Idaho Fish Report

Includes updates to fishing, crabbing and clamming, hunting, and wildlife viewing

It's a big weekend for bird hunters

Several upland bird and waterfowl seasons open this Saturday, including rooster pheasant, chukar, Hungarian partridge, eastside quail and zones 1 & 2 duck. Get a look at the upcoming season in the latest Game Bird Hunting Forecast, and more recent hunting conditions in this week's Rec Report.

See Salmon Spawn

It's iconic in the Pacific Northwest—the return of salmon to their natal rivers after years at sea. As they prepare to spawn (and then die ☹), these fish undergo an amazing physical metamorphosis, changing shape and color. See this for yourself at one of several locations recommended by ODFW biologists.

Best bets for weekend fishing:

We're staying with salmon and trout for the best fishing opportunities this week.

TROUT – With all the choices, there's bound to be good trout fishing near you.

• Fishing for hatchery trout should be good in waterbodies that were heavily stocked earlier in the year. The cooler fall temperatures will be putting fish on the bite.
• Native redband trout will also be biting in many eastside rivers including the lower Deschutes, Metolius, Crooked, Chewaucan and Blitzen.
• Brook trout are starting to school up for spawning in many locations in the Klamath area. Find one, and you'll also find its friends.
• Rainbow trout fishing can be excellent in the high mountain lakes in the Wallowa, Cascade and Elkhorn ranges, and Sky and Mountain Lakes wilderness areas.
• Many coastal rivers are hosting sea-run cutthroat trout right now. But hurry, the season ends Oct. 31.

COHO SALMON – Coho salmon are having a moment, with some record-setting returns.

• On the coast, wild coho seasons have been opened on several rivers thanks to robust returns. Check the regulation update page for details.
• In the Willamette Valley, over 41,032 adult coho have migrated above Willamette Falls, far surpassing the record run of 29,654 set in 2023. With this huge return, several areas above the Falls are now open to coho fishing.
• In the Portland area, anglers are catching coho on the Sandy and Clackamas rivers.

CHINOOK SALMON – Anglers are still catching Chinook in several locations:

• Chinook are spread throughout the bays and tidewaters of the Nestucca, Nehalem and Wilson river basins.
• Anglers are still picking up Chinook in the lower and middle Rogue.
• Salmon fishing is starting to pick up on the lower Umatilla River.

These examples are for demonstration purposes only. Check the zone reports for more.

View the report