Idaho Fish Report

Columbia River fall salmon survey

The Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife are asking for input on fall Chinook salmon seasons in the Columbia River. Fall salmon seasons have closed earlier than planned in recent years due to impacts to ESA listed stocks. Fishery managers are considering ways to reduce the likelihood of early closures, and are asking anglers which potential strategies they would like to see.

Tell us what you think by completing this 10-minute survey no later than Jan. 15, 2023.

No Recreation Report next week

But we’ll be back with a new edition on Jan. 4, 2023.

Best ODFW videos for 2022

There are almost 500 videos posted to the ODFW YouTube channel, ranging from fishing and hunting tips to conservation success stories. Here are our 10 best performing productions for 2022.

Best bets for fishing 

Don’t let winter weather keep you from hitting the water – frozen and not. Some anglers wait all year for winter steelhead and ice fishing, and right now is one of the best times of the year to go crabbing.

• If you’ve been waiting for winter steelhead season, it’s here! And anglers have been landing early returners in several coastal and Willamette Valley rivers. If you haven’t ever tried winter steelhead fishing, here’s your introduction. If you’re looking to up your game, we’ve got these tips for winter steelhead fishing.
• As winter cold has set in, anglers already are enjoying ice fishing in some parts of the state. Ice fishing can be a great way to continue fishing through the winter – if you can’t beat it, enjoy it. Right? If you’ve never been, here are some tips to get you started. This week our bios in Enterprise report that Baker City are reservoirs are frozen and proving multiple ice fishing opportunities over the holidays.
• December is a great month for crabbing on the Oregon coast. And if you like crab over the holidays, why not catch your own? A shellfish license is only $10, crabbing from docks and piers is easy and accessible, and you can even rent the gear you’ll need. Here’s everything you’ll need to know to get started.

Report your hunt

If you purchased a tag for a 2022 hunt, you must report by Jan. 31 – even if you didn’t hunt or were unsuccessful. Information from hunters who did not hunt or did not harvest an animal is as important as from those who did take an animal. Find ways to report.