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69 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, April 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 1, 2004 Fishing and Hunting Report River Outlook ROGUE — Winter steelhead fishing continues to be the main attraction on the Rogue, with action shifting from the middle river around Grants Pass to the upper Rogue in the Shady Cove area. Spring chinook salmon fishing remains slow in the lower Rogue, and few anglers are hitting the steelhead in the Agness area. That makes the new best bet the upper Rogue for winter steelhead. Flows are high and the water is a bit cold so the steelhead are a bit sluggish, but there’s lots of them scattered all over from TouVelle State Park all the way to the Hatchery Hole. Through March 18, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has counted 12,719 winter steelhead past the dam. That represents an excellent showing that’s well over the upper Rogue’s average run. Water releases from Lost Creek Lake jumped to about 2,300 cubic feet per second of 43-degree water. Coupled with the influx of turbid water flowing in from tributaries, the river conditions are much more conducive to bait fishing than flies. Very small clusters of roe work best, followed by small egg flies scented or unscented. There are lots of spawned-out fish hanging around shallow gravel areas either spawning or recovering from their spawn. Fresh fish are scattered and they’re on the move. Already, Cole Rivers Hatchery has collected 1,927 winter steelhead, so consider the run well distributed. Driftboaters can fish their favorite stretches and expect to find steelhead, and ditto for the banks. The steelhead appear to be quite spread out in the Grants Pass area, with catches from Rogue River all the way to Grave Creek, and fish numbers are less now that most of the Applegate fish have entered that system. Most of the catches are 6-8 pound hatchery fish now, as well as a mix of spawned-out summer steelhead heading downstream toward the ocean. Roe is working best, with plugs second and spoons third. No confirmed catches of spring chinook salmon have been reported in the Grants Pass area. In the lower Rogue, spring chinook salmon angling continues to be slow, in part because of water temperatures still hovering in the high 40s. However, catches are just starting to pick up and fishing should suddenly improve dramatically once lower river temperatures get into the mid-50s. Advertisement Winter steelhead fishing has all but ended in the lower Rogue. The entire Rogue is open to the harvest of up to one wild steelhead over 24 inches a day, and no more than five a year. The total daily limit is two adult steelhead. For chinook, the limit is two adults a day, but only one wild chinook a day and no more than three wild chinook a year. For daily flow reports out of Lost Creek Lake, call (800)472-2434. APPLEGATE RIVER — The river is closed to all angling until May 22. UMPQUA — The South Umpqua closed to angling Tuesday night and will remain closed until May 22. North Umpqua anglers are not faring as well as those on the South, but catches remain fair to occasionally good in the all-angling section. ELK/SIXES — Both rivers closed to all angling Tuesday and will re-open May 22. COOS — The South Fork of the Coos closed Tuesday to steelhead fishing, but the main stem remains open for steelhead up to the head of tide at Dellwood. The main stem is open for striped bass fishing, and catches have been light. The South Fork from the head of tide up to the concrete bridge near Tioga Creek is closed to striped bass fishing. COQUILLE — The Coquille system closed Tuesday to steelhead fishing and will remain closed until May 22. CHETCO — The river closed to steelhead fishing Tuesday for the season and angling will be off limits until May 22. Lake Outlook HOWARD PRAIRIE — The lake is closed to all fishing until April 27. HYATT — The lake is closed to all fishing until April 27. DIAMOND — The lake is closed to all fishing until April 27. LOST CREEK — In-flows to the lake have yo-yoed a bit this past week, but it hasn’t harmed the trout fishing very much. Bank fishing with PowerBait or worms has been effective in the Takelma Park area, but trollers are out-producing bank anglers. Smallmouth bass had been getting fairly active in the shallower water during the recent warm spells and catches should improve daily through spring. The lake is up to elevation 1,858 feet, or just 2 feet higher than last week and still 16 feet to go. With heavy snowpack, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has delayed the filling of the lake, which was scheduled to be full June 1 now instead of the traditional May 1 schedule. The lake is open year-round for trout and bass fishing, with trout anglers out-numbering bass anglers throughout the cold-weather months. Trolling for trout is good near the base of the dam. Water levels have risen enough that the ramp at Stewart State Park reaches the water. APPLEGATE — Interest in the lake is picking up now that the Applegate River is closed and improving water conditions have started to get bass more active. The lake still remains about 25 feet shy of full, but the lake is expected to fill this May. Anglers can keep up to eight rainbow trout, stocked salmon or recycled winter steelhead a day, but only one fish can be more than 20 inches long. No bass between 12 inches and 15 inches can be kept, and only one bass larger than 15 inches can be kept. EMIGRANT — Perch, bluegill, bass and crappie fishing have all improved as spring takes hold to reservoir, which is almost full. The warmwater fish are in and around submerged or partially submerged willows, submerged grasses and rocky points. Trout fishing is better in the lower section of the lake, with PowerBait out-producing lures or worms for bank fishing. Fishing for stocked winter steelhead has dropped dramatically as most fish have moved out of the lake and into tributaries, mostly on private land. The lake is open year-round to angling. SELMAC — The lake was stocked recently with 4,400 legal-sized rainbow, and catches have been good with worms and PowerBait. The lake is the first in the region for stocking, because its shallow water creates good early-season survival opportunities. Ocean Outlook The ocean out of Brookings and Gold Beach was a bit rough and tough for fishing earlier this week. Surf perch fishing at Winchuck Beach near the California border and at Nesika Beach just north of Gold Beach was starting to kick in, but the rough surf has made it a bit tough to get at the fish. Clam necks and mussels are good baits, and the fish will aggressively attack bright streamer flies in calmer surf. Bottomfishing off Southern Oregon has been excellent when the weather is accommodating. Lots of lingcod have been caught in the mix so far this year. The ocean chinook salmon season is expected to open May 15 and run into early September, but the seasons have not yet been finalized by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Hunting Outlook ROGUE — Spring black bear hunting opens today throughout most of the western hunting units that have black bear hunts, and that includes the Rogue and Applegate units. Though there are 2,500 tags sold for the hunt, early effort is expected to be light. The season runs through June 15. Turkey season opens April 15, and hunters should be getting ready to do their serious preseason scouting. Turkeys are scattered well throughout Jackson and Josephine counties, preferring the low-elevation forestlands along hillsides with scrub oak or mixed-forest timber. While hunting is associated with private lands, there remain good public lands around Ashland, Jacksonville and Rogue River where turkeys are prevalent. Predator hunting is good, with coyote pelts near their prime. Use predator calls near clearcuts. Only a hunting license is needed for coyotes. KLAMATH — Coyote hunting is good this time of year. The use of predator calls is an effective technique. Good hunting can be found throughout the county except at the highest elevations. Don't overlook the forested areas, but be prepared for closer shots than are typical in open country. 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. WILLAMETTE — Snowshoe rabbits are found in both the coast range mountains and in the Cascade mountain areas. In the coast range, these rabbits are brownish in color all year. In the Cascade mountains and throughout the rest of their range, these rabbits turn white in the winter. They are very conspicuous during years when winter snows are late in arriving and they have already molted into their white winter coat. These rabbits can be observed by driving slowly on logging roads early in the morning or by following tracks in fresh snow to where they are hiding. NORTHWEST — Brown pelicans are common along the northern Oregon coast in the fall. They can be seen roosting along the south jetty of the Columbia River, and on many offshore rocks along the coast. They are also frequently seen feeding in estuaries. Great egrets are tall, white heron-like birds that can be seen along the northeastern portions of Tillamook Bay, especially Larson’s and Miami coves. They often are seen feeding on the mud flats at low tide, but sometimes roost in trees along the edge of the bay. KLAMATH — Viewing opportunities for migratory birds are excellent. Bald eagle concentrations peak in February. Tundra swans and Canada geese are a common sight in the Klamath Basin. Snow geese and white-fronted geese have begun moving back into the area and will remain until spring. Good viewing opportunities exist on the Klamath Wildlife Area and the Lower Klamath Wildlife Refuge. SUMMER LAKE — Viewing opportunities will be improving as winter fades and spring nears. A few hardy waterfowl species are beginning their northward migration. White-fronted geese and some duck species have returned to the area. Tundra swan numbers are beginning to increase as well. Raptors remain well represented and as migrant waterfowl return, viewers can expect to see increased numbers of bald eagles. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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