Oregon officials enforce social distancing amid fishing season

Fishing season opens for Oregon residents only

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Angling season kicks off April 22 and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has closed all recreational hunting and fishing to non-residents to limit travel amid COVID- 19 restrictions.

Other states like Washington have completely closed hunting and fishing, to limit the spread of the virus.

Places like Odell Lake and Wickiup and Crane Prairie reservoirs are popular boating locations here in Oregon that attract many people.

ODFW asks that resident hunters and anglers not travel to participate in these activities. In a recently released statement, they said they’re experiencing lower numbers and participants are recreating close to home.

“We actually have had our field staff  looking for overcrowding and participation or lack of social distancing, and we aren’t seeing that," Michelle Dennehy, communications coordinator for ODFW, said Wednesday. "We are seeing that people who are out are keeping that six feet, so that’s why it's still open, but we are continuing to monitor that.”

ODFW Director Curt Melcher says the season is remaining open to give local residents an outlet during this difficult time.

While you are allowed to fish, the U.S. Forest service is taking its own precautions to encourage people to not come to the area.

Public Affairs Officer Jean Nelson-Dean said, “It's ultimately up to each resort owner, if they want to open for the fishing season or not or provide services. They need to, if they do open, to comply with the governors order, the executive order.

"The way we’re ensuring that is we’re looking at their plans of operation, making sure that their food services, lodging and any type of recreation activities they're allowing do comply with the governor's order.”

The US Forest Service boat ramps are remaining closed, however, and they are not providing fish and cleaning stations, to reduce the chance that people will not follow social distancing.

ODFW plans to refund non-residents who purchased a 2020 license to hunt or fish later this year. Dennehy encourages you to check access restrictions of the sites you plan on visiting beforehand, as some places have implemented new hours of operation.