Idaho Fish Report

Help ODFW celebrate the #25DaysOfFishmas
Follow #25DaysOfFishmas on Instagram to learn more about some of Oregon’s more interesting and unusual fish.

Add bird watching to your holiday to do list
Join other birders from around the state in the Audubon Christmas bird count around the holidays this year. Depending on the area, the typical one-day counts start in mid-December and continue into early January. Experienced and novice birders are invited. This nationwide, citizen science project celebrates 119 years this year.

20,000 gray whales will be swimming past Oregon – how many can you spot?
Mid-December to mid-January is the peak of the winter gray whale migration along the Oregon coast, and a prime time to do a little whale watching. If you’re headed to the coast for the holidays, take a warm coat and some binoculars. Our friends at Oregon Parks have some great advice about where to go, including the 24 places that will be staffed with knowledgeable volunteers during the Whale Watching Spoken Here program, Dec. 27-31.

Shotgun skills workshops Jan, 12 and 13
Whether you plan to bird hunt or shoot clays, or just want to try your hand at hitting a moving target, these hands-on workshops focus on safe and effective shooting. Learn more and register.

The best holiday fishing
Winter weather doesn’t mean you have to be done fishing for the year. Bundle up, adjust your techniques and consider some of these holiday recommendations in this week’s Rec Report:

• Alsea, lower Columbia tributaries, Neccanicum, N Fork Nehalem and Nestucca/Three Rivers all get early returning steelhead and conditions should be good for the weekend.
• Lost Creek Reservoir is the premiere trout destination in the Rogue Valley.
• The Deschutes, Crooked, Metolius and Bitzen rivers can be good bets for a day of trout fishing.
• Junction City Pond has been getting a lot of big hatchery trout recently. Check the Willamette Zone for other stocking locations.
• Flow management on the Klamath River below the powerhouse continues to be ideal for a great fishing outing until late afternoon.
• The Ana River is spring-fed and with its constant water temperature should provide fair to good fishing.
• Persistent steelhead anglers are finding some success and respectable catch rates on the Grande Ronde. Warmer weather and a bit of rain has caused any ice to thaw making the river a good destination over the holiday.

ODFW launches new licensing system
Carry your licenses and tags on your phone
ODFW’s new licensing system allows you to carry your licenses and tags on your smartphone. (Though you can still print them to paper at home or at a license vendor.) The first step is to go to the MyODFW licensing page to locate and verify your account. Next you’ll want to download the MyODFW app, which will store your documents even when you’re out of cell phone range. Be sure you verify your account at MyODFW.com BEFORE your try to log into the MyODFW app.

Check out the How to buy a license or tag page, and the frequently asked questions if you have additional questions.