildlife area. There are numerous quality-viewing opportunities from county roads that pass through the area. Binoculars or a spotting scope will help as many animals are best viewed from a distance.

Waterfowl using the area include Canada goose, snow goose, greater white-fronted goose, northern pintail, American wigeon, ring-necked duck, mallard, gadwall, cinnamon teal, green-winged teal, northern shoveler and at least a few Eurasian wigeon. Shorebirds have included killdeer, black-necked stilt, greater yellowlegs and others.

Local sandhill cranes are nesting and a few have hatched.  Soon the young may be visible as they feed in meadows with their parents.  A spotting scope or quality binoculars are important as the meadows are closed to entry and viewing is from the viewpoint or county roads.  There are also small groups of non-breeding sandhill cranes using the wildlife area. Cranes can be seen from county roads in several locations. Please report any sandhill cranes wearing leg bands to the Ladd Marsh staff (541-963-4954). If possible, note the color and order of bands on each of the bird’s legs (e.g., pink above white on left leg; silver above black on right leg). The specific combination and order can identify individual birds. 

Western Meadow Lark - Photo by Kathy Munsel, ODFW-

Bewick’s wren, black-capped chickadee, western meadowlark, savannah sparrow and song sparrow are singing.  Red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds are claiming territories and swallows can be seen over nearly every body of water on the marsh.  Common yellowthroats have returned and are singing their witchy-witchy-witchy song all over the area.

Red-tailed hawks are sitting in their nests in several locations And the Swainson’s hawks are claiming nests sites and beginning to build.  Osprey have returned and can be seen hunting over ponds on and near Ladd Marsh. 

Dogs are not permitted within the Wildlife Area, on or off leash except during authorized hunting seasons. For more information on access rules for Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, please consult the Oregon Game Bird Regulations or call the wildlife area (541) 963-4954. 5/8/12.

WALLOWA COUNTY

Great Blue Heron

Herons are common and can be observed throughout the Wallowa Valley feeding along creeks and rivers.

Waterfowl

Waterfowl species such as Canada geese and mallards can be observed on Wallowa Lake and throughout the Wallowa Valley feeding in agricultural fields. 

Golden Eagle Photo by Nick Myatt, ODFW

Raptors

Prairie falcon, red-tailed hawk, northern harrier and Swainson’s and Ferruginous hawks, as well as a variety of owls can be observed throughout Wallowa Valley and Zumwalt Prairie. Most raptors can be easily observed from county roads. A good pair of binoculars will improve viewing opportunities.

Songbirds

A wide variety of songbirds can be observed from now through the summer in forested areas north of Enterprise, and along rivers and streams throughout Wallowa county.

Mule and White-tailed Deer

Mule and white-tailed deer are common in agricultural areas adjacent to Highway 82.  Animals can be observed during early morning and late evening hours.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep - Photo by Pat Matthews, ODFW -

Bighorn Sheep

Persons willing to drive down the rough Imnaha River Road will often observe bighorn sheep north of Cow Creek near Cactus Mountain.
 
Rocky Mountain Elk

Elk can often be observed along the Zumwalt Road near Findley Buttes.  Another good location to observe elk during winter months is on the Wenaha Wildlife Area near Troy. A good place to look is along the Eden Bench Road during early morning or late afternoon hours. 5/8/12.

Back to the top