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

‌Give the gift of the outdoors

Consider giving the gift of the outdoors to the hunters, anglers, and outdoors people on your list. You can now buy 2025 fishing and hunting licenses and tags online and at all retail license agents. Raffle tags, parking permits and waterway access permits are also for sale and make great gifts.

Recreation Report holiday break

Due to the upcoming holidays, we'll be taking a break from the Recreation Report the weeks of Dec. 23 and 30. The Rec Report will resume publication the week of Jan. 6, 2025

Report your big game hunt while multi-tasking

If you're already on your phone scanning the news or doing some holiday shopping, why not open the MyODFW app while you're there and report your big game hunt? Or, report with a retail license agent while you're stocking up on winter fishing gear. Here's information on who needs to report and how you can do it.

Best bets for holiday fishing

Oregon anglers are blessed with year-round fishing opportunities. As we kick off December, here are just a few options:

• The hatchery winter steelhead runs have started on the North Fork Nehalem and Necanicum Rivers. It's early but if you're anxious to kick off your winter steelhead season, they're a best bet.
• The East Fork Millicoma River and South Fork Coos River are good choices for early steelhead fishing
• December can be a great month to target winter steelhead on the Chetco, when most anglers are still thinking Chinook.
• Winter steelhead have arrived in the Sandy and Clackamas rivers
• If steelhead aren't biting, consider some trout fishing in places like Lost Creek Reservoir and Garrison Lake.
• Fishing for trout and mountain whitefish on the Metolius, Fall, Crooked, Klamath and lower Deschutes rivers can be good throughout the winter as access allows.
• The entire Oregon coast is now open for crabbing.

Rogue-South Coast Steelhead validation required starting Dec. 1

The Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation is required for all winter steelhead anglers fishing in the Rogue Basin or on the south coast from Dec. 1 to April 30. In addition, a harvest tag is required to keep wild winter steelhead in this area.‌ Get the details.

View the report