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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 2, 2006 Fishing and hunting report River Outlook ROGUE — The water was primarily a mess river-wide as yet another week of wet weather wreaks havoc for steelhead anglers. The best bet for now is the only bet L waters upstream of Big Butte Creek. But that’s a qualified "best" because water conditions are decent yet there are very few late-run summer steelhead up there. No steelhead seem to be moving in the poor conditions Wednesday. But look for things to improve by the end of the weekend. Flow forecasts call for sharp drops in flow, and winter steelhead should be moving in force when they do. Focus everywhere from Savage Rapids Dam down to Grave Creek, with keeping particular mind on stretches downstream of the mouth of the Applegate River. the early-run phase of winter steelhead are dominated by fish headed up the Applegate. Conditions were very poor Wednesday, with flows expected to peak early this morning. Flows Wednesday were a hefty 12,000 cubic feet per second at Dodge Bridge, 21,000 cfs at Gold Ray Dam and 25,700 cfs at Grants Pass. Plunkers had been doing well with side-planers for winter steelhead downstream of Grants Pass. Focus on slow water, perhaps as close as 5 feet to shore. Black-and-silver colors work best in dark water. 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. Advertisement For daily flow reports out of Lost Creek Lake, call 800-472-2434. APPLEGATE — The river was high but fishable in the upper sections Wednesday, but pressure and fish numbers remain light. Flows at Wilderville were 5,700 cfs Wednesday at Wilderville. Flows out of the reservoir were at 2,010 cubic feet per second on Wednesday. As the water drops and clears, look for winter steelhead to move into the lower section in good numbers. All wild steelhead must be released unharmed, and no fishing is allowed from a floating device. CHETCO — The river was way high and way out of shape Wednesday for winter steelhead fishing, which has been either red-hot or shut off so far this season. The Chetco has had great numbers of big fish and they’ve been spread out throughout the system. However, anglers continue to battle high and dirty water, making trips unpredictable. Flows Wednesday were 19,000 cfs. But flows should drop quickly this weekend, which could trigger another great bite on roe and bright puff balls. Anglers may keep up to one wild steelhead a day, and up to five per year, as part of the daily bag limit. UMPQUA — Most of the steelhead waters throughout the system were high, dirty and out of shape for angling Wednesday as continued rains blow out rivers throughout western Oregon. 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 a bust as near-flood conditions remain in the Coos and Millicoma systems. COQUILLE — Water conditions remain high and fishing was out of shape throughout the basin Wednesday. The main-stem Coquille was forecast to crest late Wednesday above flood stage, and conditions look poor for winter steelhead fishing in the immediate future. All wild steelhead must be released unharmed. ELK — Water conditions were high and out of shape for steelhead fishing. Lake Outlook LOST CREEK — The lake is open year-round and fishing remains poor 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. EMIGRANT — Very little fishing activity is going on at the reservoir, where water conditions are extremely muddy and poor for angling. APPLEGATE — Recent heavy rains significantly increased the flows into the reservoir, prompting poor conditions for those trolling for trout and land-locked salmon. 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. SILTCOOS/TAHKENITCH — The fall fishery for wild coho salmon has ended without anglers catching their quotas in either lake. Ocean Outlook Razor clam harvest remains closed along South Coast beaches. Crabbing has been excellent in the ocean outside of Charleston and Brookings, but bad weather Wednesday kept the crabbers at bay. Fishing for black rockfish off jetties and rocks remains open, with little effort at this time. Ocean rockfish angling has re-opened under the new six-fish daily aggregate limit. Effort and catches have been poor thanks to continued storms. 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. COOS — Water levels are lowering and stabilizing and the air is calm and clear so viewing opportunities are good. Viewers should be look around edges of flooded fields and bays for birds. Viewers also need to be cautious of high fast moving water. These conditions can be dangerous. Now is the time to watch for various bird species that migrate to our area for winter. SUMMER LAKE — Viewing opportunities are only fair at this time. Most waterbirds and other species have migrated south or have moved into refuge or sanctuary areas, although a few northward migrants (snow and white-fronted geese) have been noted recently. Waterfowl will begin spreading-out over the entire area since waterfowl hunting season have ended. Raptors were scattered throughout the area as well as on private lands along Highway 31. Northern harriers, red-tailed and rough-legged hawks are especially numerous over marsh and hay meadow areas. Accipiters, falcons and eagles remain fairly common at this time. Passerine species (especially sparrows) remain fairly common around the Headquarters Complex, Summer Lake rest area, homestead sites and shelterbreak plantings at the north end of the area where they are attracted to the tree and shrub cover found at those locations. Most other species of passerines have already departed, but a few can still be found at the Headquarters Complex and other suitable habitats. About 75 percent of the area’s wetlands remain open and snow cover is scant except in shaded areas. 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. 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