Montana Fish Report

If your weekend plans don’t include fishing
Then you need to make new plans. Because Saturday/Sunday is a Free Fishing Weekend in Oregon – the perfect time to grab a buddy, co-worker, spouse, kid, cousin or in-law and take them fishing with you. They won’t need a license, tag or endorsement, but maybe just a little help from you to get started.

Hunting, fishing and fire season
It’s been a very active fire season, and savvy hunters will check for road closures and other land use restrictions before heading out. Some fires are also restricting fishing access, particularly in the Southeast Zone. You can find links to the latest fire information on the MyODFW website.

Mourning dove and forest grouse open Sept. 1
Statewide seasons for mourning dove and forest grouse open on Saturday, as does quail hunting in western Oregon.

Best bets for holiday weekend fishing

• Sea-run cutthroat trout on the north coast will respond to the recent cool weather by being even more active and ready to bite.
• Hatchery trout have been stocked in several zones just in time for the holiday weekend – 25,000 fish in the Willamette Zone alone.
• Summer all-depth halibut season on the central coast will be open Aug. 31 – Sept. 1.
• Smallmouth bass are responding to the cool weather as well. Not only are they becoming more active, they are hitting more topwater lures.
• Fall Chinook are being caught in the Rogue River, and in the bays and tidewater of the Coos, Coquille and Umpqua.