Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife release

Best bets for weekend fishing

Next week is spring break for many Oregonians, and folks already are making their outdoor plans for the week. If those plans don't include fishing, maybe they should. Here are some top picks for this weekend and into next week:

• Several waterbodies on the north and mid-coast have been or are being stocked, and anglers report good fishing. South Lake, Town Lake, Hebo Lake, Cape Mears Lake, Lake Lytle, Vernonia Pond, Devils Lake, Alder, Buck, Dune, Thissel Pond, Cleawox, Munsel, Elbow, Eckman, Siltcoos, Lost, Carter, Woahink, Mercer, and Big Creek reservoirs #1 and #2 are all being stocked in time for spring break.
• There won't be too many weekends left for winter steelhead fishing on the north and mid-coast. Your best bets for late season trips will be the Nestucca, Wilson, Alsea and Siletz.
• Lots of trout are going into waterbodies in the SW zone, including Lake Selmac, Lost Creek Reservoir, Willow Lake, Cooper Creek Reservoir and Garrison Lake.
• Anglers have been catching bright chrome winter steelhead in the middle and upper Rogue.
• Many of the usual suspects in the Willamette Valley are scheduled to be stocked this week, including Alton Baker Canoe Canal, Cottage Grove Pond, Junction City Pond, Walling Pond and Waverly Lake.
• Other waterbodies that were stocked regularly last year, are likely to have holdover trout available. These fish have been in the water long enough to have gained a good bit of weight.
• Steelhead fishing on the Umatilla is picking up, with fish being caught near Pendleton. The fish are pretty active with the increase in flows and the water clarity is currently perfect.
• When ocean conditions permit, many anglers have been catching their limits of lingcod.

New interagency map shows wildfire impacts on recreation

Hunters, anglers and wildlife viewers will be living with the impacts of the 2020 wildfire season for a long time. To help you navigate the status of popular recreation sites, natural resource management agencies in Oregon have released an interagency status map that shows open, closed and reduced service areas on a single map, regardless of reason for closure. 

Apply for your big game tags

Three reasons to apply early

• Avoid the long lines of last-minute applicants.
• Give yourself time for questions during the application process.
• Have time to edit your application, if needed.

Archers: Practice your skills

3-D event at Denman Wildlife Area

Just in time for spring turkey hunting, archers can practice their shooting at a 3-D event on March 20 at the Denman Wildlife Area near Central Point. This 2-mile course will include 40 targets. For more information and to register.

Introduction to hunting big game in Oregon

This two-hour course will provide new adult hunters with a broad overview of hunting in Oregon and more specifically the knowledge to get started on their big game hunting journey. Check for dates and times, and to register for an upcoming course.