Oregon's Winter Sunshine: A Golden Ticket for Anglers!
We all know the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." But what do you do when life hands you an abundance of pesky winter sunshine? In Oregon, the answer is simple: go fishing!
While dedicated steelhead anglers might be feeling the pinch of low, clear waters, a different kind of excitement is brewing for most of Oregon's fishing enthusiasts. Get ready, because starting Monday, stocking trucks laden with catchable trout will be making their rounds across the Willamette Valley and beyond, as detailed in the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's trout stocking schedule.
While the central valley is set to be the early hotbed for fishing action, don't overlook Henry Hagg Lake near Forest Grove. It's now open year-round and promises some excellent opportunities for holdover trout alongside wintering bass and panfish. Mark your calendars for February 9th, when the lake is scheduled to receive its first stocking of one-pound trout, followed later by the introduction of legal-sized fish measuring eight to 12 inches. Just a heads-up: the stocking schedule typically lists the Monday of the week fish are planted, not the specific day, and it also includes helpful maps of stocking locations.
Icy Opportunities: A Cautionary Tale
Even with milder weather gracing eastern Oregon, ice anglers still have some chances to cast a line, provided they check conditions before heading out. Diamond Lake, for instance, is currently iced over, but resort managers are urging caution. They've even produced a helpful video with a handy rule-of-thumb for ice thickness that's worth sharing:
- Less than 4 inches of new, clear ice: Stay off!
- 4 to 5 inches: Generally safe for walking and ice fishing for one person.
- 5 to 7 inches: Considered safe for snowmobiles or ATVs.
- 8 to 12 inches: Safe for a small car or light truck.
The resort's video showcases anglers on Diamond Lake, which currently has about four inches of ice, with nighttime temperatures staying below freezing, though daytime warming is occurring. Similarly, much of the high desert offers potential, and a personal favorite, Chickahominy Reservoir near Burns, is once again shaping up to be a fantastic trout fishing spot, though it's only partially iced over with some thawing.
Showtime! Get Ready for the Sportsmen's Shows
Prepare for the annual advertising blitz! The Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show is set to launch its Portland event from February 11th to 15th at the Expo Center. But before that, you can catch the Washington show in Puyallup from Wednesday through Sunday. Later, the Central Oregon Show will take place in Redmond from March 5th to 8th.
This year marks a transition as the O’Loughlin family has retired and sold their shows to Marketplace Events, a company that manages numerous trade and focused shows across the United States and Canada. The new management assures that these popular events will continue, with more details to be shared soon.
Hunter Education: Don't Miss Out!
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will be at the shows, offering exciting raffles for participation in research activities like Rocky Mountain goat and ocean groundfish studies. More importantly, they'll be providing required field days for young hunters seeking their hunter education certificates at both the Portland and Central Oregon Shows. However, space is limited, so if you have a child or grandchild eager to hunt, it's highly recommended to enroll them immediately to avoid disappointment closer to hunting season. Hunter education courses are ongoing throughout the winter and early spring across the state.
A Lingering Concern: Chronic Wasting Disease in Washington?
Uh oh! Washington has recently reported a potential first case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a mule deer from Ferry County, located northwest of Spokane and near the Canadian border. This diagnosis, made by a private laboratory, is still awaiting confirmation from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. But here's where it gets controversial... If confirmed, this location would be significantly north of existing CWD reporting areas in Idaho, effectively leaving Oregon as an isolated "island" in terms of the disease. Only Nevada would share this disease-free status among bordering states. What are your thoughts on the potential spread of CWD and its implications for wildlife management in our region? Do you believe current preventative measures are sufficient?
Alsea Hatchery Closure Rumors: Unfounded!
Let's put an end to the rumors: the Alsea Hatchery will NOT be closing. Despite widespread speculation that one of the state's most popular hatcheries was on the chopping block during recent state budget scares, officials confirm it's not happening. Shaun Clements, Deputy Director of the Fish and Wildlife Department, explained that the hatchery's appearance on a potential cutback list was merely a bureaucratic shuffle last fall. State agencies are required to prepare reduction lists for legislative review. While Alsea Hatchery was on the license fund list for 2025, the legislature's approval of a fee increase made implementing that reduction unnecessary. Subsequent requests for reduction lists due to general and lottery fund shortfalls focused on those specific fund types. And this is the part most people miss... the Alsea Hatchery does not depend on the general fund or lottery proceeds, making the closure rumors entirely unfounded. So, no news here, folks – just more reasons to go fish!
