My Outdoor Buddy

Your Source for Outdoor Adventure

Northern California and Southern Oregon

Headline News from Northern California & Southern Oregon

The opportunistic river otter looks for fish scraps on the charter boat dock in Trinidad. Photo by Marna Powell

The opportunistic river otter looks for fish scraps on the charter boat dock in Trinidad. Photo by Marna Powell

A Drought-Quenching Deluge
by Erin Loury, FISHBIO, FEBRUARY 5, 2017

Many areas in California are still recovering from the previous weeks of torrential rainfall, caused by an atmospheric river. As large amounts of precipitation have swept across the western United States, storms have created extreme flooding, mudslides, and several power outages. While powerful atmospheric rivers can cause tremendous damage, they also supply an average of 30-50% of the annual precipitation experienced along...
Full Story

ODFW Mtg. to discuss fishery, land acquisition, sturgeon population
by ODFW, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

The Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, Feb. 10 in Tigard at the Embassy Suites Washington Square, Metolius River Ballroom, 900 SW Washington Blvd. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. and follows this agenda. Members of the public who can’t attend should be able to watch a livestream of portions of the meeting via Twitter/Periscope at twitter.com/odfw or periscope.tv/odfw . The Commission will also host a reception...
Full Story

Winter steelhead, surfperch, bottom fish attract Southern Oregon anglers
Southern Oregon
by Larry Ellis, FEBRUARY 4, 2017
Chetco River

The Chetco and lower Rogue rivers continue to thrill winter steelhead aficionados, with an occasional monster steelie being caught. Last week, at least two 18-pound hatchery metalheads were caught on the Chetco. I saw one of them and it was monstrous! The Chetco Steelheadzilla was caught by Stefon Muroff of Boise, Idaho while he was side-drifting a Puff Ball-and-roe combination in the...
Full Story

CDFW accepting Fisheries Habitat Restoration Project proposals
by CDFW, FEBRUARY 2, 2017

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting proposals for projects under its 2017 Fisheries Habitat Restoration Proposal Soliciation Notice (PSN). The PSN and online grant application can be found online. Applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 16, 2017. CDFW will also hold a series of public workshops to assist applicants in understanding...
Full Story

Domoic acid closes crabbing from Coos Bay to Heceta Head
by ODFW, FEBRUARY 2, 2017
Coos River

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announce the closure of the commercial crab fishery from the north jetty of Coos Bay to Heceta Head, north of Florence, due to elevated levels of domoic acid in crab viscera. The area is also closed to recreational harvest. Crab meat remains safe for consumption. Domoic acid levels...
Full Story

Why Not a Split Season for California Waterfowl?
California Outdoors Q&A
Carrie Wilson, FEBRUARY 2, 2017

Question: Global warming and climate change seem to have seriously affected waterfowl migration patterns. Last year we saw the effects exacerbated as birds delayed migrations from summer nesting grounds until late into the year. So, why do we ignore this change in California and persist in starting our waterfowl season so early in the year? My native state of Texas...
Full Story