ODFW Report, Feb. 7

New salmon, steelhead, sturgeon endorsement – Beginning Jan. 1, 2014 anglers fishing for salmon, steelhead or sturgeon in the Columbia River and its tributaries will be required to have a Columbia River Basin endorsement. See a map of the Basin and get more information. Not too early to think spring Chinook – Managers are expecting a good return in the Columbia River this year – 227,000 upriver fish and 58,700 fish to the Willamette. Expect some good fishing if the fish and water conditions cooperate. Columbia River regulations and in-season updates are posted here.  Don’t overlook winter trout fishing – Oregon offers diverse winter trout fishing opportunities — Garrison Lake and Lost Creek Reservoir in the SW Zone, Crooked and Metolius rivers in Central, Walter Wirth Lake in the Willamette and ice-fishing on Campbell Lake and Wolf Creek Reservoir in SE, to name a few. Check out the zone reports for even more winter trout opportunities.  Visit ODFW at the Pacific NW Sportsman Show, Feb. 5-9, Portland – ODFW’s booth is right next to the kid’s trout fishing pond. Stop by to pick up a copy of the regulations, get the latest on spring fishing opportunities, or chat with biologists about fishing and hunting issues across the state.  Thanks to all hunters who reported tags on time – About 81 percent of 2013 deer and elk tags were reported by the deadline last week.  Spring bear hunt applications due Feb. 10 – Apply for a controlled hunt no later than Feb. 10, or purchase one of the SW Oregon first-come, first-serve tags, which have been selling out by about Feb. 15 every year.  Keep your dog safe this trapping season – Trapping seasons are underway. Keep your dog safe with these tips.