Idaho Fish Report

Several opportunities open Sept. 1

• Steelhead on the Grande Ronde, Wallowa and Imnaha rivers and Big Sheep Creek in NE.
• Halibut on Centra Coast subarea for seven days a week.
• Forest grouse hunting.
• Quail, mountain and California, on the west side.
• Mourning dove.

Summer fishing ain’t over yet

Yes, summer fishing is getting tough with the continued hot, dry conditions. But don’t put away your rod just yet. Instead focus your efforts on these best bets:

• High elevation, hike-in lakes for trout. These lakes stay cooler and will be fishable until they’re snowed in. Fishing Oregon’s hike-in lakes.
• Coastal cutthroat trout. These trout are aggressive, willing to take a variety of bait, flies and lures, and are found in many coastal rivers and streams. 7 tips for catching coastal cutthroat.
• Dungeness crab. Crabbers have been doing well. How to crab.
• Surfperch. There are hundreds of places to fish along Oregon’s sandy beaches, and there are plenty of fish within an easy cast from shore. How to fish for surfperch.
• Buoy 10. This popular late-summer, early-fall salmon fishery just kicked off and will be heating up in the next few weeks. 10 tips for Buoy 10 fishing.
• Bass. You’ll find smallmouth bass in ponds, reservoirs and rivers throughout the state. Check the Rec Report for locations and consider these tips How to fish for bass.

Be sure to check the zone reports for more options!

Buy your black bear tag

While the fall black bear season doesn’t end until Dec. 31, the last day to buy a tag is Sept. 30.

Bear and cougar check-ins at ODFW offices

Remember the days when you had to check-in your harvested bear and/or cougar at an ODFW office. Well, those days are back. Here are reminders of how to check in bear and cougar.

Sign up for youth pheasant hunts

Youth Pheasant Hunts give young hunters a chance to hunt in a controlled setting with a focus safety and success. Five reasons these hunts are so popular:

• No adult competition. 
• Emphasis on safety. 
• Increased chance of success. 
• Available statewide. 
• They're free!