Document text
44 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, March 11, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 15, 2004 FISHING AND HUNTING REPORT River Outlook ROGUE — Spring chinook salmon are an apparent no-show throughout most of the Rogue, where anglers from Gold Beach to the Hatchery Hole are starting to get fidgety about where the chinook have gone. Some winter steelheading effort continues in the upper Rogue, where most of the fish are dark and spawned-out, while some late-run steelhead angling continues in the middle Rogue. But instead of where to go, the big question is where are the springers? The best answer is they’re still in the ocean, waiting for better river conditions for their upstream migration. Low and clear water in the low 50s in Gold Beach has made for a disastrous spring chinook bite during mid-April, when the action should be red hot. Reportedly less than 10 springers have been caught daily this week, and that’s bad. Not even bank anglers are faring very well. In the middle Rogue, a handful of spring chinook have been caught just downstream of Savage Rapids Dam, but the action there also remains light. Even seasoned Rainie Falls anglers are catching only spawned-out winter steelhead there. And in the upper Rogue, just 13 spring chinook were counted over Gold Ray Dam as of April 4. That, too, is awfully slow. Anglers can start punching their spring chinook ticket if the forecast rains raise, dirty and warm the river appreciably. But a lack of rain likely will drag out this salmon malaise. As Jim Broman of Jim’s Bait and Tackle says, "Clouds don’t count." That leaves winter steelhead, which are in good enough shape to play with but by and large not good enough to eat. Catch them on very small clusters of roe, concentrating on riffles and shallows. These fish should be released unharmed. The upper Rogue has seen a good late shot of winter steelhead, with about 3,400 new fish over Gold Ray Dam between March 25 and April 4. The run total through April 4, which is the last available count from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, is 18,208 winter steelhead. Water releases from Lost Creek Lake dipped again and are now down to 1,874 cubic feet per second of 45-degree water. 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 through April, 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 — Spring chinook are starting to show in the main-stem Umpqua, with several large salmon reportedly caught this past week downstream of Scottsburg. The South Umpqua is closed to angling and will remain closed until May 22. Winter steelhead fishing is slow in the North Umpqua. ELK/SIXES — Both rivers closed to all angling Tuesday and will re-open May 22. COOS — The South Fork of the Coos is closed to steelhead fishing, but the mainstem 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 24. HYATT — The lake is closed to all fishing until April 24. DIAMOND — The lake is closed to all fishing until April 24. LOST CREEK — Trout and bass fishing are improving now that the water levels are rising and the surface temperatures are increasing. 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 1,862 feet, or a full 4 feet higher than last week and still 13 feet to go. With heavy snowpack, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has delayed the filling of the lake until late May 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 and off points near the Lost Creek Lake Marina. 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 less than 18 feet shy of full, but the lake is expected to fill this May. 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. No bass between 12 inches and 15 inches can be kept, and only one bass larger than 15 inches can be kept. EMIGRANT — Smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing are starting to crank up as expected for mid-April, with fishing best in the shallows and among the submerged willows. Bluegill and perch fishing have all improved as spring takes hold on the reservoir, which is almost full. 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 last month 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 rough and not good for pleasureboats again this week, bringing a break in what has been an excellent spring bottomfish season for lingcod and black rockfish. The big lings have been in close for the spring spawn and anglers from Brookings, Gold Beach and Port Orford all have been finding some in less than 200 feet of water. Look for those catches to improve again when the winds die down and the swells subside. 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. 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 is open 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 today, but opening-day hunters could have troubles if the rains and the winds remain around the Rogue Valley as forecast. The birds don’t like to gobble in such weather, but there are enough birds scattered throughout the rural areas that a morning hunt still could well be worth it. The season runs through May, and tags are available throughout the hunt. Up to three tags are allowed in Jackson and Josephine counties. Predator hunting is good, with coyote pelts near their prime. Use predator calls near clearcuts. Only a hunting license is needed for coyotes. KLAMATH — Turkey season opens today, and early-season successes are expected to be good in the Keno area provided the weather cooperates. 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 improve as spring progresses. 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 AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress Advertisement s