Best bets for fishing

• Surf perch fishing has been hot along the Oregon Coast.
• Spring Chinook fishing will close on the Columbia River after April 7, but the season will just be heating up on the Willamette, Rogue, Umpqua and Nestucca rivers, and in Tillamook Bay.
• Spring trout fishing can be excellent! Dozens of locations throughout the state have been or will be stocked with legal-size or larger trout. Some notable examples from this week’s schedule: Foster Reservoir (10,000 fish), Henry Hagg Lake (16,000) and Detroit Reservoir (18,000).

Get ready for spring bear hunting
The season is just a few weeks away! Many hunters consider spring bear to be the first hunt of the year. To see how things are shaping up in areas throughout the state, check out the 2018 Spring Bear Forecast.

Take the family fishing
ODFW sponsors over 30 free Family Fishing Events throughout the state during spring, early summer and fall. At these events, ODFW staff and volunteers will be there to show you how to bait a hook, cast a rod, and land a fish. We’ll even have rods, reels and tackle for you to borrow for the day. You’ll find a description of all the upcoming events on the MyODFW.com Workshop & Events page.

Watchable wildlife on the coast
The Oregon Coast has 360 mile of coastline – that’s a lot of miles for some coastal wildlife viewing fun. Here are a few highlights from this week’s Rec Report:

• The spring migration of shorebirds typically starts in April, and is in full swing by May. 
• Gray whales will continued to be on the move northward towards the Bering Sea well into April.
• Velella velella, or by-the-wind sailors, are blue jellyfish-like hydrozoans washing up on some beaches with the strong winds.
• For even more coastal viewing opportunities, visit the newly expanded Wildlife Viewing section for the Marine Zone.

Report late season hunts
Hunters with tags valid for Jan. 1-March 31 have until April 15 to report on their tag. There are several ways to report, including online.