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New angling regulations adopted in September by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission mean changes for anglers in the Coos, Coquille an Tenmile basins, as well as some changes that will apply statewide or to the southwest zone.
Among the new regulations:
Most streams with openhead steelhead seasons in the Coos, Coquille and Tenmile basins will remain open through April 30 instead of closing March 31.
Eel Creek will be open for adipose-finclipped steelhead from Jan. 1 to April 30.
In the Tenmile Lakes, rainbow trout over 20 inches will be considered steelhead from Jan. 1 through April 30 and from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31. From May 1 to Oct. 31 the fish will be considered trout and the harvest limit will be on per day.
Also in the Tenmile Lakes, largemouth bass 15 inches in length and greater must be released. The daily bag limit will be five bass under 15 inches.
-- Information from ODFW
Following is the weekly Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing report that is compiled by regional fisheries biologists.
Southwest Zone
There is no stocking scheduled for this week.
COOS RIVER BASIN : Recent heavy rainfall has produced flooding and off-color rivers. Winter steelhead should be well-distributed in the East and West forks of the Millicoma River , and in the South Coos River once the high water recedes. Access to the South Fork Coos River above Dellwood requires a permit from Weyerhaeuser Co., available from their Dellwood Office.
COQUILLE RIVER BASIN : Recent heavy rainfall has produced flooding and off-color rivers. Winter steelhead should be well-distributed in the various forks of the Coquille River , once the high water recedes.
GOLD RAY DAM: The 2004 count as of Dec. 3 is 15,007 fall chinook, 18,405 coho salmon, and 11,445 summer steelhead.
ROGUE RIVER ABOVE LOST CREEK DAM: This area is closed.
ROGUE RIVER, LOWER: Fishing for Rogue River fall chinook is winding down, as most fish are distributed and spawning in tributaries. Winter steelhead are currently entering the river. The winter steelhead run will continue through March. Fishing will be dependent on water conditions (level and clarity). Check t he 2004 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations.
ROGUE RIVER, MIDDLE: Water conditions are currently "ideal" expect to see winter steelhead in the Middle Rogue any day now, possibly as soon as the next freshet. Summer steelhead are gathering near the mouths of streams as the winter spawning period approaches. Coho are moving up into the tributaries to spawn.
Fishermen should remember that the salmon season from Gold Ray Dam to Hog Creek Boat Landing ended on Sept. 30. Trout fishing re-opened May 22 for adipose fin-clipped rainbow trout and will end on Dec. 31. All non adipose fin-clipped rainbow trout and cutthroat trout must be released unharmed.
ROGUE RIVER, UPPER: Reports indicate that steelhead fishing remains good even as the summer run prepares to spawn. Remember to release those unmarked coho as they are now on the Threatened Species List. Anglers are less interested in coho salmon since they have colored up and are spawning.
The Upper Rogue River from Lost Creek Dam down to Gold Ray Dam closed to angling for spring chinook salmon on July 31. Bait and lure fishing opened back up on Nov. 1 from Rogue-Elk Park up to the barrier dam at Cole M. Rivers Hatchery. As of Nov. 1, the stretch from Gold Ray Dam up to the Rogue-Elk Park Boat Launch is open to the use of flies and lures only.
SMITH RIVER : Open for striped bass angling. Check 2004 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for more information. Open to steelhead angling. As of Nov. 30, only one steelhead has been counted crossing Smith River Falls. Angling should improve in the lower sections after the recent rains.
SODA SPRINGS DAM: Angling for brown trout is fair.
SOUTH COAST LAKES AND PONDS: Legal sized trout are stocked in Libby Pond, Garrison Lake and Floras Lake in the spring. Libby Pond is located just outside of Gold Beach about eight miles up the Rogue River . Garrison Lake is located in Port Orford. Floras Lake is located just south of Langlois.
SOUTH COAST STREAMS: With recent rains, chinook should be well distributed in Pistol River , Hunter Creek , and Elk and Sixes River . Chetco River fall chinook is coming to an end. The Chetco River has produced a few winter steelhead. Fishing will be dependant on water conditions (level and clarity). Good fisheries are expected in all south coast streams. C heck the 2004 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for further information.
TENMILE LAKES BASIN : Steelhead should be arriving soon in Tenmile Creek. Eel Creek below Eel Lake will open Jan. 1 for steelhead, under a new regulation.
UMPQUA RIVER , MAINSTEM: Plunking for steelhead is slow to fair. Angling should improve as the river level lowers and clears. Sturgeon angling is slow.
UMPQUA RIVER , SOUTH: Check 2004 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for further information. Steelhead angling is slow. After the recent rains, some steelhead should have moved into the system.
UMPQUA RIVER , NORTH: Steelheadfishing is slow in the all-angling section and in the fly-only section. Chinook angling is closed.
WINCHESTER DAM: As of Nov. 11, 2004 there have been a total of 8,959 summer steelhead, 271 fall chinook, and 12,172 coho.
Among the new regulations:
Most streams with openhead steelhead seasons in the Coos, Coquille and Tenmile basins will remain open through April 30 instead of closing March 31.
Eel Creek will be open for adipose-finclipped steelhead from Jan. 1 to April 30.
In the Tenmile Lakes, rainbow trout over 20 inches will be considered steelhead from Jan. 1 through April 30 and from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31. From May 1 to Oct. 31 the fish will be considered trout and the harvest limit will be on per day.
Also in the Tenmile Lakes, largemouth bass 15 inches in length and greater must be released. The daily bag limit will be five bass under 15 inches.
-- Information from ODFW
Following is the weekly Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing report that is compiled by regional fisheries biologists.
Southwest Zone
There is no stocking scheduled for this week.
COOS RIVER BASIN : Recent heavy rainfall has produced flooding and off-color rivers. Winter steelhead should be well-distributed in the East and West forks of the Millicoma River , and in the South Coos River once the high water recedes. Access to the South Fork Coos River above Dellwood requires a permit from Weyerhaeuser Co., available from their Dellwood Office.
COQUILLE RIVER BASIN : Recent heavy rainfall has produced flooding and off-color rivers. Winter steelhead should be well-distributed in the various forks of the Coquille River , once the high water recedes.
GOLD RAY DAM: The 2004 count as of Dec. 3 is 15,007 fall chinook, 18,405 coho salmon, and 11,445 summer steelhead.
ROGUE RIVER ABOVE LOST CREEK DAM: This area is closed.
ROGUE RIVER, LOWER: Fishing for Rogue River fall chinook is winding down, as most fish are distributed and spawning in tributaries. Winter steelhead are currently entering the river. The winter steelhead run will continue through March. Fishing will be dependent on water conditions (level and clarity). Check t he 2004 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations.
ROGUE RIVER, MIDDLE: Water conditions are currently "ideal" expect to see winter steelhead in the Middle Rogue any day now, possibly as soon as the next freshet. Summer steelhead are gathering near the mouths of streams as the winter spawning period approaches. Coho are moving up into the tributaries to spawn.
Fishermen should remember that the salmon season from Gold Ray Dam to Hog Creek Boat Landing ended on Sept. 30. Trout fishing re-opened May 22 for adipose fin-clipped rainbow trout and will end on Dec. 31. All non adipose fin-clipped rainbow trout and cutthroat trout must be released unharmed.
ROGUE RIVER, UPPER: Reports indicate that steelhead fishing remains good even as the summer run prepares to spawn. Remember to release those unmarked coho as they are now on the Threatened Species List. Anglers are less interested in coho salmon since they have colored up and are spawning.
The Upper Rogue River from Lost Creek Dam down to Gold Ray Dam closed to angling for spring chinook salmon on July 31. Bait and lure fishing opened back up on Nov. 1 from Rogue-Elk Park up to the barrier dam at Cole M. Rivers Hatchery. As of Nov. 1, the stretch from Gold Ray Dam up to the Rogue-Elk Park Boat Launch is open to the use of flies and lures only.
SMITH RIVER : Open for striped bass angling. Check 2004 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for more information. Open to steelhead angling. As of Nov. 30, only one steelhead has been counted crossing Smith River Falls. Angling should improve in the lower sections after the recent rains.
SODA SPRINGS DAM: Angling for brown trout is fair.
SOUTH COAST LAKES AND PONDS: Legal sized trout are stocked in Libby Pond, Garrison Lake and Floras Lake in the spring. Libby Pond is located just outside of Gold Beach about eight miles up the Rogue River . Garrison Lake is located in Port Orford. Floras Lake is located just south of Langlois.
SOUTH COAST STREAMS: With recent rains, chinook should be well distributed in Pistol River , Hunter Creek , and Elk and Sixes River . Chetco River fall chinook is coming to an end. The Chetco River has produced a few winter steelhead. Fishing will be dependant on water conditions (level and clarity). Good fisheries are expected in all south coast streams. C heck the 2004 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for further information.
TENMILE LAKES BASIN : Steelhead should be arriving soon in Tenmile Creek. Eel Creek below Eel Lake will open Jan. 1 for steelhead, under a new regulation.
UMPQUA RIVER , MAINSTEM: Plunking for steelhead is slow to fair. Angling should improve as the river level lowers and clears. Sturgeon angling is slow.
UMPQUA RIVER , SOUTH: Check 2004 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for further information. Steelhead angling is slow. After the recent rains, some steelhead should have moved into the system.
UMPQUA RIVER , NORTH: Steelheadfishing is slow in the all-angling section and in the fly-only section. Chinook angling is closed.
WINCHESTER DAM: As of Nov. 11, 2004 there have been a total of 8,959 summer steelhead, 271 fall chinook, and 12,172 coho.
