For wildlife viewing buffs, bighorn sheep, like these seen north of Hereford, also abound along the South Fork John Day River. For hunters, cougar are widely distributed throughout the Grant District, especially at higher elevations where elk are present, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reports. The Eagle/HEATHER SHEEDY

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife released on Feb. 10 the following fishing and hunting report:FISHINGSoutheast Zone

NOTE: The following water bodies have slow fishing because of low water: Chewaucan River, Crump Lake, Heart Lake, Malheur River (Warm Springs Reservoir downstream to South Fork Malheur River), and Moon Reservoir.

Ana Reservoir – Fishing is slow. Fishing for hybrid bass usually picks up this time of year.

Ana River – Fishing fair for trout reared in the river.

Blitzen River – Remember, there are special angling regulations in effect on this basin. The refuge for safety reasons has closed access to the river between Page Springs Dam and Bridge Creek. On Nov. 1, the mainstem Blitzen River switched to catch and release fishing. Angling is fair for rainbow trout. Anglers are encouraged to practice hook and release.

BLM ponds – Trout fishing in many of the ponds is slow to poor because of skim ice.

Blue Lake – Fishing should be good.

Bully Creek Reservoir – The reservoir is 22 percent full and slowly beginning to fill. Fishing is slow due to cool water conditions.

Burns Pond – Fishing is slow.

Campbell Lake – Fishing should be good.

Cottonwood Meadows – Fishing is fair.

Cottonwood Reservoir – Fishing poor. The reservoir population is slowly rebuilding.

Dairy Creek – Fishing is slow.

Deadhorse Lake – Fishing is good for brook trout.

Delintment Lake – There is skim ice around the edge making fishing poor.

Dog Lake – Fishing is fair for yellow perch.

Duncan Reservoir – Rehabilitated to remove brown bullheads this fall. It will be restocked next spring.

Fish Lake (Steens Mountain) – There are several inches of snow on the ground and probably skim ice on the lake. Fishing is poor.

Fourmile Lake – Winter conditions exist.

Gerber Reservoir – Angling for warmwater fish is good. Water is low.

Heart Lake – Fishing is slow. Kokanee are in the eight-inch range. Tui chub are causing problems.

Holbrook Reservoir – Large numbers of tui chub are present. Water level is low. Fishing is slow.

Klamath and Agency lakes – Angling for wild redband is has been good for bank anglers.

Klamath River (downstream of JC Boyle) – Angling for wild redband has been fair.

Klamath River (Keno Reach) – Angling has been fair for wild redband.

Krumbo Reservoir – Fishing is slow for rainbow trout and largemouth bass.

Lake of the Woods – Angling for brown trout and perch has been fair.

Lofton Reservoir – Fishing is fair. Tui chub are present.

Lost River – Angling has been slow.

Lucky Reservoir – Fishing is slow.

Gerber Reservoir – Winter conditions exist.

Malheur River (Warm Springs Reservoir downstream to South Fork Malheur River) – Warm Spring Reservoir went dry on Aug. 11 and flows below the dam have been shut off for the winter. Fishing is poor.

Malheur River (South Fork Malheur River downstream to Gold Creek) – Fishing is poor. Flows below the confluence of the North Fork are about 15 cfs.

Middle Fork Malheur River – Streams are low and clear. Angling is fair for wild rainbow, brook trout and whitefish. Anglers are reminded to release bull trout.

North Fork Malheur River – The river is low and clear. Fishing is fair for wild rainbow and whitefish.

Mann Lake – There may be ice around the edge making fishing very difficult.

Mill Flat Reservoir and Mud Lake – Fishing is fair.

Miller Lake – Winter conditions exist.

Owyhee Reservoir – The reservoir is 11 percent full; boat ramps near the dam are operational and the Leslie Gulch boat ramp is out of the water. The upper end of the reservoir is run-of-the-river to almost Doe Island. Angling is slow for crappie, bass and channel catfish. Fish are in deeper waters.

Lower Owyhee River – Flow below dam is shut off and the discharge below the dam is averaging about 15 cfs. Trout fishing is slow for rainbows and fair for small non-spawning browns.

Upper Owyhee River – Flows are very low (120 cfs) and water is clear. Angling is slow for both smallmouth bass and channel catfish.

Pilcher Creek Reservoir – Fair angling for eight- to 12-inch rainbow trout. The reservoir is low.

Powder River – Most of the river closed to angling Oct. 31. The river is open to angling from Hughes Lane in Baker City to Mason Dam (Phillips Reservoir). Angling is restricted to catch and release fishing with artificial flies and lures only.

Rogger Pond, Sherlock Gulch and Slide Lake – Fishing is fair.

Sid Luce – Access is through private property. Fishing is fair.

Snake River above Brownlee Reservoir – Fishing has slowed down with the cooler water temperatures. Flows in the river are clearing.

Spaulding Reservoir – Fishing should be good for this year’s plant.

Thief Valley Reservoir – Slowly filling reported to be up to the boat ramp.

Thompson Reservoir – Water level is extremely low. There is no limit on largemouth bass. Fishing should be fair.

Unity Reservoir – The reservoir is very low. Fair angling for rainbow trout.

Vee Lake – Fishing is fair.

Warner Pond – Fishing is good.

Withers Lake – Fishing good for brook trout and brown trout. Limit is five brown trout and no limit on brook trout.

Wolf Creek Reservoir – The reservoir is low. Fair angling for 10- to 12-inch rainbow trout.

Wood River – Angling for wild redband and brown trout has been good.

Yellowjacket Lake – Fishing is poor because of the skim ice around the edge.

Northeast Zone

Bull Prairie and Magone Lake – Access may be limited by snow. Anglers should use caution on ice.

Columbia River above the John Day Dam – Open to the retention of sturgeon.

John Day River – Steelhead are being caught up to Kimberly, angling success has been fair to good, depending on angling conditions. Open for adipose fin clipped fish only. Limit three per day. River flows have increased, although are much lower than normal for this time of year. The John Day River above Kimberly, including the North Fork, Middle Forks, will remain open to steelhead angling until April 15.

Roulet and Ladd Pond – Angling should be slow.

Umatilla River – Angling is fair for steelhead in the lower river.

Wallowa, Lower Grande Ronde, Lower Wenaha and lower Imnaha rivers – Open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead (consult angling synopsis for open area boundaries). Rivers are up and muddy in the lower reaches. Prospects will likely improve first in the upper Wallowa and Imnaha.

Snake River Zone

Snake River, Hells Canyon Dam to state line – Snake River is open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead Jan. 1-April 30. Barbless hooks required. Good angling for steelhead. Anglers are picking up steelhead using eggs, black hair jigs with shrimp, or backtrolling plugs.

Brownlee Reservoir – Fair angling for crappie in deep water. Fair angling for perch in deep water. Fair angling for bass. Fair angling for catfish. Idaho Power Company recording: 1-800-422-3143 for information on access at recreational sites, or access www.idahopower.com under the “Rivers and Recreation” heading. The reservoir was projected to be 5 feet below full Feb. 10-11 at Brownlee Dam, Oxbow Dam. The Oxbow intake area has been restricted to employees only. All parks and day-use facilities remain open at the Hells Canyon Complex.

Oxbow Reservoir – Catch and release only for bass Jan. 1-June 30. Daily bag limit for bass is two bass per day. Bass between 12-16 inches must be released year-round. Good angling for large trout below Brownlee Dam, and off creek mouths. Slow angling for crappie when fishing deep. Slow angling for bluegill.

Hells Canyon Reservoir – Security restrictions limit access to foot traffic or boats in some portions of the upper end of the reservoir. Only one trout over 20 inches may be taken per day, upstream of Hells Canyon Dam, rainbow trout over 20 inches are considered steelhead downstream of Hells Canyon Dam. Slow angling for bass, catfish and crappie.HUNTINGBaker District

GENERAL CONDITIONS: Snows at higher elevations and rains at lower elevations have helped to alleviate drought conditions. Increased moisture and warmer than normal temperatures, have caused late greenup at lower elevations. Lack of snow at low elevations has not concentrated deer or cougars on winter ranges.

Cougar – Cougar season in the Blue Mountain Zone reopened on Jan. 1. Cougar numbers appear to be increasing; look for cougars on deer and elk winter ranges.

Coyote – Coyotes are abundant.

Grant District

Cougar – Cougar are widely distributed throughout the District. Look for cougar at higher elevations where elk are present. Hunters are reminded to check in any harvested cougar at any ODFW district or regional office within 72 hours.

Coyote – There are a good number of coyote found throughout the Grant District.

Heppner District

Upland Birds – Closed.

Coyote – Numbers are good in most areas, however due to lack of snow and mild weather conditions, coyotes are widely scattered. Access to some of the higher elevation areas is better than normal and may provide additional opportunities for hunting. Some private lands are available, however be sure to have permission before hunting.

Cougar – Hunters are reporting seeing a substantial amount of cougar sign and cougars. Best chances for success require the use of predator calls in areas being used by cougars.

Umatilla District

Cougar – Season re-opened on January 1, 2003. Hunters will find success following out tracks in the snow, waiting over deer or elk kills previously made by a cougar, or setting up tree stands in saddles heavily used by cougar. Hunters are reminded to check in any harvested cougar at any ODFW district or regional office within 72 hours.

Union District

Cougar – Best hunting will be a day or two after fresh snowfall. Locating an area with fresh tracks and calling with a predator call in those areas could provide success.

Wallowa District

Cougar – Recent snow has improved hunting conditions for cougar. Deer and elk winter ranges are good spots to locate cougar.WILDLIFE VIEWINGBald Eagles along the mainstem of the John Day River.

Bighorn Sheep along the South Fork John Day River.

Mule Deer in the John Day Valley.