The winter steelhead run is just getting underway on the Siuslaw River, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reports.

With last week's high flows, fish are on the move and can be found in many sections of Lake Creek and the mainstem Siuslaw below Whittaker Creek.

Bring binoculars for a chance to view Gray whales during Winter Whale Watch Week, December 26 - December 31.

"The 24 designated ‘Whale Watching Spoken Here' sites were selected because they are the best viewpoints to spot some of the roughly 18,000 whales that cruise past Oregon on their annual southbound migration," said Dave Newton, Whale Watching volunteer coordinator.

Trained volunteers will be available along the coast 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. daily to help visitors learn about the whales' migration and feeding habits, and offer tips on how to spot the whales. 

Oregon Pacific Coast Passports will again be on sale at a $5 discount beginning Dec. 1. 

The $35 annual passport will be sold for $30 during the month of December, according to Mike Harvey, Siuslaw National Forest Recreation Staff Officer.

The passports are valid for all day-use and parking fees at Oregon State Parks, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service sites along the Oregon Coast.