SALEM, Ore – Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff encourage Oregonians and visitors to fish, crab and clam without a license during the 19th annual Free Fishing Weekend June 9 and 10. All current fishing and shellfish regulations apply.

More than 40 Free Fishing Events will be held at sites throughout the state. Most are geared toward introductory angling opportunities for young people. Gear, bait and basic angling instruction are provided at most events. Some locations are accessible to disabled anglers. For a list of event locations and times, visit the ODFW Web site, (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/free_fishing/) or call 503-947-6002.

“Fishing is fun. I believe no activity brings a family together quite like fishing,” said Chris Willard, ODFW Angler and Aquatic Education coordinator. “Free Fishing Weekend is an excellent way to enjoy the outdoors and it gives anglers a perfect opportunity to pass on their knowledge by taking a friend, neighbor or colleague fishing.”

ODFW recently developed an Easy Angling Oregon and Warmwater Fishing in Oregon booklets and Web sites to help families and individuals find the right spot to take advantage of fishing opportunities in Oregon.

The Free Fishing Weekend celebration began in 1988 as a way to encourage more people to become involved in angling and the outdoors.

Many of the most popular fishing waters around the state are stocked with additional rainbow trout in preparation for Free Fishing Weekend. Interested anglers are encouraged to use the ODFW Recreation Report, available on the Web site and updated weekly, to help them select a fishing destination.

NORTHWEST ZONEFISHING

NORTH COAST LAKES: Coffenbury, Cape Meares, Hebo and Town lakes are scheduled to be stocked the week of June 4, prior to Free Fishing Weekend. Fishing events, primarily geared toward youths, are scheduled for Saturday, June 9 at Nedonna Pond, Trask Hatchery, Coffenbury Lake, and Hebo Lake. Call ODFW in Tillamook at 503-842-2741 for more information.

Due to a shortage of fish and water quality, Loren’s pond was not stocked the week of May 14 as scheduled. The stocking will not occur at a later date. Anglers should use caution when heading to Lost Lake (Clatsop County) as active logging and travel restrictions are in effect. Call the Tillamook office at 503-842-2741 or Astoria Oregon Department of Forestry for more information.

MID COAST LAKES: ODFW will stock the following lakes with legal sized rainbow trout the week of May 28: In the Newport area; Big Creek Reservoirs 1 and 2. In the Florence area; Alder Lake, Buck Lake, Dune Lake, Cleawox Lake, Georgia Lake, North Georgia Lake, Perkins Lake, Siltcoos Lagoon. In the Waldport area; Thissel Pond.

WARM WATER FISH SPECIES: The following water bodies hold good populations of warm water fish species such as large mouth bass, blue gill, yellow perch, crappie, and brown bullhead. Typically good fishing occurs from late spring through early fall for these species. A variety of lures and baits can be effective with the best fishing in the morning and late afternoon hours. In the Lincoln City area; Devils Lake. In the Florence area; Mercer Lake, Munsel Lake, Woahink Lake, Siltcoos Lake and Tahkenitch Lake.

ALSEA RIVER: The river above tidewater is now open to fishing. Anglers can expect fair to good fishing for cutthroat trout throughout the Alsea River Basin. Sea run cutthroat (Bluebacks) will start returning around mid July. Small spinners or spoons work well for cutthroat trout. Current river levels and forecasts can be found at (http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?TIDO3).

NEHALEM RIVER AND NORTH FORK NEHALEM RIVER: Catch and release trout fishing opened May 26. Good numbers of resident cutthroat trout should be present. Angling for sea-run cutthroat will improve later in the summer.

NESTUCCA RIVER AND THREE RIVERS: Angling for summer steelhead is slow to fair. Angling for spring chinook is improving as more fish enter the river. Water is low and clear. The lower river (from Beaver to Cloverdale) will offer the best chances. Catch and release fishing for trout opened May 26. You may check river levels at (http://ahps2.wrh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=pqr)

SALMON RIVER: The river above tidewater is now open to fishing. Anglers can expect fair to good fishing for cutthroat trout. Small spoons and spinners are very effective.

SILETZ RIVER: Steelhead fishing is fair to good in the upper river above Moonshine Park. Strong numbers of summer steelhead typically show by mid-June. Both bank and drift boat fishing are very effective using a variety of baits, jigs, spoons and spinners. Cutthroat trout angling is open and is expected to be fair to good throughout the mainstem and tributaries. Current river levels and forecasts can be found at (http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?SILO3 )

SIUSLAW RIVER: The river above tidewater is now open to fishing. Anglers can expect fair to good fishing for cutthroat trout throughout the mainstem and tributaries. Sea run cutthroat (Bluebacks) typically start to show in the lower river and tidewater around mid July. Small spinners or spoons work well for cutthroat trout. Current river levels and forecasts can be found at (http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?MPLO3)

TILLAMOOK BAY: Spring chinook angling is fair. Fish are being caught in the lower bay and nearshore ocean, primarily by trolling herring. Trolling spinners is the most common technique in the upper bay, but a few fish are caught on herring or large plugs. Try bobber and eggs/shrimp in the river tidewater areas. Angling for sturgeon has been fair. Effort has been low.

WILSON AND TRASK RIVERS: Summer steelhead are available in the Wilson and Trask rivers. Angling has generally been slow to fair. Spring chinook angling is improving. Best action is on the Trask River downstream of the hatchery. Rivers are low and clear. Catch and release fishing for trout opens May 26. Check river levels at (http://ahps2.wrh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=pqr prior to fishing).

YAQUINA RIVER: The river above tidewater is now open to fishing. Anglers can expect fair to good fishing for cutthroat trout throughout the mainstem and tributaries. Small spinners or spoons work well for cutthroat trout.

HUNTING

Cougar, spring bear and turkey season closes May 31.

VIEWING

BLACK BRANT are present in Netarts Bay during most of the year. The birds are very shy of human activity and are almost always seen in the far southwestern corner of the bay. Thus, having a good spotting scope is necessary to find and identify them.

THREE ARCH ROCKS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE is a collection of several offshore rocks located near Oceanside. Not only is it home to the largest and most diverse seabird colony in Oregon, it also supports a breeding population of Steller sea lions. Even when the rocks seem relatively barren, careful observation can often reveal bald eagles and/or peregrine falcons perched on top of the rocks. A good spotting scope is very helpful for viewing. Soon hundreds of thousands of seabirds will be nesting on the larger rocks.

SONGBIRDS can be heard throughout forests on the north coast during springtime. Don’t forget clearcuts with snags or leave trees in them; they can host an entirely different suite of birds than older forests do.

BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS can be seen regularly at Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge located at the state park of the same name. These unusual shorebirds make a living on rocky shores within the tidal zone. Their name is actually a misnomer as they eat mussels clinging to the black rocks, which can make them difficult to spot. It’s best to look for yellow feet and/or orange bill, and eventually the rest of the bird will come into view. Good binoculars are all that’s needed to find these striking birds.

Newborn DEER FAWNS and ELK CALVES are starting to appear on the north coast, with June being the peak of the birthing season for both species. These young should be left alone as disturbing or touching them will only decrease their likelihood for survival. The only instances where a fawn or calf should be removed are if they area in immediate danger (e.g. in the middle of a paved road) or it has been documented that the mother is dead. Then, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or ODFW office should be contacted for instructions on placement of the animal.

SOUTHWEST ZONEFISHING

Free fishing weekend is June 9 and 10. No angling license is required that weekend and events are scheduled for June 9 at Eel Lake and Powers Pond to help kids catch fish and have fun.

APPLEGATE RIVER: Open for trout.

APPLEGATE RESERVOIR: Angling should be good for trout, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass.

BURMA POND: Angling for rainbow trout is good. Largemouth bass and panfish are also available. The water level in the pond has been lowered to facilitate repairs to the dam and will remain low through the summer.

CHETCO RIVER: The river opened to trout fishing over the weekend. No reports were received, but conditions are excellent. This time of year cutthroat are focusing on Chinook fry and sculpins. Some of the best fishing is early morning or evening.

COOS COUNTY LAKES: Trout and warmwater fish are available in local lakes. The Millicoma Interpretive Center youth fishing pond has been very productive for kids. Fishing equipment is available for kids to use at the Millicoma Pond. Warmwater fishing is good with many nice bass being caught at Tenmile Lakes. Powers Pond is a good choice for trout and bass anglers. It is located at Powers Park and has lots of bank access.

COOS RIVER BASIN: A few shad have been picked up and fishing should improve over the next few weeks. Most shad fishing takes place on the lower Coos and Millicoma Rivers where anglers troll or cast shad darts. Trout angling is open with anglers restricted to flies and lures only if fishing streams above tidewater. Surf perch and other marine fish are available in Coos Bay. Anglers should concentrate around rock structure or pilings.

COQUILLE RIVER BASIN: Striped bass are available in the Coquille estuary, anglers usually do better fishing after dark. Shad fishing should be improving now with afternoons typically the most productive. Most angling occurs around Sturdivant Park where anglers typically use shad darts.

DIAMOND LAKE: Boat anglers are catching limits of fish. The fish have spread throughout the lake, with the best fishing occurring on the west side of the lake. Some fish are being caught near Silent Creek. Boat anglers were doing well anchored up and waiting for the fish to find the bait. Power bait has been the most effective. Anglers need to remember that the limit is five fish per day, and only one trout over 20″ may be harvested per day.

DUTCH HERMAN POND: Fishing should be good for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and bluegill.

EMIGRANT RESERVOIR: Angling for rainbow trout, bass, and panfish should be good.

EXPO POND: Legal-sized rainbow trout were stocked last week. Fishing for trout, bass, and panfish should be good.

FISH LAKE: Fishing for stocked rainbow trout has been good. ODFW will stock legal-sized rainbow again this week.

HOWARD PRAIRIE: Anglers are catching a few large, hold-over rainbow trout, as well as the recently planted legal-sized rainbow trout. Fishing for largemouth bass should be good.

HYATT RESERVOIR: Anglers are catching a few large, hold-over rainbow trout, as well as the recently planted legal-sized rainbow trout. Fishing for largemouth bass should be improving with the warmer weather.

ILLINOIS RIVER: Open for trout and steelhead; however, fishing is slow.

LAKE SELMAC: Fishing for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and bullheads has been good.

LEMOLO LAKE: Fishing at Lemolo has slowed a little with the warming air temperatures. Brown trout fishing remains good at the lake. Fishermen are still catching some limits of browns and rainbows at the lake.

LOST CREEK RESERVOIR: Fishing for trout and smallmouth bass has been good.

MEDCO POND: Fishing for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and panfish should be good.

PACIFIC OCEAN & BEACHES: The nearshore Pacific halibut season is open. The remaining all-depth halibut dates for Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain are May 24-26, 31, June 1-2, and 7-9. Halibut fishing was great last weekend with many boats getting out and lots of fish caught. Bottom fishing in the ocean has been good when the weather cooperates. Bay angling has been good for rockfish and perch. A few ocean salmon are starting to get picked up although effort is still low. Surfperch fishing has been fair for anglers casting bait from the beach. Sand shrimp, clam necks, mussels, and marine worms are all popular choices for bait. Good areas for surfperch include Horsfall Beach and Whiskey Run Beach south to Bandon. Look for steep beaches or small streams entering the ocean. Surfperch can also be found along jetties and pile structures. Striped bass occasionally surprise surf fishers also.

REINHART PARK POND: Fishing for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and panfish should be good.

ROGUE RIVER, LOWER: Spring Chinook fishing is winding down. Water temperatures are expected to jump this week with warming valley temperatures. Anglers targeting spring Chinook should fish at first light. The first reported summer steelhead came in last week. Anglers can expect summer steelhead fishing to be fair in June, with August and September the best months.

ROGUE RIVER, MIDDLE: Angling for spring chinook has improved this past week as more fish are moving through the middle river. Flows were 3,300 cubic feet per second at Grants Pass as of Monday morning. The Rogue River is now open to trout angling; however, only adipose fin-clipped rainbow trout may be kept.

ROGUE RIVER, UPPER: Angling for spring chinook has improved dramatically this past week as fish started passing Gold Ray in good numbers. A total of 3,470 spring chinook salmon and 49 summer steelhead have been counted at Gold Ray Dam as of May 25. The counting of winter steelhead concluded on May 15 with a season total of 13,238. The outflows from Lost Creek Reservoir were 3,016 cubic feet per second and the outflow temperature was 51oF as of Monday morning. The Rogue River is now open to trout angling; however, only adipose fin-clipped rainbow trout may be kept. Salmonflies are starting to emerge along the upper Rogue, which should create good opportunities for fly anglers.

ROGUE RIVER, ABOVE LOST CREEK DAM: Legal-sized rainbow trout were stocked last week at most of the campgrounds and major access points along the river between Prospect and Minnehaha Creek week of May 21. Brook trout and a few brown trout are available as well.

SODA SPRINGS RESERVOIR: Soda Springs reservoir is open all year round for brown and rainbow trout. The road to Soda Springs dam is currently closed due to a high volume of dump trucks and heavy equipment. At this time the only access into the reservoir is at Medicine Creek bridge.

SMITH RIVER: Stripers are being caught in the Smith River estuary. Most striper fishing is done by boat in the lower ten miles of the estuary. Trout season is open on Smith River and fishing should be good. Small spinners and rooster tails generally work the best. Mainstem Smith River below Sisters Creek is catch and release only on trout. Tributaries and the mainstem above Sisters is open for harvest of trout

SOUTH COAST LAKES AND PONDS: Garrison Lake is still the number one choice on for trout anglers. ODFW sampled the lake last week and there are still a large number of trophy trout and cutthroat available. The fish seemed to be concentrated on the North side of the lake. Anglers will need to fish a boat to keep outside the weed line.

SOUTH COAST STREAMS: Conditions are excellent. Anglers can expect a mix of post spawn sea run cutthroat and steelhead smolts. Both of which are activily feeding on chinook fry and sculpins. The best action is early morning and evening. Anglers are reminded to carefully release all undersized fish.

SOUTH COAST BEACHES: Perch fishing has been good. Anglers should keep an eye on surf conditions and tides before heading out. Usually the best perch fishing in on an incoming tide.

SPAULDING POND: Fishing is good for stocked rainbow trout.

TENMILE BASIN: Steelhead fishing inTenmile and Eel Creeks closed April 30. Trout season will open May 26.

TOKETEE LAKE: Fishing is open in Toketee all year round. As water temperatures slowly increase German Brown fishing will improve.

UMPQUA ESTUARY: Sturgeon fishing has been slow, some green sturgeon are being picked up in the Big Bend area. Pink fin perch fishing has been slow, but will improve as more pink fin move into to spawn.

UMPQUA HIGH LAKES AND FOREBAYS: A number of the high lakes, with truck access, have been stocked. Fishing in these lakes should be good and there should be large numbers of holdovers also. Many of the wilderness lakes are open and fishing for eastern brook trout is good. Check with the local Forest Service ranger districts on road conditions.

UMPQUA RIVER MAINSTEM: For those who have stuck with it on the mainstem spring chinook fishing finally picked up last week. A large school of spring chinook moved through last week and anglers were rewarded for their patience. Water flows are high enough to provide good access to most spring chinook hole by drift boat or sled. Shad fishing has been very good. Anglers are catching shad from Sawyers Rapids to River Forks. Smallmouth fishing is also picking up, with a number of large fish being caught around Elkton. Fishing for shad will last into August. Remember this section of the river is closed to wild steelhead retention.

UMPQUA RIVER, NORTH: Spring chinook and summer steelhead numbers crossing at Winchester Dam are slow. Chinook fishing at Amacher Park is sporadic, with some chinook being caught. Boat anglers need to remember to fish below the deadline, if anglers are caught fishing above the deadline they will be ticketed by OSP. Fishing remains sporadic. Last week fishing picked up in the Rock Creek area with a number of spring chinook being caught. This is a good time to visit and see spring chinook and steelhead in the viewing windows at the dam. Winchester Dam counts show that 1969 spring chinook and 127 summer steelhead have passed over the dam through May 19th.

UMPQUA RIVER, SOUTH: The South Umpqua is open for trout season.

WILLOW LAKE: Angling for trout, bass and other warmwater fish is good.

WINCHESTER BAY: Crabbing has been slow but should improve as smaller crabs grow to legal size. Sturgeon fishing has also been slow but should improve as more food enters the estuary.

SHELLFISH

The entire Oregon coast is now open for razor clams, bay clams, and mussels. ALWAYS CHECK FOR HEALTH ADVISORIES by calling the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Shellfish line at 1-800-448-2474 for updates. For more information about razor clams and current status of particular areas see the ODFW razor clam web page at(http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/shellfish/razorclams)

Crabbing had been good in the ocean but bay crabbing remains slow. The COOS BAY shoals (20-30 feet deep) along the inside of the North Spit from Empire to Charleston is a good area for crabbing. Public crabbing docks can be found in Winchester Bay, Bandon, Charleston, and Empire.

HUNTING

Cougar, spring bear and turkey season closed May 31. There is an extended cougar season designed to address high levels of damage complaints and damage-related cougar mortality in four areas of the state including portions of SW region; check page 45 of the Big Game regulations for details.

DOUGLAS COUNTY

VIEWING

COOS COUNTY

As spring concludes and summer comes on big game animals will becomes more difficult to observe because they will be giving birth to their young. But patient observers can sometimes view these newborns. Watch forest clearings where the mothers will be feeding.

Viewing opportunities are good at Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area located east of Reedsport on Hwy. 38.

BLACK BEARS are elusive animals but those wishing to see them may have some luck using optics to watch forest openings. Often bears will move into slides on hill sides where grass is beginning to green up.

BAND-TAILED PIGEONS are now appearing in large numbers. In spring these birds migrate into Oregon for feeding and nesting. They generally feed, noisily, on fruits, nuts and seeds of trees through the summer. They begin nesting early in the summer laying one or two eggs. Once these hatch they initiate another nest and continue this through the summer, sometimes bringing off more than one brood.

Other migrants to be aware of are SHOREBIRDS. Various species of sand pipers, plovers and other shore birds are appearing in bays, wetlands and along beaches as they migrate north. These birds can be very entertaining to watch as they dart around feeding. Occasionally, large groups of black brant can be seen resting in local bays on their migration north.

WATERFOWL: Ducklings and goslings are now frequently observed at Stewart Park in Roseburg.

SHOREBIRDS, SONGBIRDS & WATERFOWL: Plat I Reservoir in Sutherlin is a good place to view various species of songbirds, shorebirds, ducks and geese. Purple martins, our largest swallow in North America, have returned from their wintering areas in South America, and can be seen daily around the reservoir.

FISH SPAWNING -Winter Steelhead can be observed spawning in the wild just below Soda Springs dam on the N. Umpqua River 55 miles east of Roseburg.

FISH PASSAGE – Winter Steelhead and Spring Chinook migrating upstream pass through Winchester dam fish ladder on the N. Umpqua River, which is open to the public. To view the migrating Steelhead go to exit 129 on I-5, proceed southeast on 99 to the fish ladder on the north side of the river.

ROGUE WATERSHEDDENMAN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA provides a covered viewing station with a good opportunity to view waterfowl, egrets, raptors and songbirds. The structure was built by the Oregon Hunters Association and is accessed by a paved, wheelchair-accessible pathway. It is on the Whetstone Pond, just north of the ODFW Rogue Watershed Field Office in Central Point.

LAKE SELMAC is a great place to see waterfowl, eagles, osprey and other lake shore birds. Directions from Grants Pass, take Hwy 199 west about 12 miles to lake turn off sign at Lakeshore Drive. Turn left, follow to lake.

LOST CREEK LAKE provides 30 miles of trails which includes portions of the Rogue River National Recreation Trail. Along the lake and river banks a wide variety of wildlife and wild flowers can be observed. Deer may be seen early in the morning and late evenings along water ways. A brochure of the trail system can be picked up at federal land agency and visitor centers in the area.

UPPER AND LOWER TABLE ROCKS rise 800 feet above the valley floor. Habitat types range form oak savanna and chaparral to woodland. On the summit a diversity of wildflowers and wildlife can be found along the trails. Spring can provide some of the best viewing times. Be aware of rattle snakes along trail.

HARBOR SEALS can be observed in estuaries throughout the South Coast. Look for sandy haul out sites. Remember, spring is puping season so please observe these animals from a distance. If you find pups on the beach, leave them where you found them.

WILLAMETTE ZONEFISHING

STOCKING SCHEDULE: South Willamette Watershed District: ODFW stocked Breitenbush River, Detroit Reservoir, EE Wilson Pond, Junction City Pond, Quartzville Creek, Santiam River North Fork (above Detroit Reservoir), Leaburg Lake, McKenzie River (below and above Leaburg Lake) the week of May 28.

Leaburg Lake will receive 150 larger trout in addition to 1,200 legal size trout. McKenzie River below Leaburg Lake will receive 3,665 summer steelhead and over 1,500 larger rainbow trout. In addition to the scheduled rainbow trout stocking, 3,400 cutthroat trout originally collected from Fish Lake for broodstock were distributed between Carmen and Smith Reservoirs the week of May 21. The cutthroat are approximately 1.5 pounds and will provide some added angling excitement in these reservoirs.

In the North Willamette Watershed Faraday Lake, Harriet Lake, Hartman Pond, North Fork Reservoir, Small Fry Lake, Timothy Meadows and West Salish Pond will be stocked the week of May 28.

Passage numbers for summer steelhead moving through the Willamette Falls fishway remained fairly decent last week, due in part to continuing good water conditions. The summer-run steelhead counted through May 24 total 3,950. Winter steelhead counting ended for the season on May 15 with the final number totaling 5,494 fish passing the ladder. Water conditions in the mainstem Willamette and in both forks of the Santiam are good, but pressure remains relatively light. Salmon angling effort has slowed considerably on the Lower Willamette as the shad fishery begins to surge. Over 15,000 spring chinook and 4,000 summer steelhead have passed Willamette Falls through last weekend. Stream flows are dropping some and dry weather is forecast, so angling conditions in the North and South Santiam will be favorable. ODFW has begun trapping at the Bennett dams near Stayton to assess the wild and hatchery components of the run and to evaluate effectiveness of the new fishway at Upper Bennett. Trapping occurs four nights a week, the traps are checked daily and fish passed above daily, and are open for free passage on the weekends.

EE WILSON and JUNCTION CITY PONDS: ODFW stocked the week of May 7 with legal, larger and trophy size trout.

BREITENBUSH RIVER AND NORTH SANTIAM above Detroit Reservoir and Quartzville Creek above Green Peter Reservoir are scheduled to be stocked by ODFW with trout the week of May 28.

CLACKAMAS RIVER: Summer steelhead angling has been fair with fish spread throughout the system. A few spring chinook have been caught with the more experienced anglers still having the greatest success. The springers are now being caught from Gladstone all the way up to Dog Creek and Rivermill. Chinook angling should continue to improve heading into early June. The river has dropped a fair amount in the past week as Wednesday’s flows were at 1,510 cfs (11.55′). The color was very good with the water temperature at 53°.

Bank anglers can find access to the river in the Gladstone/Cross Park area, at Carver near the mouth of Clear Creek, along Clackamas River Rd, at Barton Park, at Bonnie Lure Park, at McIver Park near Dog Creek, and from the McIver Park boat ramp on up to River Mill Dam.

Boaters should be aware that at these lower flows many stretches of the river may only be accessible with a drift boat. This is particularly true above the Barton area.

COLUMBIA RIVER: From the Dalles Dam to the John Day Dam, sturgeon retention has closed as of midnight, Wednesday, March 28 effective through the end of the year. Catch-and-release angling for sturgeon in this stretch of the Columbia is currently closed May 1 through July 31, when sturgeon angling is prohibited from the west end of the grain silo located near Rufus upstream to John Day Dam, to protect oversize spawning sturgeon. Catch-and-release sturgeon angling in this sanctuary area re-opens August 1.

DETROIT, BIG CLIFF, GREEN PETER, AND FOSTER RESERVOIRS have all been stocked with rainbow trout this season and angling success has been pretty good on all three lakes. Detroit will be stocked the week of May 28. Kokanee fishing at Green Peter has finally picked up with schools of fish being encountered at 20-30 feet deep, though success still remains hit-and-miss. Best success so far on these 11-12 inch fish has been around the island and near the Talley Creek arm.

DEXTER POND, FALL CREEK and LEABURG (Mckenzie River): Spring Chinook salmon are arriving in low numbers.

DORENA RESERVOIR was stocked the week of April 9 with 6,300 rainbow trout.

HENRY HAGG LAKE: ODFW stocked with rainbow trout the week of May 7. As the water warms up, anglers have had increasingly better catches of bass, trout and crappie. Angling appears to be better near the middle of the lake than near the bank.

SUNNYSIDE POND near Foster Reservoir has also been stocked with trout. Trout stocking in the valley ponds is mostly completed for the season as water is warming up. All of these ponds support several species of warmwater game fish. Success for bass, sunfish, and catfish can be had by using bait and being patient.

SANDY RIVER: Summer steelhead angling has been slow in recent days with reports of a few fish from Dodge down to Dabney. Spring chinook angling continues to be slow. The abundance of sand has filled in many of the popular holes and “boiling sand” can be a hindrance to angling in the lower river. Water levels are low so boaters need to watch for submerged logs and rocks. The warmer weather could also bring on some glacial melting familiar to the Sandy River in the summer months. The conditions on Monday showed flows had decreased dramatically and were at 915 cfs (8.66′) with the water temperature hovering at 52°.

Anglers can access the river from many parks including Lewis and Clark, Dabney, Oxbow, and Dodge. Bank access is also available to the Cedar Creek area at the Sandy Hatchery. When fishing the Oxbow Park area, remember that there is no angling from a floating device upstream from a point that is 200 feet below the Oxbow Park boat ramp.

Collection/recycling receptacles for discarded or lost fishing gear can now be found along the Sandy River. Look for them near boat ramps at Lewis and Clark, Dabney, Oxbow, and Dodge parks. Any tangled fishing line or old gear can be collected and disposed of in these canisters as an effort to maintain a healthy, clean Sandy River. Please use nearby garbage cans for any other types of trash.

TIMBER LINN AND WAVERLY LAKES in Albany were stocked by ODFW the week of May 14.

WALTER WIRTH LAKE AND WALLING POND, in Salem, Freeway Lakes and ROARING RIVER PARK POND near Albany were stocked the week of May 7. Trout stocking in the valley ponds is mostly completed for the season as water is warming up. All of these ponds support several species of warmwater game fish. Success for bass, sunfish, and catfish can be had by using bait and being patient.

WILLAMETTE RIVER: Spring chinook angling effort and catch has continued to slow down this past week and the warmer water usually means that the fish will be inclined to move upstream rapidly. Conditions for May 29 showe