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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 16, 2006 Hunting and Fishing Report River Outlook ROGUE — Most of the Rogue is plagued by cold water that is hurting spring chinook and winter steelhead fishing throughout the system, but the steelhead are still biting everything from roe and plugs to spoons. But the best bet remains the middle Rogue, where winter steelhead catches continue to be steady despite the cold water. Flows at Grants Pass were down to about 3,900 cubic feet per second, and the addition of about 940 cfs from the Applegate makes flows pretty close to ideal for mid-season winter steelhead fishing downstream from Whitehorse Park. However, the cold water has slowed migration and buttoned up their mouths a bit. Spoons are getting some steelhead’s attention, however. Some spawned-out fish are starting to make their way into the catches as well. In the upper Rogue, the water conditions are clear and cold and about as low as they have been since December. Flows at Eagle Point were down to 2,250 cfs on Wednesday, with Gold Ray Dam showing a skinny 2,800 cfs. The cooler water, however, has slowed the steelhead migration to just a handful of fish over Gold Ray Dam daily. Through Saturday, the Gold Ray Dam count was 3,320 winter steelhead and one spring chinook salmon. Advertisement Upper Rogue fishing is good with plugs at times, while roe, egg flies and worms with watermelon corkies are all useful tools. In cold-water conditions, the best catches come during bankers’ hours so don’t bother getting up too early for these fish. The lower Rogue was still chugging along at 8,400 cfs, but plunkers are still hitting winter steelhead from Agness down to Quosatana. The first few springers have been taken above tidewater earlier this week, but catches still remain light. The wild steelhead catch rules apply river-wide now. Anglers may now keep up to one wild steelhead a day and up to five per year as part of the regular catch limit. For daily flow reports out of Lost Creek Lake, call 800-472-2434. APPLEGATE — The river has dropped and fishing has slowed because of low and cold flows. Roe is still out-fishing flies, chiefly because of the conditions, and anglers should focus on the deeper, slower runs and along rock ledges. Flows at the town of Applegate were down to 534 cubic feet per second, and the flows at Wilderville were about 930 cfs Wednesday. Winter steelhead already have moved all the way to the dam. All wild steelhead must be released unharmed, and no fishing is allowed from a floating device. CHETCO — The river has a good level but cold-water conditions have left fishing extremely slow for winter steelhead. Flows were down to 2,615 cubic feet per second on Wednesday, which should be good for late-season steelhead. However, cold weather — it even snowed on the coast this past week — has left the water extremely cold and the steelhead very sluggish. When water conditions improve and driftboat fishing resumes, roe will out-do plugs. Spawned-out steelhead are in the mix and should be released unharmed. The season is open through March. Anglers may keep up to one wild steelhead a day, and up to five per year, as part of the daily bag limit. UMPQUA — Sturgeon fishing remains good in the estuary for oversized fish that all must be released unharmed. The main-stem river still has plenty of winter steelhead, with driftboat fishing concentrated in the Glide areas. Fishing conditions have improved on the South Umpqua and the North Umpqua, where late-run winter steelhead have slowed due to cold water conditions. Anglers in the main-stem river are allowed to keep one wild steelhead a day and up to five per year as part of their legal limits. COOS — Winter steelhead fishing was slow in the Coos and Millicoma systems because of low, cold water conditions. The Charleston boat ramp is now open in the lower end of Coos Bay. COQUILLE — Water conditions were dropping and the flows were getting cold, causing a slow-down to winter steelhead fishing throughout the system. ELK/SIXES — Both systems were fishing fairly well for winter steelhead, but dropping and cooling water conditions are starting to pose problems. Warmer weather and a little rain is needed to boost late-season fishing. KLAMATH RIVER — Fishing for native redband trout has been very slow on flies and lures. River fishing from Keno Dam downstream to Topsy Reservoir is very slow due to high flows. Angling in the cold water reach from J.C. Boyle Dam to the powerhouse is fair for small redband trout, most of which are under 12 inches. Lake Outlook LOST CREEK — The lake is open year-round and fishing remains slow for rainbow trout and land-locked salmon stocked into the lake. The lake’s dramatic rise, and expected drop, in water levels will keep trout fishing out of whack for a few days. Smallmouth bass fishing remains very slow. A few people are starting to troll again for trout close to the surface. EMIGRANT — Very little fishing activity is going on at the reservoir. Mercury levels in smallmouth bass have created a warning against eating anything but the lake’s trout. APPLEGATE — Trout fishing remains slow, as does bass and panfish. The low-water ramp at French Gulch is open. Anglers can keep up to five rainbow trout, stocked salmon or recycled winter steelhead a day, but only one fish can be more than 20 inches long. Also, no bass between 12 and 15 inches can be kept, and only one bass larger than 15 inches can be kept. ALL SPORTS POND — The pond was stocked recently with larger-than-normal rainbow trout, and fishing has remained good with worms and bobbers or PowerBait along the bottom. WHETSTONE — The pond at the Denman Wildlife Area was stocked recently with larger-than-normal rainbow trout, and catches are still good with worms or rainbow-colored PowerBait. SELMAC — The lake near Selma was stocked recently with larger-than-normal rainbow trout, and catches were still good with worms or rainbow-colored PowerBait. KLAMATH/AGENCY LAKES — Most of Klamath Lake is ice-free. Fishing for large redband trout is slow. Bank anglers around the south end of the lake and Algoma pond are using dead minnows and are starting to catch redband up to 9 pounds. Ocean Outlook Razor clam harvest remains closed along South Coast beaches. Crabbing has tapered off in South Coast bays thanks to heavy freshets this week. After some great lingcod and bottomfish catches last week off Brookings, the ocean is very rough and in no mood to accept anglers. The new aggregate limit is six marine rockfish a day. Hunting Outlook JACKSON/JOSEPHINE — Most hunting is closed. Cougar hunters can expect an average year and will find greatest success using a predator call in areas that have good deer numbers. When snowfall occurs, hunters should look for fresh cougar tracks and pursue. Good cougar hunting opportunities exist throughout southwest Oregon. KLAMATH — Waterfowl hunting has closed. SUMMER LAKE — Waterfowl hunting has closed. Watchable Wildlife ROGUE — A covered viewing station on the Denman Wildlife Area provides a good opportunity to view waterfowl, egrets, raptors and songbirds. The structure was built by the Oregon Hunters Association and is accessed by a paved, wheelchair-accessible pathway. It is on Whetstone Pond, just north of the ODFW office. CURRY — Gray whale migration is occurring, and some can be spotted from shore. Waterfowl are migrating on the coast, so look for them on local beaches and bays. Mud flats at low tide are like bird magnets this time of year. Aleutian Canada geese are passing along the coast toward wintering grounds in Northern California. Look for them around Cape Blanco. SUMMER LAKE — Wintering and resident raptors are scattered throughout the Summer Lake Wildlife Area. Falcons and eagles are generally abundant at this time. Last week’s bird count found less than 5,000 waterfowl at the wildlife area. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Absinthe Supply Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Debt Consolidation California Casinos Generic Viagra Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Hammocks Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada King of Spirits Advertisement s