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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend February 22, 2007 Fishing and Hunting Report River Outlook ROGUE — The latest rains have gotten the winter steelhead moving river-wide, but rising waters have mucked up steelhead fishing on the short-term. But when flows start to drop again and the river clears, watch out. The steelhead catches should come early and often this weekend if the storms subside. The best bet has to be the Grants Pass area, where fishing from Whitehorse Park down to Grave Creek should be hot. Fresh steelhead have been moving en masse through the Lower Rogue Canyon steady enough that the steelhead are well dispersed from the Applegate River mouth on down. Most of the fish are wild, and all wild fish must be released upstream of Hog Creek, while the wild fish limit downstream is one per day over 24 inches. Fin-clipped hatchery fish over 16 inches can be kept as adults, and up to two a day for those (except it's just one hatchery fish if you keep a wild steelhead that day). Many of the steelhead are cookie-cutter, 5-7 pounders for which the Rogue is famous. Some big steelhead in the 15-plus pound range, however, have been caught already this year. The Rogue's flows at Grants Pass were forecast to drop late Thursday and then spike up over 10,000 cubic feet per second in mid-week. So look for potentially very good steelhead fishing over the next two weekends. Advertisement The upper Rogue is starting to become a factor for steelhead fishermen. About 2,000 winter steelhead crossed Gold Ray Dam between Feb. 5 and Feb. 16, the last available dates. These fish are relatively aggressive and can be caught on virtually anything. At current flows, however, roe is best, followed by plugs, worms and corkies, pink plastic worms, and sandshrimp (if you can get live ones). The count through Feb. 16 is 2,220 steelhead at the dam. So far, no winter steelhead have made it to Cole Rivers Hatchery, which is still seeing some ripe summer steelhead slithering in. The lower Rogue has remained decent for winter steelhead, with plunkers still hitting a few fish from gravel bars. The bulk of the run, however, is past Quosatana, but small schools should be trickling in regularly through the next two months. No spring chinook have been confirmed yet, but few, if any, anglers are targeting them now. For daily flow reports out of Lost Creek Lake, call 800-472-2434. APPLEGATE — Fresh steelhead are starting to move into the lower Applegate and many more should start following now that fish are really on the move in the Rogue. Early Rogue fish tend to target the Applegate, and most of the good action this week will be in the lower third of the river. Roe and spoons will work best, but don't shun worms and corkies. Fly-fishing will improve as the water level drops. All wild steelhead must be released unharmed, and no fishing from a floating device. Most of the Applegate is on private lands and access is limited. CHETCO — The river was flowing at just shy of 4,000 cubic feet per second Wednesday and rising, which could harm steelhead fishing today. But, if today's rains subside, look for excellent steelhead angling river-wide Saturday and Sunday. However, look for a crowded river from the Cal-Ore Derby this weekend. Angler can keep one wild steelhead a day and up to five a year as part of their limits. Hatchery steelhead are less prevalent than wild steelhead. ELK/SIXES — Both rivers were up and rising Wednesday, likely leaving them too high for fishing. Winter steelhead are well-distributed throughout both rivers. The Elk and Sixes get a late splash of fish each February and March, and these steelhead are aggressive biters of plugs. ILLINOIS — The Illinois has been red-hot for winter steelhead recently, with very good catches on plugs. Virtually all the steelhead are wild and must be released unharmed. Also, no bait is allowed. UMPQUA — The main-stem Umpqua in the Roseburg area and the South Umpqua were rising and too dirty for steelhead fishing, and conditions could be poor until the weekend. When conditions improve, look for excellent steelhead fishing to continue on the South Umpqua, which has been one of Oregon's hottest steelhead streams this season. Steelhead also are moving into the North Umpqua as well. Sturgeon fishing has slowed down in the estuary thanks to the recent freshet. COOS — Steelhead fishing has been good despite high and turbid flows. Fish tail-outs with small clusters or roe. COQUILLE — The South Fork was high but fishable earlier this week, and new rains threaten to stall what has been a very good winter steelhead fishery this season. Fish plugs from driftboats, or small clusters of roe in deeper, slower water. Lake Outlook HOWARD PRAIRIE — The lake is closed to angling. HYATT — The lake is closed to angling. LOST CREEK — The lake's surface temperature has improved slightly, but conditions remain cold enough to keep the trout bite slow and but the freeze on smallmouth bass fishing. Bait-fishing upstream of Peyton Bridge remains fair at times despite an increase in inflows, but effort is very light. The fish are concentrated, so they might be tough to find. EMIGRANT — Winter weather conditions and regular winds have hampered trout fishing near the park and around the earthen dam. Cold water also has slowed the warmwater catches. A health advisory has been issued about eating all but trout from the lake because of elevated mercury levels. APPLEGATE — Trout fishing has remained poor for both legal-sized rainbow trout and stocked salmon, which tend to school at rocky points. Anglers can keep up to five rainbow trout or stocked salmon 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. EXPO POND — One of the ponds near Gate 5 has been stocked with excess summer steelhead from Cole Rivers Hatchery. They are biting woolly buggers and small Panther Martin lures. Action is slow and the water is cold. Only one of these steelhead over 20 inches can be kept daily. KLAMATH/ AGENCY LAKES — Fishing for large Klamath trout has slowed throughout the lake during extremely cold weather conditions. Ocean Outlook The ocean outside of Brookings is forecast to be rough for the next few days and probably not good enough for bottomfishing or crabbing. Early lingcod fishing has been good outside of Brookings when weather allows for easy passage. Dungeness crabs are very plentiful throughout South Coast estuaries, but the vast majority of crabs this season have been undersized. Perch fishing has been good off the beach at Kissing Rock near the mouth of Hunter Creek as well as the rock bay at Ophir. The entire Oregon coast is now open for razor clams, bay clams, and mussels. Before doing any clamming, check for any updated health advisories by calling the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Shellfish line at 800-448-2474 for updates. For more information about razor clams and current status of particular areas visit " target="_blank">www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/shellfish/razorclams. Hunting Outlook JACKSON — Cougar hunters are reminded to buy a 2007 cougar tag. With low snow levels, cougar tracks maybe easily located along ridge lines. Predator calls have been successful for cougars. 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. GENERAL — The Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide at www.oregoncoastbirding.com is a Web site that highlights great birding opportunities all along the Oregon coast. It's divided into sections of coastline, and the north coast is only a click away from the main home page. Links to checklists and sponsors can be found on the home page as well. COAST — Gray whales are migrating south from the Bering Sea on their way down along the Pacific coast to the Baja area. Late December and early January is the peak of the migration season, but the migration continues through March. There are a number of excellent places to view the whales from. From north to south, including Harris Beach near Brookings and Cape Arago near Charleston. Binoculars are recommended. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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