Cozy up to 2007 regs for fishing, hunting.

Byline: INSIDE THE OUTDOORS By Mike Stahlberg The Register-Guard

In time to help pass a wintery afternoon in front of the fireplace, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife distributed its 2007 fishing and hunting regulations booklets to sporting goods stores statewide.

Between them, the two booklets contain more than 200 pages of detailed regulations governing hunting and fishing in Oregon.

The 2007 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations, out a couple weeks earlier than normal, merit a careful review because several important rule changes were adopted, according to Rhine Messmer, the ODFW's Recreational Fisheries Program Manager.

As usual, new or revised rules are easy to spot - they are printed in blue.

Messmer said the agency's focus in designing the 2007 synopsis was threefold: "improve the readability, make it easier to understand, and include more information on angling opportunities in Oregon.'

That third goal resulted in the inclusion of a new section titled, `Looking for Somewhere to Go Fishing?"

That article directs anglers to the ODFW site on the Internet, where an `Easy Angling Oregon' link will offer information on fishing opportunities and angling techniques at some of the more productive fishing spots in each of the state's six angling zones.

The `Easy Angling Oregon' locations will be the closest one can come to a "sure thing" for catching fish, be they planted trout or warmwater species. The idea is to provide rewarding angling experiences for the beginning angler and for families with young children.

"With this information, new or novice anglers can plan a successful fishing trip and have a reasonable chance of catching fish, and enjoy a pleasant, relaxing outing," the booklet states.

The new "Easy Angling" feature is not yet active, but it is scheduled to be online by Jan. 1.

Meanwhile, the synopsis is easier to read, with its use of a "cleaner" and slightly larger typeface and improved zone maps. To make the booklet easier to read, paid advertisements were moved to the back. Previously, the ads were scattered throughout.

However, finding out what the rules are is still a four-step process that can be very confusing to newcomers. First, anglers must check the "general regulations" that apply statewide. Then they should look at the map for the zone in which they plan to fish; the map provides season information at a glance, as well as highlighting waters that are closed to angling year-round.

Then there are "zone regulations" to be read, which establish general groundrules for each of the nine geographic regions in the state. Finally, the angler must check for "special regulations" that apply to specific bodies of water.

Among the regulation changes appearing for the first time in 2007:

Crayfish harvest regulations that prohibit angling for crawdads with hook and line. The sole purpose of this change is to eliminate an excuse commonly cited by anglers fishing out of season.

The spring chinook control-zone area in the ocean off Tillamook Bay has been reconfigured from a triangle to a rectangle. The new area covers from the jetty tips seaward to the 15-fathom line offshore from Pyramid Rock to Twin Rocks. There are no changes in season or bag restrictions from previous years.

In the Northwest Zone, trout fishing will be allowed May 26 to Sept. 30 on Deadwood Creek, Indian Creek and Lobster Creek. The bag limit is two trout over 8 inches per day using artificial flies and lures only.

In the Willamette Zone, unmarked coho salmon may be kept from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31 on the mainstem of the Willamette River above the falls, and in sections of the Tualatin (and its tributary Gales Creek), Yamhill, Molalla and Santiam rivers.

Meanwhile, the 2007 Oregon Big Game Regulations booklet contains details on several rule changes, including mandatory reporting of hunter harvest and effort.

Using a new computerized licensing system, the ODFW will require mandatory reporting of harvest and effort for all big game hunts. For 2007, however, there will be no penalties or incentives associated with the requirement, to give hunters a chance to become familiar with the new process.

Also new in 2007:

An additional statewide cougar tag that will allow hunters to take a second cougar.

Revised bag limits for holders of the "Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit."

Revised boundaries for the general archery buck deer and elk seasons in the Indigo Unit.

Weapons restrictions in the Cascade Head-Lincoln City area.

The addition of several hunting opportunities for youths only.

Mike Stahlberg can be reached at [e-mail].