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But the best bet for anyone who already has bought their 2007 angling licenses differs depending upon which side of the Coast Range you reside. Valley residents ought to focus in the Grave Creek and Whitehorse Parks areas if they fish from driftboats, while bank anglers will find gobs of fresh winter steelhead stalled around Whiskey Creek. Water conditions are driving success, or lack of it. The Grants Pass area water was 37 degrees Wednesday, and that definitely leaves winter steelhead sluggish. So fish roe or corkies and worms in slow water near shore or on the inside of turns where steelhead could be resting. All wild steelhead must be released downstream of Hog * See correction below Creek. Downstream of the creek, anglers can keep up to one wild winter steelhead of at least 24 inches, and no more than five wild steelhead a year. Advertisement The lower Rogue has been a hotbed for early winter steelhead, with anglers in the Agness area and in the Lower Rogue Canyon doing very well with bait and plugs. Plunking has been poor of late now that flows at Agness have dropped to about 6,100 cubic feet per second. Side-drifting roe and pulling plugs from driftboats or powerboats has been very good downstream of Agness, particularly below the Illinois River. Catches so far have been dominated by wild steelhead. The upper Rogue has been slow as cold, low flows have stalled migration. No fish moved over Gold Ray Dam between Jan. 11 and Jan. 14, the last updated counts. So far, 245 winter steelhead have crossed Gold Ray Dam. Flows are marginal. The river at Dodge Bridge was 2,200 cubic feet per second Wednesday, and just 3,200 cfs at Grants Pass. For daily flow reports out of Lost Creek Lake, call 800-472-2434. CHETCO — The river was flowing at about 1,500 cubic feet per second Wednesday, all too low and cold for good winter steelhead fishing throughout most of the system. However, some good catches have occurred high in the system this week, particularly near forks and tributary mouths as winter steelhead stage waiting for the next freshet. The winter steelhead are averaging about 12 pounds, with fish up to 18 pounds caught recently. Anglers 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 low, cold and in poor fishing shape Wednesday for winter steelhead. Look for a fresh component of winter steelhead to move when the next warmer storm hits the coast. UMPQUA — The system was low and cold, but the South Umpqua remains in good shape for winter steelhead drift fishing. The river has dropped enough for good driftboat traffic. The estuary remains slow for sturgeon. COOS — Steelhead fishing has slowed amid low and cold water conditions. Fish tail-outs with small clusters of roe. COQUILLE — The South Fork was low and cold, with winter steelhead fishing slow. Look for instant activity in steelhead during the next freshet. Until then, fish 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 dropped to 39 degrees, which has slowed the trout bite and put 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 wooly buggers and small Panther Martin lures. Action is slow and the water is cold. Only one of these steelehad 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 has been rough during the recent storms, but bottomfishing is open. Bottomfishing has remained good when anglers can get out. Salmon fishing off the mouth of the Chetco River at Brookings is over. 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 see the ODFW razor clam page at www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/shellfish/razorclams online. Crabbing has improved dramatically in Coos Bay because of high saltwater content. Hunting Outlook JACKSON — Cougar hunters are reminded to buy a 2007 cougar tag. With low snow levels cougars tracks maybe easily located along ridge lines. Predator calls have been successful for both cougars. Upland hunting is open through January. Mountain quail and forest grouse hunting have slowed down. Look for mountain quail in mid-elevation brush fields, and grouse along creek bottoms. Duck and goose hunting closes Jan. 28. Waterfowl season has been slow with low numbers now being found in the area. Some public hunting opportunities can be found on the Rogue River and on the Denman Wildlife Area. Fields have flood on the Denman Wildlife Area; waterfowl have been making use of farmed fields. Early and late shooting hours have been the best when storms and high winds are in effect. Hunters are reminded to obtain permission to hunt private lands, and be considerate of private residences along the riverbanks. KLAMATH — Goose hunting success on local birds should be fair to good thanks to favorable weather conditions. Most ponds on the Klamath Wildlife Area are frozen over and duck hunting is slow. Pheasant hunting is open there through Sunday, but pheasant plants are over. 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. Correction: The original version of this report listed the wrong creek. It has been corrected here . Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Entertainment Guide Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Men's Clothing Debt Help