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Laura Tesler's Steelhead - Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

Weekend fishing opportunities:

• Winter steelhead season on many rivers closed after March 31. Check out the zone reports below.
  
  
• Several water bodies in the SW zone will be stocked with trout this week. Check out the stocking schedule here.
  
  
• Surfperch fishing is picking up at many ocean beaches and should get better through April and May.

New resources for SW Zone anglers

• 50 places to Go Fishing within 60 Minutes of Medford
• Trout stocking map – Google map of all Southwest Region stocking locations

Send us your fishing report
We’d love to hear about your recent fishing experience. Send us your own fishing report through ODFW Fishing Reports -- the information will be forwarded to the local biologist who may use it to update various ODFW resources such as the Weekly Recreation Report.

AGATE LAKE: trout, largemouth bass, black crappie

Agate Lake has been stocked with legal and larger-sized rainbow trout, which should provide good fishing opportunities through the spring. Look for bass and panfish to become more active on the warm, sunny days. The reservoir is 92 percent full.

APPLEGATE RESERVOIR: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout

Legal and larger-sized rainbow trout, stocked last fall, are still available and creating opportunities for both bank and boat anglers. The lake is 58 percent full and the Copper Boat Ramp is open.

APPLEGATE RIVER: rainbow and cutthroat trout, winter steelhead

The Applegate River is closed to all angling from April 1 until May 25 to protect spawning steelhead and juvenile salmon and steelhead migrating through the river to the ocean.

ARIZONA POND: rainbow trout

Lots of trout are swimming around and some are pretty big. Arizona Pond is pretty hard to beat when it comes to kid friendly and good fishing. Lots of wildlife viewing and if the wind is not blowing the ocean beach is only a few hundred yards away.  ODFW will be stocking the lake almost weekly through the month with a variety of legal-size to trophy trout. The pond is managed by Oregon State Parks and is open only to youth 17 and under.

BEN IRVING RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, bass, bluegill, yellow perch, crappie

The reservoir was stocked with over 2,500 trout in early March and is scheduled to receive another 1,000 trout the week of March 18. A few of these may be less than 8 inches long and would need to be released if caught. Warmwater fishing for bass and crappie will be slow until the water starts to warm up.

Fly Fishing -Royalty Free Image-

CHETCO RIVER: steelhead

Closed until May 25 trout opener.

Chetco River flows near Brookings.

COOPER CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, bass, bluegill, yellow perch, bullhead

Cooper Creek received 800 trout ranging from 8 inches to 2 pounds in February 2013 and another 5,500 trout in March. NOTE: Some recently stocked trout may be less then 8 inches long and must be released. Large yellow perch and bullhead are available to catch. Trout fishing with PowerBait has been successful. Some of the trout do have copepods which are tiny parasites on their body and gills. These are not harmful to humans, but the liasons can be removed and the meat should be throughly cooked.

COOS COUNTY LAKES: rainbow trout, warm water species

Butterfield Lake and Eel lake are scheduled to be stocked this week with legal size trout.  Bradley Lake, Johnson Mill Pond, Powers Pond, and Saunders Lake were all stocked last week with legal size rainbow trout.  Bradley Lake, Empire Lakes, Johnson Mill Pond, and Powers Pond were all stocked in March with larger “trophy” trout. Anglers are catching trout on small spoons, spinners, or bait fished near the bottom.

Largemouth bass are starting to move into the shallow areas in the lakes and ponds to feed.  These shallow areas will have the warmest water so fish will more willing to bite on lures.  Fishing for other warm water fish species, like bluegills, will be slow until the water temperatures start to warm up more.

COOS RIVER BASIN: Dungeness crab, bay clams, steelhead, sturgeon, rockfish

Steelhead fishing in the Coos Basin is still open until April 30. Most steelhead anglers have put away there steelhead fishing equipment for the year but a few anglers are still reporting they are catching a few steelhead. Anglers are catching a mixture of spawned out steelhead or dark steelhead.

Good places to fish are the Millicoma Interpretive Center on the West Fork Millicoma and Nesika Park on the East Fork Coquille River. Access to the South Coos River above the Dellwood Gate is now closed.  

Starting on Jan. 1, 2013, steelhead anglers in the Coos, Coquille, and Tenmile basins will be able to retain one additional adipose fin-clipped steelhead per day for a total aggregate of 3 adult fish harvested daily. See page 38 of the 2013 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations.

There have been no reports of sturgeon being caught in Coos Bay yet. Starting on April 1, the statewide sturgeon bag limit will be increased to 2 fish.  Any sturgeon caught and tagged before April 1 will count against your 2 fish for the year. All length, gear, and season regulations pertaining to sturgeon fishing remain the same.

Fishing for rockfish and greenling inside the lower Coos estuary has been decent this past week. The best fishing has been near the rocks/jetties. Rockfish have been biting on jig with a twister tail and greenling have been biting on sand shrimp fished on/near the bottom. A few anglers are also picking up an occasional lingcod fishing near the rocks/jetties. 

Crabbing in Coos Bay has been slow for those that ventured out on the bay or crabbing from the docks. Crabbers are reporting pulling pots with lots of females and sub-legal males with an occasional legal male. Best places to crab are from the jetties up to the BLM boat ramp off the North Spit.

In a cooperative effort including ODFW and OSU researchers, hundreds of red rock crabs have been tagged with a small blue “floy tag” in Charleston to gain an understanding of their growth, age, movement, population size, and fishery. Red rock crabs are native to Oregon and are found in only a few Oregon estuaries. If you catch a tagged red rock crab please contact the ODFW Charleston office at 541-888-5515.

Clamming is excellent during low tides near Charleston, off Cape Arago Highway, and Clam Island. There are also good places to dig clams even on positive low tides in Coos Bay. For more information on shellfish in Coos Bay click on the following link: Shellfish Assessment of Coastal Oregon.

Before any shellfish harvest trip, make sure to check the Oregon Department of Agriculture website for any updates.

COQUILLE RIVER BASIN: steelhead

Steelhead fishing in the Coquille Basin is still open  until April 30. Anglers still fishing for steelhead will catch a mixture of spawned out steelhead and dark steelhead.
 
Starting on Jan. 1, 2013, steelhead anglers in the Coos, Coquille, and Tenmile basins will be able to retain one additional adipose fin-clipped steelhead per day for a total aggregate of 3 adult fish harvested daily. See page 38 of the 2013 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations.

DIAMOND LAKE: trout

Fishing at Diamond Lake -Photo by Holly Truemper, ODFW-

Diamond Lake opened to fishing on Jan. 1, 2013. The Forest Service campgrounds and the road around the lake will be closed due to snow. Anglers are being asked to fill out creel forms at Diamond Lake. The information gained from these forms will be used by ODFW to keep track of catch rates and angler pressure during this winter. Forms are located at the resort marina and just inside the double doors at the resort entrance.

The Diamond Lake Resort has licenses, life jackets and augers available for ice fishing. They also have information on ice and fishing conditions at Diamond Lake on their website. Or call their toll free number at 1-800-733-7593, ext 236 or 238 for updates. Most anglers have been fishing in front of the resort and the North Boat Ramp. PowerBait is the most commonly used bait. Vary your fishing depth until you find the fish. Since the trout aren’t real active during the winter, use a small presentation and expect very light biting. Fishing with live bait fish is illegal as is using gaffs. Most of the trout caught have been 10 to 13 inches, but a few 16+ inch fish have also been caught.

Anglers should use caution when deciding whether or not to access the lake for ice fishing. As with any fishing opportunity, anglers are fishing at their own risk.

ELK RIVER: steelhead

Closed until May 25 trout opener.

Check river conditions by calling 541-332-0405.

EMIGRANT RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie

Emigrant will be stocked this week with 3,500 legal-size rainbow trout. Anglers should have good success catching these trout by fishing bait from the bank or by trolling or fishing bait from boats.  Additionally, Emigrant received 351 summer steelhead that were released into the reservoir and are available for harvest. Fishing at the upstream end of the reservoir should provide the best opportunity to harvest these fish. Fishing success for warmwater species should improve as the weather warms.

The water level at Emigrant is at 90 percent of capacity.

EXPO POND: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill

Expo Pond will be stocked with 1,300 legal-sized rainbow trout again this week, creating a good opportunity for Medford and Central Point anglers to catch trout close to home.  Largemouth bass and panfish are also available, and fishing for these species should pick up on warm, sunny days. 

FISH LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout, spring chinook

Fish Lake is now free of ice, and the boat ramp is open. Water temperatures are still cold and anglers are advised to be prepared for winter conditions.

Fish Lake is at 65 percent of capacity.

FLORAS LAKE: rainbow, cutthroat trout

Floras Lake won’t be stocked until late April, but anglers can still fish for the numerous cutthroat that inhabit the lake. The lake is best fished from a boat, as there is limited bank angling. The lake can be very windy, so anglers should check the weather prior to heading out.

Boat anglers are reminded to clean all aquatic vegetation off their boats and trailers before heading home to help control the spread non-native plants and animals.

GALESVILLE RESERVIOR: rainbow trout, bass

Coho Salmon -Photo by Kathy Munsel, ODFW-

Galesville Reservoir is open to angling year-round. In addition to trout, the reservoir has also been stocked with coho smolts for the last couple of years. Many people mistakenly think these fish are kokanee. All of the coho smolts are adipose fin-clipped. In Galesville Reservoir, all landlocked salmon are considered trout and are part of the five-per-day trout limit, with only one trout over 20-inches long allowed for harvest. A few adult coho were recently released in the reservoir, but most of them were dark and ready to spawn.

The reservoir was stocked with over 6,000 trout in March. A few of these trout may be undersized and must be released until they are 8 inches long. Anglers are reminded all bass between 12 and 15 inches must be released, and only one bass over 15 inches may be taken per day. Call 541-837-3302 for information on camping and boat launching conditions.

NOTE: Some recently stocked trout may be less then 8 inches long and must be released.

GARRISON LAKE: rainbow trout, cutthroat trout

Trout fishing has been good for both boat and bank anglers. Garrison will be stocked with more trout the week of April 15. Boat anglers will want to keep an eye on the weather and fish the lake when there is no wind. Access for bank anglers is best at the 12th street boat ramp or along the foredune accessed through Tseriadun State Park. Garrison Lake is located in the middle of Port Orford.

HEMLOCK LAKE & LAKE IN THE WOODS: trout

Snow has closed the roads to these and the other high lakes in the Umpqua District.

HOWARD PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: closed

HYATT LAKE: closed
ILLINOIS RIVER: trout, steelhead

Illinois River flows at Kerby  

LAKE MARIE: rainbow trout

The lake was stocked with over 5,000 trout in 2012. The lake will receive its first stocking this year of 2,000 trout in March.

Rainbow Trout -Photo by Jim Yuskavitch, ODFW-

LAKE SELMAC: trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie

Lake Selmac will be stocked again this week with 5,000 legal-sized rainbow trout. These fish can be targeted by fishing bait from the bank or docks, as well as by trolling or still-fishing from a boat. Fishing for bass, bluegill, crappie, and other warmwater species should pick up with warmer weather. The bluegill and crappie can be found around the willows, docks, and other types of structure. Fishing may be best during the warmest parts of the day.

LEMOLO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, kokanee

Please note new regulations beginning in 2013:

Lemolo will be open from April 1 through Dec 31. However, during April 1-April 26 and Nov. 1-Dec. 31 it is catch and release only for brown trout. Rainbow trout and kokanee can be harvested at the 5 per day daily limit.

LOON LAKE: rainbow trout, bass, bluegill

Loon Lake was stocked with over 2,000 trout in early March. An additional 2,000 trout were stocked the week of March 18. The resort open, but the resort boat dock won’t be open until mid-May. The BLM will open their ramp on May 23. Call 541-599-2254 for additional information on campgrounds for spring 2013. NOTE: Some recently stocked trout may be less then 8 inches long and must be released.

LOST CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, spring chinook, bass

Lost Creek Reservoir will be stocked this week with another 25,000 legal-sized rainbow trout.  Larger trout from last fall’s stocking are still available as well and are being caught in decent numbers.  PowerBait has been working well for bank anglers while boat anglers have been doing well trolling a variety of lures and bait.

Many undersized chinook are being caught and must be released unharmed.

Lost Creek is at 95 percent of capacity, and the surface temperature is 46º F.

PACIFIC OCEAN AND BEACHES: bottomfish, salmon, Dungeness crab, surfperch

The recreational Dungeness crabbing is open in the ocean.

Fishing for bottom fish including rockfish, and lingcod is now closed outside of the 30 fathom curve until Sept. 30. The marine fish daily bag limit is seven fish and a separate daily limit for lingcod (two). Retention of cabezon is not allowed until July 1 due to a small harvest cap. Fishing for ling cod has been very good for anglers when the ocean has been calm. Anglers are also having good success catching limits of black rockfish in the Coos Bay/Bandon area.

Recreational chinook salmon fishing is open in the ocean from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. from March 15 through April 30. All chinook caught in the ocean must be 24 inches or longer. A few chinook salmon were caught in the Coos Bay area last week.

Anglers are reporting that surfperch fishing is slow to decent depending on what beach you are fishing. Sand shrimp or sand worms are always great baits to use for surf perch fishing. Surfperch fishing usually picks up in April and May.

PLAT I RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, warmwater fish

Plat I was stocked with over 2,500 trout in March. NOTE: Some recently stocked trout may be less then 8 inches long and must be released.In addition to trout fishing, the lake also has good bass fishing. Bass can be harvested from March 1 to Oct. 31 and are catch-and-release only from Nov. 1-Feb. 29. The shoreline may be muddy until the reservoir is at full pool.

REINHART PARK POND: trout

ROGUE RIVER

Rick and his Steelhead - Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

To find out more about conservation, management and outreach efforts on the Rogue River, check out the Rogue River page on the ODFW Web site.

River users can find stream flows and temperatures for several Rogue River reporting stations at this website: Rogue River levels.

Rogue River, lower: steelhead, spring chinook, surfperch
 
A few spring Chinook were caught over last weekend, but the river was a little too muddy to really get the fish biting. The end the week and weekend are looking to be better fishing conditions. This is only the beginning of the spring chinook run as May and June are excellent months as well. As usual anglers will want to keep an eye on river flows and try and fish when the river flows are starting to drop. 

The steelhead bite has been mixed as most of the winter steelhead have moved through the lower river.

Surfperch fishing is just getting started at the mouth of the Rogue. Easy access to some good perch fishing can be had fishing from the sand spit at the mouth of the river.

Rogue River, middle: steelhead, trout, chinook

Recent rains have left the middle Rogue high and off-color.  As of Monday evening, the flow at Grants Pass was 6,410 cfs, the turbidity was 20 FNU, and the water temperature was 48oF.  The flows have started to come down and are predicted to continue to drop through the week. The high flows should have moved some new fish into the area and could result in improved angling success for winter steelhead once the river drops back into shape.  It may also draw a few spring chinook into the middle Rogue.

The Rogue River is closed to all trout fishing from April 1 until May 25 to protect juvenile salmon and steelhead migrating through the river to the ocean.

Rogue River, upper: steelhead, trout

Recent rains have left the Rogue high and off-color, especially below the mouth of Little Butte Creek.  As of Monday evening, the flow at RayGold was 5,540 cfs and the water temperature was 48oF. The flow released from Lost Creek Reservoir was 3,311 cfs and the water temperature was 45oF. This should get the fish moving and could improve angling success for winter steelhead once the river drops back into shape. Even when the rest of the river is blown out, the area from Cole Rivers Hatchery downstream to at least the mouth of Big Butte Creek usually remains fishable.

As of April 2, 938 winter steelhead and 0 spring chinook had entered Cole Rivers Hatchery.
The Rogue River is closed to all trout angling from April 1 until May 25 to protect juvenile salmon and steelhead migrating through the river to the ocean.

Rogue River, above Lost Creek Reservoir: trout

The Rogue above Lost Creek opened to fishing on Jan. 1, 2013 and will remain open all year. Consult the 2013 fishing regulations for more information. High flows and cold water temperatures are currently limiting angling success.

SIXES RIVER:

Closed until May 25 trout opener.

SMITH RIVER, Umpqua: steelhead, sturgeon, striped bass

Steelhead are in the Smith River. There is no hatchery program up the Smith River so the angling opportunity will primarily be catch-and-release of wild steelhead. This is the time that anglers also target striped bass in the tide waters. As the weather warms the bass should get more active in feeding as they prepare for spawning.

SODA SPRINGS RESERVOIR: brown and rainbow trout

Soda Springs Reservoir and the Mainstem North to Slide Creek Dam closed to fishing when new regulations went into effect on Jan. 1, 2013. The tributaries between Soda Springs and Slide Creek Dam will be open to catch-and-release angling with flies and lures only. The area above Slide Creek will retain the current regulations. Due to construction at Soda Springs, there is currently very limited access.

TENMILE BASIN: steelhead, largemouth bass

 Steelhead fishing is open in Tenmile Creek and Eel Creek until April 30.

Starting on Jan. 1, 2013, steelhead anglers in the Coos, Coquille, and Tenmile basins will be able to retain one additional adipose fin-clipped steelhead per day for a total aggregate of 3 adult fish harvested daily. See page 38 of the 2013 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations.

Bass anglers are starting to catch a few bass in Tenmile Lakes but overall fishing is fairly slow. The lake water temperature is in the mid-50s. Anglers looking to target bass should use slower moving lures/baits at this time of the year.

TOKETEE LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout

Brook Trout -U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service-

UMPQUA HIGH LAKES AND FOREBAYS: trout

Clearwater Forebay #2 was stocked with 4,000 trout this spring and received some additional trout Labor Day weekend. For brook trout anglers should try Cliff, Buckeye, Skookum (North Umpqua), Maidu, Twin and Wolf lakes. Linda and Calamut have been stocked with a native rainbow for the last couple of years. Bullpup and Fuller still have brook trout, but were also recently stocked with some fingerling native rainbows. Redtop Lake was stocked in early May and June and received some additional trout for Labor Day. Access to these lakes will be difficult since the roads will be snowed in.

UMPQUA RIVER, MAINSTEM: steelhead, sturgeon, chinook, striped bass

The mainstem Umpqua is closed to wild steelhead harvest, but remains open year-round for adipose fin-clipped steelhead. Plunking during periods of higher, more turbid conditions can be very successful for bank anglers. The steelhead are well-distributed throughout the Mainstem. Angler effort for steelhead is slow as anglers are starting to target spring chinook. When fishing in the Mainstem you will most likely catch a wild steelhead due to the high number of wild fish that are still swimming up to the North and South Umpqua.

This is the time that anglers also target striped bass in the tide waters. As the weather warms the bass should get more active in feeding as they prepare for spawning.

Spring chinook have been reported in the Scottsburg area and a few have passed Winchester Dam. More chinook should be arriving and the fishery should be improving with the recent rains. The river will be rising some this weekend.

The “50 Places to go fishing within 60 minutes of Roseburg,” handout which is available online or at the office, identifies several good places for salmon and steelhead fishing.

Umpqua River flows near Elkton

UMPQUA RIVER, NORTH: steelhead

As of the end of January, nearly 3,000 winter steelhead had crossed Winchester Dam. This generally represents about 19 percent of the total run and is the second highest run for this timeframe in the last decade. A few anglers are now fishing the fly waters with good success. Boat anglers are doing well for steelhead from Glide to the forks. The river will remain fairly stable this week. Remember all wild steelhead must be released unharmed. Less than 4 percent of the steelhead in the North are hatchery fish, so anticipate that mostly wild fish will be hooked.

A few springers have been observed in the viewing windows at Winchester Dam. Large numbers of steelhead have been crossing in the later parts of the day.

Note that from Oct. 1 through June 30, angling in the fly water area is restricted to a single barbless artificial fly which can be dressed with conventional fly tying material. The North Umpqua mainstem and the tributaries upstream of Soda Springs Reservoir are open for trout angling through Oct. 31. See gear and harvest restrictions.

The new anti-snagging rule will start on the North Umpqua on March 1. This rule will be in effect from Lone Rock boat launch upstream to the start of the fly water area just above Rock Creek. See page 11 of the regulation booklet.

North Umpqua River water levels at Winchester Dam

UMPQUA RIVER, SOUTH: steelhead

Steelhead -Photo by Charlotte Ganskopp-

The steelhead are well distributed in the South. Bank anglers are fishing behind Seven Feathers casino, Stanton and Myrtle Creek Bridge. The peak of the steelhead run occurs through March and can still be very productive in April. The fish have been waiting for rain, so the recent rain should get the fish moving. The South Umpqua has a winter steelhead hatchery program and over 100,000 smolt have been released during the past three years. These releases provide the best opportunity for anglers hoping to take a fish home in the Umpqua Basin. Good numbers of hatchery fish were caught between Seven Feathers and Lawson Bar this past week. Please remember wild steelhead must be released unharmed.

South Umpqua River water levels near Riddle

WILLOW LAKE: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, black crappie, brown bullhead

Willow Lake will be stocked with 4,500 legal-sized rainbow trout this week. Fishing has been good for both bank and boat anglers. The County park and boat ramp at Willow Lake are currently open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gate will be locked at all other times.

WINCHESTER BAY: sturgeon, chinook, surfperch

A few anglers are fishing for sturgeon. Note that the annual statewide bag limit for sturgeon was raised to two fish. Surfperch fishing is starting to pick up at the North Beach. A few people are starting to catch crab. Folks are also starting to fish for surfperch. Fishing for bottomfish in the Triangle and South jetty has been successful. Check with the Coast Guard for new deadlines in the lower Umpqua when the bar is closed (541-271-4847).

WINCHUCK RIVER:

Closed until May 25 trout opener.

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  HUNTING

OPEN: COUGAR, COYOTE, SPRING BEAR, SPRING TURKEY (opens April 15)

Mandatory Reporting
Thanks to all hunters who reported their 2012 tags on time. Hunters who did not report 2012 deer and elk tags on time will pay a $25 penalty fee when they purchase a 2014 hunting license. If your 2012 deer and elk hunts extend into 2013, you have until April 15, 2013 to report your hunt. More information on reporting.

Wolves and coyotes can look alike
Most wolves in the state today are in northeast Oregon but a few have dispersed further west and south. Wolves are protected by state and/or federal law and it is unlawful to shoot them. Coyote hunters need to take extra care to identify their target as wolves can look like coyotes, especially wolf pups in the mid-summer and fall. ODFW appreciates hunters’ assistance to establish wolves’ presence in Oregon; please report any wolf sightings or wolf sign to ODFW using the online reporting system.

Use the Oregon Hunting Map to see where to hunt.

COOS COUNTY

Bear - Bear season opened April 1. At the time of this writing no bears have been checked in to the Charleston Office, however, weather conditions are good for bear hunting (i.e. relatively warm and no rain). With the exception of sows with cubs bears should be active. Patient hunters should be able to find bears on south slopes in places where grass is growing most vigorously. Pay specific attention to areas where landslides have occurred o in clear cuts with larger timber adjacent.

Cougar - Cougar season is open year round in Oregon until quotas for specific zones are filled. Refer to page 41 of the 2012 Oregon Big Game Regulations for more information. Most successful cougar hunters scout for deer and elk and locate areas where these animals congregate. Cougars can be found near these concentrations. Hunting with predator calls in areas where deer and elk are plentiful is often the most successful way to hunt cougars.

Coyote - Populations are good in Coos County and they will often respond to calls. Calling coyotes in the coast range is challenging due to brush. Many landowners with sheep are complaining about losses of sheep to coyote predation. Hunters interested in hunting coyotes may find success in asking for permission to hunt private land where landowners are losing sheep.

DOUGLAS COUNTY

Bear – Opened on April 1st and continues through May 31st.  Bear numbers are good with the highest numbers at lower elevations in the coast range with lower numbers elsewhere in the coast range and Cascades. Hunters can focus on open meadows early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Successful bear hunters are required to check in the skull within 10 days of the kill.

Turkey – This year’s youth spring turkey season will be April 13 and 14 (Saturday & Sunday). For all others general spring turkey season starts April 15th so start practicing your calling. Last year’s chick/poult counts showed slightly below average production but hunters can expect the spring gobbler hunt this year to be excellent.  Over the last 10 years all indicators point to a healthy turkey population in Douglas County. While the hens are off nesting the first part of the season most toms are found on private land sometimes adjacent to public lands. In general, most turkeys are found on or adjacent to low-mid elevation private lands associated with oak savannah habitat. Hunters are reminded to obtain permission before hunting on private lands.

Cougar - Royalty Free Image-

Cougar – Cougar season is open. Hunting cougar is most successful adjacent to private land with high deer populations.

Coyote - Numbers are strong throughout Douglas County. Using predator calls to lure them in can be an effective method for harvesting coyotes. Try calling in early morning and late afternoon. Be sure to ask permission before hunting on private land.

JACKSON, JOSEPHINE, CURRY COUNTIES

Bears - Tags for this hunt are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis and are sold out. Bear numbers in the entire region remain high, with highest densities near the coast and the Applegate unit retaining one of the highest harvests for the state. With the last several months having very little rain or snow and warm temperatures bear activity may come earlier this year. Boars will likely be early with females arriving later in the season. When bears are out they will be feeding in grassy openings. Focus on south facing hill sides in the early mornings and evenings. Good spots to check are skid roads and side roads that are untraveled with lots of grassy margins and bear sign.

Turkey - Youth turkey season opens April 13-14.  We had a long, wet nesting season in 2012 which resulted in lower than average nesting success for broods. There were some attempts at re-nesting and there was some success by the smaller poults we observed later in the summer. We should expect an average too slightly below average spring turkey outlook for most of Jackson, Josephine and Curry Counties. If we see a normal or drier spring nesting season we hope to see increased nesting success for 2013.

DENMAN WILDLIFE AREA: Remember to get your parking permit for 2013. Hunters get the permit free with their purchase of an annual hunting license. Display on car dash. More information

The Jackson Cooperative Travel Management Area is in effect. This agreement between government agencies and private partners provides hunters with access to a variety of lower elevation areas to hunt.  Now that hunting seasons are over the roads continue to remain closed within designated areas unless posted to provide very little disturbance to wildlife especially deer and Elk. Maps can be obtained online through ODFW’s website; click on the Oregon Hunting Access Map

Western Gray Squirrel -Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

Cougar - General season is open statewide year-round or until zone quotas are met. Southwest Cascades zone B has 165 quota and Coast/North Cascades zone A has 120. Refer to regulations for more information. Most cougar hunters’ success comes from predator calls.

Western Gray Squirrel - Open only in the year-around portion of the Rogue Unit, check Big Game Regulations for area descriptions. Squirrels can be found in oak or mixed conifer stands. This is a great animal to hunt for first time hunters.

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  VIEWING

EVENTS

Migratory Bird Festivals: Look for migratory bird festivals throughout the state in April and early May.  The Umpqua Valley bird day is at the Douglas County fairgrounds (exit 123 on I-5) on the Saturday April 20, 2013 at the Earth day Celebration and its free admission.

Bird Walk for Beginners, APRIL 27, Lynn Newbry Park, 9:00 a.m

Basic identification of local species will be featured during a beginners' bird walk on Sat., April 27 provided by Route Valley Audubon Society.

COOS COUNTY

Western Gull - Photo by Greg Gillson-

Herring are spawning around Coos Bay. These fish deposit eggs on eelgrass and other aquatic vegetation and create a food source that is very attractive to some bird species and other wildlife. When driving along Cape Arago Hwy., vigilant viewers may notice large concentrations of sea ducks, gulls and other wildlife from time to time in certain locations. These concentrations are likely animals capitalizing on this food resource.

Turkey Vultures

Turkey Vultures have been seen in Coos County recently. Many of these birds migrate from North America to South America annually. They generally return to Oregon in late winter or early spring, as the spring progresses their abundance will increase. They provide a great service to communities in Oregon by scavenging on dead animal carcasses, thus cleaning up our environment.  

Marine Mammals

Seal and Sea Lion abundance in coastal waters around Coos County is high this time of year, south of Coos Bay. At Simpson Reef, a heavily used haul out exists. From the look out, viewers can see California sea lions, Steller sea lions, harbor seals and elephant seals. 

Elephant Seal Cow and Calf -Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

At this time of year, elephant seal females give birth to their young. These large babies may be encountered on sandy beaches. They often appear to be injured, abandoned, or even dying—but they are not. It is normal for female elephant seals to leave their young to fend for themselves after only a month of nursing. During this time, elephant seal pups live off fat reserves and molt their skin. The molted skin decays and causes them to smell, which supports the appearance that they are sick. They are not; this is a normal part of their development.  

Do not approach seals and sea lions you may find on Oregon beaches. If you think an animal you find is, in fact, in trouble, contact your local ODFW office to report the animal or contact the Marine Mammal Stranding Network an (800)452-7888. 2/12/13

Bald Eagles

In winter, bald eagle viewing can be good because the birds are feeding on waterfowl near coastal bays, estuaries and along the coast. Areas to see eagles include Winchester Bay near Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area, Cape Arago Hwy. in Coos Bay, East Bay Drive in Coos Bay and Rocky Point in the lower Coquille River.

Waterfowl

River flow levels have begun to reduce as we progress into spring. This has caused waterfowl such as Northern pintail, ring-necked ducks and other water birds such as great egrets to concentrate in remaining flooded habitat. Also, the northward migration for many species has begun. Viewing of these species can be very good because of the concentration.

Those interested in viewing waterfowl will find good opportunities in Winter Lake, between Coquille and Bandon, New River, located south of Bandon, Coos Bay and Winchester Bay.

Shorebirds

Many species of shorebirds are beginning their northward migration and offering good opportunities for viewing. Good viewing is available at Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, located north of the city of Bandon. Also, Coos County beaches and mud flats in bays are good places to look for shorebirds.

The shorebird migration is only beginning now. The bulk of birds are still to come.  April and May constitute the best months to view these migratory birds.

Surf Scoter Drake - Photo by Kathy Munsel -

Sea ducks

Sea ducks like surf scoters and harlequin ducks are making a strong appearance in local bays and along rocky shorelines where they can find protection from large swells and wind. South Cove on Cape Arago is a great place to see harlequin ducks from now through the spring months. Cape Arago Highway near Charleston affords several views of Coos Bay in an area where flocks of scoters of mixed species can be viewed. If you are going to be near the ocean looking for these birds beware of the fact that tides, swell and surge can be especially high in the fall, winter and spring. Do not get too close. 3/19/13.

CURRY, JACKSON, JOSEPHINE COUNTIES

Bird Walk for Beginners, April 27, Lynn Newbry Park, 9:00 a.m

Basic identification of local species will be featured during a beginners' bird walk on Sat., April 27 provided by Route Valley Audubon Society.

Denman Wildlife area

Many people are visiting the area for fishing opportunities where bass, blue gills and bull head cat fish are caught.  School and scout groups are scheduling appointments where Area staff has provided presentations and tours of the area.

Shed Antlers

Now is a good time to get out in the woods and look for shed deer and elk antlers. To locate these antlers focus on areas where deer and elk have spent the winter and around bedding areas and oak or grassy clearings.

Geese

Canada Geese mate for life. Pairs are breaking off from their flocks to find nesting sites. They will begin claiming and defending a small pond or at least a portion of a larger pond for nesting.

Bird and Wood Duck Boxes

Now is the time to clean out wood duck boxes and bird boxes. After cleaning out wood duck boxes, it is good to put new cedar wood shavings in them; it is not necessary for bird boxes. It is also good to remove all brush and limbs below the wood duck box so the young to have free access to the ground.

For a great birding trail along the southern coast, visit Oregon Birding Trails.

Whale watching is good along the coast through the end of May. The northern migration occurs March through May and whales will be cruising closer to shore than they do on the southern migration. Viewing points within Curry County from north to south are Battle Rock, Cape Sebastian, Cape Ferrelo and Harris Beach State Park. 4/9/13.

DOUGLAS COUNTY

Western Bluebird - Photo by Greg Gillson-

Migratory Bird Festivals: Look for migratory bird festivals throughout the state in April and early May. The Umpqua Valley bird day is at the Douglas County fairgrounds (exit 123 on I-5) on the Saturday April 20, 2013 at the Earth day Celebration and its free admission.

Songbirds

Various songbirds like Western Bluebirds, Black-headed Grosbeaks, House Wrens, thrushes and various sparrows are present at Stewart Park Duck Pond and Stewart Park trail in Roseburg.  Remember to clean out your songbird nesting boxes or put up new boxes now since courtship, nest building and raising nestlings happens for many birds in April and May.

Purple Martin

The early arrivals (scouts) have arrived at Plat-I reservoir in Sutherlin and Ten Mile Lakes near Lakeside.  The best opportunity to view North America’s largest swallow is in the early morning flying high above the water capturing insects or checking out nesting cavities, nesting boxes or gourds.

Ospreys

Ospreys have returned to the Umpqua Valley from their wintering areas in Central and South America. Ospreys are also known as fish hawks and can be seen flying above rivers or lakes looking for fish in the water. This time of the year, look for male ospreys diving into the water capturing fish, and taking the captured fish back to the female on the nest.

Fish Spawning

Each year there is a chance to observe wild Winter Steelhead spawning just below Soda Springs Dam on the N. Umpqua River 55 miles east of Roseburg.

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