Steelie Your New Year Resolve

Keep your resolution to make the most of Oregon's outdoors this year and take advantage of all 12 months of opportunity. Kick the year off chasing winter steelhead, then go for trout when springtime comes. In the heat of summer, catch warmwater fish for the skillet. When fall rolls around, the whole world of hunting awaits. Crab and clam all year long. Buy your license and get out there.

What’s New for 2026

Catch and keep more lingcod this year as the bag limit increases to three for 2026. Plan for fall coho fishing in the upper Willamette Basin because seasons are now permanent. Spearfish for bass and walleye in any river or stream without bag limits (which is most of them). Don't forget to pick up the new Ocean Endorsement when fishing for marine fish. Learn what you need to know for 2026 at the link below. 

Winter Steel Shining Bright in Coast Streams 

Winter steelhead are available up and down the Oregon coast right now. Anglers and hatcheries are reporting encouraging numbers so far. If later broodstock and wild runs materialize as expected, fishing should remain strong into April.  Make your first fish of 2026 a steelhead. 

Walleye Offer New and Old Fun

Oregon is home to some of the biggest walleye in the country and the smaller ones are delicious. If you want to go old-school, take your boat up to the Columbia and enjoy this well-established fishery. If you want to try something new, spearfishing for walleye is now legal in rivers and streams.

Hunter Ed Classes at Sportshow

ODFW is thrilled to be able to offer several hunter ed field days at the Sportsmen’s Shows in Portland and Redmond this year! Kids who have completed the online course and registered in advance can get certified at the show. Parents/guardians don’t need to be present and can walk around the show while kids complete the field day with certified hunter ed instructor volunteers. Registration for Portland show field days is now open and includes Saturday and Sunday field days, plus weekday afternoon days perfect for homeschoolers!

Find Your Deer Hunt Area

Eastern Oregon deer hunts will have new names and boundaries this year. Why the change? Research shows mule deer move across multiple units throughout the year, meaning the old system didn’t align with actual deer movement and herd biology. The new structure will lead to more accurate monitoring as actions are taken to improve populations. Confused about which hunt includes your traditional hunting area? We’ve got lots of tools to help you and your hunting partners.

Try Lead-free, Win Hunting Gear!

Want to win a custom rifle or other prizes worth over $10,000 while trying high-quality bullets? Use lead-free hunting ammunition to reduce the risk of lead exposure in scavenging wildlife and continue the tradition of hunters as wildlife stewards. Show proof of purchase of lead-free loaded ammunition, component bullets, shotgun slugs, or muzzleloader projectiles as a valid entry into the drawing. 

Hatcheries Weather Storm

With rising rivers comes debris, sediment and even full trees, which can clog hatchery intakes that provide the oxygenated water fish need to survive. ODFW’s hatchery staff worked night and day to keep hatcheries running during flood events in December. Overall, the state’s hatcheries held up thanks to the efforts of our dedicated staff who know that dealing with extreme weather like flooding is part of the job (and sometimes means sleeping with rubber boots and rain pants next to your bed!)

See You at the Sportshow

It’s almost sportshow season! Come visit us at the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show and Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show. ODFW staff will offer seminars to help you get the most out of your hunting and fishing experiences in Oregon and point out hidden gems. Enter to win one of ODFW's Trip of a Lifetime raffles for a chance to join ODFW staff on a fishing survey experience in Oregon’s marine reserves or on an adventure in NE Oregon with Rocky Mountain goats.

Catch of the Month Photo Showcase 

Jine with her first 20" inch trout caught in Salem. There is lots of stocking happening in the Willamette Valley right now so check the stocking schedule!

Want a chance to showcase your awesome catch to other anglers? Excited about your latest fishing trip? Snap a great photo while wildlife viewing? Proud picture of your recent harvest? Share your best photos and videos with us. Chosen photographs and videos will be displayed in the Catch of the Month spotlight in an upcoming issue of the ODFW Monthly Messenger, ODFW Photo Gallery and may be used in promotional materials.

If you know of or suspect crimes against fish, wildlife, or habitat, please contact OSP Dispatch at: 800-442-0776 for the Northern Command Center or 800-442-2068 for the Southern Command Center; or call *OSP (*677) from a mobile device. Or email: TIP@osp.oregon.gov.

ODFW Messenger: Monthly Edition | January 2026

The ODFW Messenger is a monthly email which highlights some of the best seasonal opportunity available, and we’ll cover content for fishing, hunting, clamming, crabbing, wildlife viewing, and everything in between. Consider the Messenger your short list for the best adventures in the current season. Lastly, we want to thank you for your continued readership and hope you’ll share it with your friends.