Idaho Fish Report

Grande Ronde steelhead workshop

Join ODFW and its partners for Steelhead Fishing 101 on the Grande Ronde River near Troy on Oct. 14 and 15. Find more information, including how to register.

Be ready for upland bird openers on Oct. 8

Several popular upland bird seasons – chukar, huns and pheasant -- open in a little more than a week. Remember to buy your 2022-23 upland bird validation before your hunt (your old one expired on June 30). And check out the game bird hunting forecast for the latest on bird populations and hunting conditions.

Best bets for weekend fishing

• Early fall can be a great time of year to target summer steelhead on the Nestucca and Wilson rivers.
• More than 9,400 coho salmon have been counted at Willamette Falls. While the river is still low, these fish will tend to concentrate at the mouths of tributary rivers such as the Yamhill, Mollala, Rickreall, Luckiamute and the Santiam, waiting for the fall rains. 
• Trout anglers in Detroit Reservoir should find excellent fishing with little competition from other anglers.
• Anglers report good kokanee and bull trout fishing at Lake Billy Chinook.
• The Williamson River is fishing well for large redband trout moving to spawning grounds. 
• Chinook fishing on the Umatilla River has been very good, with anglers averaging one fish per hour of fishing.
• Garibali has been the hot spot for crabbing on the coast.
• Trout fishing continues to pick up in waters across the state. Fall offers some of the best trout fishing of the year.
• Don’t forget bass and other warmwater fish. With the recent return of warmer weather, these fish will be more active.
• Anglers are catching salmon in bays and estuaries of coastal rivers, while a few fish are being caught in the lower reaches of some rivers like the Chetco.