When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. But what do you do when Oregon's winter sky decides to shower you with endless sunshine? Here's a golden opportunity you won't want to miss: it's prime fishing time! Yes, you heard that right—while steelhead anglers might be scratching their heads over low, clear waters, the rest of Oregon's fishing enthusiasts are gearing up for an exciting season.
And this is the part most people miss: starting Monday, stocking trucks loaded with catchable trout will begin their journey across the Willamette Valley and beyond, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's trout stocking schedule (https://myodfw.com/fishing/species/trout/stocking-schedule?fieldzonevalue=6&fieldplannedstockingdatevalue=2026-01-01&fieldplannedstockingdateend_value=2026-02-28). While the early action is concentrated in the central valley, Henry Hagg Lake near Forest Grove is a year-round hotspot, boasting holdover trout, wintering bass, and panfish. Mark your calendars for February 9th, when the lake is scheduled to receive a batch of one-pounders, followed by the first winter planting of legal-sized eight- to 12-inch fish.
But here's where it gets controversial: the stocking schedule only lists the Monday of the week fish will be planted, not the exact day. To make matters more intriguing, it includes a map of stocking locations (https://myodfw.com/articles/trout-stocking-maps), leaving anglers to strategize their trips.
Now, let's reel in some quick updates:
Iced-over waters: Not quite. Mild temperatures across eastern Oregon mean less harsh conditions, but ice anglers can still find opportunities if they plan ahead. Take Diamond Lake, for instance—it's iced over, but resort managers advise caution. They've even shared a helpful video (https://www.facebook.com/reel/906402052085282) with ice thickness guidelines: less than four inches? Stay off. Four to five inches? Safe for walking, ice fishing, or skating (solo). Five to seven inches? Bring your snowmobile or ATV. Eight to 12 inches? Even a small car or light truck can venture out. Chickahominy Reservoir near Burns, a personal favorite, is partially iced with some thawing, making it a great spot for trout fishing.
Showtime! The Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show (https://www.facebook.com/thesportshows) is kicking off its annual extravaganza in Portland from February 11-15 at the Expo Center. But wait—before that, the Washington show in Puyallup runs from Wednesday to Sunday, followed by the Central Oregon Show in Redmond from March 5-8. With the O’Loughlin family retiring and selling their shows to Marketplace Events, the future of these events is secure, according to the new managers. Don't forget to check the link for details, with more updates coming next week.
Hunter education alert: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will be at the show, offering fun raffles for participation in Rocky Mountain goat and ocean groundfish research. More importantly, they’ll host required field days for those seeking hunter education certificates at both the Portland and Central Oregon Shows (https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=hunter%20education%20courses%20odfw). Spaces are limited, so act fast! Hunter education courses are available statewide through winter and early spring. If you have a young hunter in the family, enroll them now to avoid the last-minute scramble.
Uh oh! Washington has reported a potential first case of chronic wasting disease (https://wdfw.wa.gov/newsroom/news-release/unofficial-third-party-test-reports-chronic-wasting-disease-ferry-county-mule-deer) in a mule deer from Ferry County, near the Canadian border. While the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife couldn't confirm the findings, if true, this would isolate Oregon as one of the few remaining disease-free states, with only Nevada sharing the same status. Is this a sign of things to come? What measures should be taken to protect Oregon's wildlife?
Lastly, don't believe the rumors: the Alsea Hatchery isn't closing. Despite whispers during recent budget scares, Shaun Clements, deputy director of the Fish and Wildlife Department, confirmed it was merely a bureaucratic formality. The hatchery doesn't rely on general funds or lottery proceeds, so there's no cause for alarm. No news here, folks—just more reasons to grab your gear and go fishing!
What’s your take on Oregon’s fishing opportunities this winter? Are you excited about the stocking schedule, or do you have concerns about chronic wasting disease? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments!
