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The weather has gotten hotter and so has the shad and smallmouth bass fishing in the Umpqua River system.
Following are reports from sources who deal with the fisheries on a daily basis.
"There's still a couple weeks of shad fishing left, but that season is winding down. The smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent with the water conditions being nice and there are still a few steelhead going through.
"The shad are averaging 2 to 3 pounds with an occasional 4 to 5 pounder. The bass are averaging 1 to 1 1/2 pounds with 20 percent of them in the 2- to 3-pound class and one percent in the 4- to 5-pound class.
"This weekend should be really good for bass with the hot weather and for the recreational fisherman who also likes to jump in to cool off.
"The opening of the coho salmon season on the ocean was last weekend, but the ocean has been sloppy. Very few boats have gotten out except in the early morning before the wind kicks up. When it is hot inland, it is windy on the coast.
"Crabbing has been fair, but not really great."
Bob Greig
Elkton Bait and Tackle
Elkton
"There are some summer steelhead being caught up here (North Umpqua River). They're averaging 6 to 8 pounds, but there have been some bigger ones caught up to 17 to 18 pounds.
"Some guys are still fishing for chinook. Those fish are still bright.
"The runs this year have been a little less. We were spoiled by the good runs of a few years ago.
"People are fishing with roe and sandshrimp for chinook and with corkies for the steelhead. Up in the flywater, they're catching a few, but it is usually best in July and August."
Anthony Wilson
Idleyld Trading Post
Idleyld Park
Following is the weekly Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing report that is compiled by regional fisheries biologists.
Southwest Zone
CHETCO RIVER: The Chetco River opened to fishing May 27. Anglers fishing the estuary are reporting fair catches of cutthroat up to 18 inches.
COOS RIVER BASIN: Shad fishing has picked up recently in the Coos and Millicoma tidewater areas now. Shad fishing is usually best during sunny afternoons. Trolling or casting shad darts is the most common method to catch shad. Trout fishing in upper reaches of the Millicoma has been fair. Artificial flies and lures are required when fishing above tidewater.
COQUILLE RIVER BASIN: Shad have also started to show in the Coquille, with fishing best on sunny days. Trolling or casting shad darts around the City of Coquille can be very productive.
HIGH LAKES: The high lake season has started. With the warmer weather many of the lakes are now accessible. Check road conditions with local Forest Service Ranger Districts before trying to access these lakes. Diamond Lake is now ice free and has been stocked; some limits of 20 fish are being caught. At Lemolo and the Pacific Corp. forebays brown trout and rainbows are being caught in good numbers.
HOWARD PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: Trout fishing is fair at Howard Prairie. Legal-sized trout have been released to supplement the fingerling-based fishery. The reservoir is full, so fishing conditions will be good.
HYATT LAKE: Hyatt Lake has been stocked with legal-sized rainbow trout as a special opportunity this year. Anglers trolling roostertails and spoons caught large holdover trout recently. Largemouth bass anglers have done very well at Hyatt. Spinner baits are a good bet at Hyatt for bass. The reservoir is full, so fishing conditions will be good.
ILLINOIS RIVER: The Illinois River up to Pomeroy Dam is open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead and trout between May 27 and Dec. 31, artificial flies and lures only.
PACIFIC OCEAN & BEACHES: Ocean salmon has picked up, with more chinook being reported recently. A few coho have also been caught and released. Bottom fishing catches remain strong.
The selective coho season opened June 17 for ocean waters from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. Two salmon per day allowed, retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip. The selective coho season is scheduled to remain open through July 31 or until the quota is reached. The minimum length for coho is 16 inches and Chinook is 20 inches. No more than 2 single point barbless hooks may be used.
ROGUE RIVER, LOWER: Emergency regulations are in effect for the Rogue River from the mouth to Whiskey Creek. Anglers must release all wild unmarked Chinook salmon until July 15. Anglers can still keep up to two adipose clipped Chinook per day. Water temperatures have been best in the morning. Anglers fishing the first couple of hours in the day have had the best luck. There have been no reports of summer steelhead being caught.
ROGUE RIVER, MIDDLE: In response to low returns, the retention of wild, non adipose fin-clipped spring chinook salmon is closed as of June 5 on the Rogue River to protect fish stocks. Anglers still will be allowed to retain adipose fin-clipped chinook. The regulations can be viewed on the ODFW website at http://www.dfw.state.or.us . Flows at Grants Pass are averaging 2,940 cubic feet per second on Monday morning. Both spring chinook and early run summer steelhead are available. The Rogue is open for trout fishing with a limit is five adipose fin-clipped trout per day, 8 inch minimum length. All non adipose fin-clipped rainbow and all cutthroat trout must be released unharmed.
ROGUE RIVER, UPPER: Spring chinook and early run summer steelhead are available. In response to low returns, the retention of wild, non adipose fin-clipped spring chinook salmon is closed as of June 5 on the Rogue River to protect fish stocks. Anglers still will be allowed to retain adipose fin-clipped chinook. In addition, the fishing season for spring chinook between Gold Ray Dam and Rogue Elk County Park will close June 30. The regulations can be viewed on the ODFW website at http://www.dfw.state.or.us. A total of 5,557 spring chinook and 279 summer steelhead have been counted at Gold Ray Dam as of June 15th. The Rogue is open for trout fishing with a limit is five adipose fin-clipped trout per day, 8 inch minimum length. All non adipose fin-clipped rainbow and all cutthroat trout must be released unharmed.
ROGUE RIVER ABOVE LOST CREEK RESERVOIR: The mainstem and tributaries above Lost Creek Reservoir are open, with a limit of five trout per day, eight inch minimum length, and no limit on the size or number of brook trout taken. The North Fork Rogue above Prospect will be stocked this week. The use of bait is allowed.
SMITH RIVER: Striper fishing is slow as the stripers are now starting to spawn and the peak of the smolt out-migration passes. Wasson ramp is open. Trout season is now open.
UMPQUA ESTUARY: Sturgeon fishing has been very good in the estuary for oversize with a few legal fish being harvested.
UMPQUA RIVER MAINSTEM: Spring chinook fishing is slow. Angler effort is minimal with the later run timing of this year's spring chinook. Spring chinook fishing opportunities can be found from Scottsburg Park boat ramp to River Forks. Main-stem Umpqua closed to the retention of all non-fin-clipped steelhead, but remains open year round for fin-clipped steelhead. Shad fishing continues to improve and will peak in June. Smallmouth fishing is also beginning to pick up with increasing water temperatures. Bank angling opportunities are available for spring chinook, smallmouth and shad depending on flows.
UMPQUA RIVER, NORTH: Fishing has been slow with the cold water temperatures. The North Umpqua continues to be high as snow melts from the higher elevations. This snow melt has kept water temperatures cool. Spring chinook fishermen are out in full force, with the majority of the angling occurring around the Idleyld Park area. Winchester Dam counts show 862 spring chinook and 163 summer steelhead through May 16. The final count for North Umpqua winter steelhead is 7,419. Non-fin-clipped steelhead season is now closed. All drift boat slides are currently open. The North Umpqua trout season is now open.
UMPQUA RIVER, SOUTH: The South Umpqua is now closed for steelhead. Trout season began May 27.
Following are reports from sources who deal with the fisheries on a daily basis.
"There's still a couple weeks of shad fishing left, but that season is winding down. The smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent with the water conditions being nice and there are still a few steelhead going through.
"The shad are averaging 2 to 3 pounds with an occasional 4 to 5 pounder. The bass are averaging 1 to 1 1/2 pounds with 20 percent of them in the 2- to 3-pound class and one percent in the 4- to 5-pound class.
"This weekend should be really good for bass with the hot weather and for the recreational fisherman who also likes to jump in to cool off.
"The opening of the coho salmon season on the ocean was last weekend, but the ocean has been sloppy. Very few boats have gotten out except in the early morning before the wind kicks up. When it is hot inland, it is windy on the coast.
"Crabbing has been fair, but not really great."
Bob Greig
Elkton Bait and Tackle
Elkton
"There are some summer steelhead being caught up here (North Umpqua River). They're averaging 6 to 8 pounds, but there have been some bigger ones caught up to 17 to 18 pounds.
"Some guys are still fishing for chinook. Those fish are still bright.
"The runs this year have been a little less. We were spoiled by the good runs of a few years ago.
"People are fishing with roe and sandshrimp for chinook and with corkies for the steelhead. Up in the flywater, they're catching a few, but it is usually best in July and August."
Anthony Wilson
Idleyld Trading Post
Idleyld Park
Following is the weekly Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing report that is compiled by regional fisheries biologists.
Southwest Zone
CHETCO RIVER: The Chetco River opened to fishing May 27. Anglers fishing the estuary are reporting fair catches of cutthroat up to 18 inches.
COOS RIVER BASIN: Shad fishing has picked up recently in the Coos and Millicoma tidewater areas now. Shad fishing is usually best during sunny afternoons. Trolling or casting shad darts is the most common method to catch shad. Trout fishing in upper reaches of the Millicoma has been fair. Artificial flies and lures are required when fishing above tidewater.
COQUILLE RIVER BASIN: Shad have also started to show in the Coquille, with fishing best on sunny days. Trolling or casting shad darts around the City of Coquille can be very productive.
HIGH LAKES: The high lake season has started. With the warmer weather many of the lakes are now accessible. Check road conditions with local Forest Service Ranger Districts before trying to access these lakes. Diamond Lake is now ice free and has been stocked; some limits of 20 fish are being caught. At Lemolo and the Pacific Corp. forebays brown trout and rainbows are being caught in good numbers.
HOWARD PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: Trout fishing is fair at Howard Prairie. Legal-sized trout have been released to supplement the fingerling-based fishery. The reservoir is full, so fishing conditions will be good.
HYATT LAKE: Hyatt Lake has been stocked with legal-sized rainbow trout as a special opportunity this year. Anglers trolling roostertails and spoons caught large holdover trout recently. Largemouth bass anglers have done very well at Hyatt. Spinner baits are a good bet at Hyatt for bass. The reservoir is full, so fishing conditions will be good.
ILLINOIS RIVER: The Illinois River up to Pomeroy Dam is open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead and trout between May 27 and Dec. 31, artificial flies and lures only.
PACIFIC OCEAN & BEACHES: Ocean salmon has picked up, with more chinook being reported recently. A few coho have also been caught and released. Bottom fishing catches remain strong.
The selective coho season opened June 17 for ocean waters from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. Two salmon per day allowed, retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip. The selective coho season is scheduled to remain open through July 31 or until the quota is reached. The minimum length for coho is 16 inches and Chinook is 20 inches. No more than 2 single point barbless hooks may be used.
ROGUE RIVER, LOWER: Emergency regulations are in effect for the Rogue River from the mouth to Whiskey Creek. Anglers must release all wild unmarked Chinook salmon until July 15. Anglers can still keep up to two adipose clipped Chinook per day. Water temperatures have been best in the morning. Anglers fishing the first couple of hours in the day have had the best luck. There have been no reports of summer steelhead being caught.
ROGUE RIVER, MIDDLE: In response to low returns, the retention of wild, non adipose fin-clipped spring chinook salmon is closed as of June 5 on the Rogue River to protect fish stocks. Anglers still will be allowed to retain adipose fin-clipped chinook. The regulations can be viewed on the ODFW website at http://www.dfw.state.or.us . Flows at Grants Pass are averaging 2,940 cubic feet per second on Monday morning. Both spring chinook and early run summer steelhead are available. The Rogue is open for trout fishing with a limit is five adipose fin-clipped trout per day, 8 inch minimum length. All non adipose fin-clipped rainbow and all cutthroat trout must be released unharmed.
ROGUE RIVER, UPPER: Spring chinook and early run summer steelhead are available. In response to low returns, the retention of wild, non adipose fin-clipped spring chinook salmon is closed as of June 5 on the Rogue River to protect fish stocks. Anglers still will be allowed to retain adipose fin-clipped chinook. In addition, the fishing season for spring chinook between Gold Ray Dam and Rogue Elk County Park will close June 30. The regulations can be viewed on the ODFW website at http://www.dfw.state.or.us. A total of 5,557 spring chinook and 279 summer steelhead have been counted at Gold Ray Dam as of June 15th. The Rogue is open for trout fishing with a limit is five adipose fin-clipped trout per day, 8 inch minimum length. All non adipose fin-clipped rainbow and all cutthroat trout must be released unharmed.
ROGUE RIVER ABOVE LOST CREEK RESERVOIR: The mainstem and tributaries above Lost Creek Reservoir are open, with a limit of five trout per day, eight inch minimum length, and no limit on the size or number of brook trout taken. The North Fork Rogue above Prospect will be stocked this week. The use of bait is allowed.
SMITH RIVER: Striper fishing is slow as the stripers are now starting to spawn and the peak of the smolt out-migration passes. Wasson ramp is open. Trout season is now open.
UMPQUA ESTUARY: Sturgeon fishing has been very good in the estuary for oversize with a few legal fish being harvested.
UMPQUA RIVER MAINSTEM: Spring chinook fishing is slow. Angler effort is minimal with the later run timing of this year's spring chinook. Spring chinook fishing opportunities can be found from Scottsburg Park boat ramp to River Forks. Main-stem Umpqua closed to the retention of all non-fin-clipped steelhead, but remains open year round for fin-clipped steelhead. Shad fishing continues to improve and will peak in June. Smallmouth fishing is also beginning to pick up with increasing water temperatures. Bank angling opportunities are available for spring chinook, smallmouth and shad depending on flows.
UMPQUA RIVER, NORTH: Fishing has been slow with the cold water temperatures. The North Umpqua continues to be high as snow melts from the higher elevations. This snow melt has kept water temperatures cool. Spring chinook fishermen are out in full force, with the majority of the angling occurring around the Idleyld Park area. Winchester Dam counts show 862 spring chinook and 163 summer steelhead through May 16. The final count for North Umpqua winter steelhead is 7,419. Non-fin-clipped steelhead season is now closed. All drift boat slides are currently open. The North Umpqua trout season is now open.
UMPQUA RIVER, SOUTH: The South Umpqua is now closed for steelhead. Trout season began May 27.
