Agendas Out For Next Week’s Washington, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Meetings
A look at what’s on the agendas of both the Washington and Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commissions as they meet late next week in Long Beach and Salem, respectively.
North Umpqua To Close To Steelheading Starting Next Week
With wild steelhead numbers not expected to make a critical abundance threshold and the river running low and hot, ODFW says the North Umpqua will close to steelheading starting next Monday, August 10 through November
Free Pheasant Hunts Coming Up For Oregon Youths
Registration is now open for a dozen upland bird hunting opportunities across Oregon for youths 17 and under who have completed hunter ed or will have done so by the start of the free September and October events.
Fall Chinook Season Set On Washington’s Snake; Lower Wild King Limit From Clarkston Up
Fall Chinook season on Washington’s Snake River will open as early as August 18 in the Clarkston area, but inside this year’s daily limit of three kings, only one can be wild, a rule change that follows what Idaho managers set as well due to a lower forecast of the unclipped fish.
Washington Salmon Fishing Advocate Urabeck Receives PSA State Board Lifetime Achievement Award
Frank Urabeck of Bonney Lake received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Puget Sound Anglers State Board yesterday following a very brief – and very lucrative – coho trip out of Ilwaco at the mouth of the Columbia River with members of the organization as well as friends and relatives.
Oregon Gubernatorial Candidate Proposes Constitutional Amendment Protecting Fishing, Hunting
In the wake of a recently failed attempt to bring a ban on fishing and hunting in Oregon to a public vote, one of the state’s two gubernatorial candidates is calling for a constitutional amendment that would enshrine both.
SW WA, Buoy 10, Lower Columbia Fishing Report (8-4-26)
Late July and early August 2026 catch stats for Buoy 10, the lower Columbia River and select Southwest Washington catch stats.
Investigation Into Washington Fish And Wildlife Commissioners Released
An investigation into Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission members partially corroborates allegations against certain members of the citizen panel overseeing WDFW and its director.
ODFW Extends Willamette Two-rod Fishing Above Falls Through Coho Season
Coho anglers will again be able to run a second rod on the Willamette River above the falls after ODFW extended the two-rod validation in those and other upstream waters.
Fire Danger Leads To Closure Of Northeast Oregon Access & Habitat Lands
Due to wildfires and scarce firefighting resources, ODFW closed more than a dozen Access & Habitat-enrolled properties in the northeast corner of the state as well as year-round Upland Cooperative Access Program lands along the Mid-Columbia, and the agency says it will monitor things as the start of bow seasons in late August nears.
Mt. St. Helens Spring Chinook Release A ‘Major Milestone’ In NF Toutle Fish Passage, Reintro Plan
WDFW details recent efforts to reintroduce Chinook into the North Fork Toutle above the Corps of Engineers’ Sediment Retention Structure, where coho and winter steelhead have previously been released, as part of a project that is expanding fish access to historic spawning and rearing habitat below Mt. St. Helens.
SW WA, Lower Columbia Fishing Report (7-29-26)
Late July 2026 catch stats for the Lower Columbia River and select Southwest Washington tributaries.
‘Major Win’: IP 28 Fails Second Signature Check, Won’t Qualify For Fall Ballot
Initiative Petition 28, which would have put the future of hunting, fishing, trapping, ranching and more in Oregon up for a vote, will not appear on the fall ballot.
Public Comment Open on Oregon 2027 Big Game Reg Proposals, Other Commission Topics Open
ODFW is accepting public comments on the proposed 2027 Big Game Regulations and other agenda items the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider at their September meeting in La Grande.
WDFW Cracking Down On Unlawful Shark Fishing
Washington game wardens are cracking down on illegal shark fishing and making an example of one content creator.
SW WA, Lower Columbia Fishing Report (7-21-26)
Mid-July 2026 steelhead and salmon catch stats for the Lower Columbia and select Southwest Washington tributaries.