Welcome to the ODFW Recreation Reports Northwest Zone

Fishing | Hunting | Viewing

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  FISHING

Anglers are reminded that the stream trout season does not open on the coast until May 26.

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.

Check out the new trout stocking map
Find the location and details about the many lakes ponds and streams that receive hatchery trout from ODFW’s fish hatcheries on the new Google-based fishing map.

Proposed 2012 coastal chinook and coho seasons
Are now available on the ODFW website.

Rainbow Trout -Photo by Jim Yuskavitch, ODFW-

NORTH COAST LAKES

South, Town, Hebo, and Cape Meares lakes are scheduled to be stocked the week of May 14.

Warmwater fish will be more active with the warmer weather. Spring can offer some of the best fishing of the season for these species. Coffenbury, Cullaby, Sunset, Lytle and Vernonia lakes offer the best opportunity for bass.

MID COAST LAKES

Most mid coast water bodies will be stocked again during May. Be sure to check out the stocking report for the most up to date schedule.

Fishing for warm water species is starting to pick up in most coastal lakes. The spring and summer months can be the most productive time to fish as water temperatures rise and fish activity increases. Largemouth bass, perch, bluegill and brown bullhead are the most common warm water fish. The Florence area offers the most opportunity along the mid coast such as Siltcoos, Tahkenitch, Woahink, Sutton, and Mercer lakes.

ALSEA RIVER:

The Alsea River above tide water is closed to fishing effective May 1 and will reopen to cutthroat angling on May 26.

LOWER COLUMBIA TRIBUTARIES: chinook

Spring chinook are available in Young’s Bay, Big Creek and Gnat Creek. Angling should be fair.

NESTUCCA RIVER: steelhead, chinook

Fishing for steelhead is fair. Summer steelhead numbers are beginning to increase, and fish should begin to spread upstream, especially with the good flows lately. Early spring chinook are also a possibility, but fishing is very slow. Best chances are still in tidewater.

SALMON RIVER:

Closed to angling above tide water until the trout opener on May 26.

Steelhead - Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

SILETZ RIVER: steelhead

Steelhead fishing is slow. Wild steelhead tend to be common in the catch this time of year. Anglers are encouraged to handle these fish with care. Some summer steelhead are starting to show up in the Siletz Falls trap and in anglers catch. Bobber and jig, swinging lures or flies are effective tactics.
 
SIUSLAW RIVER:

Closed to angling above tide water until the cutthroat trout opener on May 26.

TILLAMOOK BAY: sturgeon, chinook

Angling for sturgeon is slow to fair. Move around often to find fish. Spring chinook angling is fair, but improving. Trolling herring near the bottom is productive. Spinners are effective also, especially in the upper bay. When ocean conditions have been favorable, there are chinook being caught off the mouth of the bay.

TRASK RIVER: steelhead, chinook

Angling for steelhead is slow to fair. Most of the catch is dark or spawned out winter steelhead, but an occasional summer steelhead may show in the mix. Spring chinook are available in the lower river. Fishing is fair, with a few fish being caught regularly at the hatchery and below. Look for catches to improve as the month goes on.

Anglers who catch a steelhead or salmon with numbered tag(s) are encouraged to report catch information via the internet at or by calling ODFW at 503-842-2741 and asking for Derek Wiley. All live tagged fish that are not legal to retain or are voluntarily not kept should be released quickly and unharmed with tags intact.

WILSON RIVER: steelhead, chinook

SSummer steelhead are entering the system. Fishing is fair. Spring chinook are not in the river in any numbers, but an occasional hookup has been reported.

YAQUINA RIVER:

The Yaquina and Big Elk are closed to fishing above tidewater until the trout opener on May 26.

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  HUNTING

Black Bear Oregon Fish and Wildlife

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

Use the Oregon Hunting Map to see where to hunt.

COUGAR are most effectively taken by using predator calls. However, cougar densities are relatively low on the north coast. Successful hunters, remember you must check in cougar (hide and skull) at an ODFW office within 10 days of harvest and bring them in unfrozen. It’s also a good idea to prop their mouths open with a stick after harvest for easier tissue sampling, teeth collection and tagging. See regulations for details.

SPRING BEAR hunting should pick up soon as black bears should start becoming more active with warmer weather. Currently, access in the coast range has been limited somewhat with snow still at higher elevations. Early season foods that bear pursue include skunk cabbage, and insects in rotten logs. Some bears also peel young conifer trees to get at the inner layers of the bark, causing significant damage to the trees.

SPRING TURKEY hunting is slower in the coast region but some do find turkeys. See the turkey hunting forecast for what to expect.

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  VIEWING

NEOTROPICAL MIGRANT SONGBIRDS are starting to arrive in forested habitats on the north coast. Soon, a walk through the woods will be full of bird songs with males advertising nesting territories and courting mates. 5/8/12.

CLATSOP COUNTY

Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area

Viewing opportunities for elk have been good with some animals visible most days.  Best times are in the mornings and evenings.  As the spring progresses elk should start spending more time in the timbered areas especially on warm days.  Most of the bulls have shed their antlers and new antler growth is already visible.  Look for bulls on the Fishhawk tract adjacent to Hwy 202.  Other elk may be visible along Hwy 202 or the first 1.5 miles on Beneke Creek Road.  Please remember that areas posted as Wildlife Refuge are closed to public access.

Migratory species that have recently returned to the wildlife area include band-tailed pigeons, violate-green swallows, tree swallows, and wood ducks.  Look for band-tailed pigeons near viewing areas.  Swallows can be seen gliding over open fields and checking out nest boxes along fences near viewing areas.  Wood ducks and mallards have been seen on the shallow pond areas, in fields with standing water, and along creeks. 5/1/12

TILLAMOOK COUNTY

Common Murre Royalty Free Image

THREE ARCH ROCKS NWR usually seems to be abuzz with some sort of bird activity. While the frenzy associated with nesting seabirds is still a couple of months away, some large groups of common murres have been seen staging on and around the rocks with increasing regularity. This time of year, bald eagles and peregrine falcons are still regulars there on the rocks, and the eagles are sometimes in groups of 5 or more. Peregrines are usually on the highest points, while bald eagles are usually seen on Seal Rock, the closest one to shore. It will remain to be seen if the bald eagles will keep the murres from nesting on these near-shore rocks as they have in recent years. 5/1/12

CAPE MEARES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE and STATE PARK is where you can view nesting black oystercatchers and peregrine falcons. On nice days, volunteers often have spotting scopes set up on the viewing platform to allow and assist visitors in observing these and other birds along the rocky coastline and nearby offshore rocks.

WHIMBRELS have been seen again in Tillamook County. These large, dark shorebirds with downturned bills move into the area each May as a stop on their way to breeding grounds further north. They are usually seen along the ocean beach and the edge of the bay at Bayocean Spit or in pastures in the Tillamook Valley. They can also be located flying above the valley with their characteristic high-pitched calls. 5/15/12.

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