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Rainbow Trout on a stringer - Photo by Bob Swingle-

Weekend fishing opportunities:

• Arizona Pond is pretty hard to beat when it comes to kid-friendly and good fishing. Lots of trout are swimming around and some are pretty big.
  
  
• Trout or warmwater? There are plenty of options this time of year as trout stocking is underway the same time warmwater fishing are moving into to shallows.
  
  
• Fishing is picking up on Diamond Lake and some anglers are beginning to catch their limits.
  
  
• The recent warm weather has spring chinook on the move in the Umpqua River.

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. In addition, largemouth bass and panfish are currently in the shallow water along the shore creating good fishing opportunities. The reservoir is 97 percent full.

APPLEGATE RESERVOIR: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has stocked the lake with legal-sized rainbow trout. This should provide good fishing for both bank and boat anglers.  Fishing is also good for largemouth and smallmouth bass, which are now up along the shore.

The lake is 99 percent full.  Hart-Tish Park and boat ramp, and Copper Boat Ramp are 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

Warm and sunny weather has made trout fishing a little harder, but anglers that are able to fish when the sun is off the water are doing the best.  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 has been stocked with over 4,000 trout as of mid-April. 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 pick up as the water starts to warm up.

BURMA POND:  rainbow trout

Burma Pond, located on BLM land east of the town of Wolf Creek, has been stocked with legal-sized rainbow trout.

CHETCO RIVER: steelhead

Closed until May 25 trout opener.

Chetco River flows near Brookings.

Fly Fishing -Royalty Free Image-

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 7,000 trout as of mid-April.  NOTE: Some recently stocked trout may be less then 8 inches long and must be released. Trout fishing with PowerBait has been succesful. Some of the trout do have copepods wich are tiny parasites on their bodies and gills. These are not harmful to humans, but the lesions can be removed and the meat should be thoroughly cooked. Large yellow perch and bullhead are available to catch, and warmwater fishing opportunites should pick up as the water temperatures continue to increase.

COOS COUNTY LAKES: rainbow trout, warm water species

Bluebill Lake, Bradley Lake, Eel Lake, Powers Pond, Saunders Lake, and Tenmile Lakes were all stocked last week with legal size trout. Bradley Lake, Empire Lakes, and Powers Pond were all stocked in April with larger “trophy” trout. Anglers are catching trout on small spoons, spinners, or bait fished near the bottom.

Largemouth bass have moved into shallow waters in most area lakes for spawning.   Water temperatures in many lakes are in the 60s.  Bass typically start spawning when water temperatures are in the mid-60s. This is a great time of the year to catch large bass in shallow water. Anglers should use jigs, worms, or even crankbaits to catch bass this time of the year. Fishing for yellow perch in some of the dune lakes has been decent. Most of the yellow perch in these lakes are small so angler will have to sort through the smaller fish to find any bigger keepers.  Bluegills and crappies are coming more active with the warmer water temperatures. Anglers should start catching these fish in the shallow areas usually next to some type of cover.

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

Steelhead fishing in the Coos Basin is still open until April 30.

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 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, surfperch

Trout season does not open in the Coos River Basin until May 25.

Anglers have still not reported any good catches of surfperch in the Bandon area.  Fishing the incoming tide with sand shrimp on the bottom usually produces the most bites. Typically surfperch fishing is best in April and May.

COQUILLE RIVER BASIN: trout, surfperch

Trout season does not open in the Coquille River Basin until May 25.

Surfperch fishing has started to pick up along the beaches near Bandon. Anglers should concentrate on fishing the incoming tides for best catches of surf perch. Sand shrimp fished on the bottom usually produces the most bites.  

DENMAN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA PONDS:  largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, bullhead

Many of the ponds on the management area have populations of warmwater gamefish, including largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and bullhead. Fishing for these species is good now and will likely remain so until mid-June.

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

DIAMOND LAKE: trout

Diamond Lake is now ice free and boats can launch from the North or South boat ramps. Fishing is beginning to pick up and some boat anglers are catching limits.

DUTCH HERMAN POND:  rainbow trout

Dutch Herman Pond, located on BLM land east of the town of Wolf Creek, has been stocked with legal sized rainbow trout.

ELK RIVER:

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 another 1,500 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, surplus summer steelhead have been 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 for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and other warmwater species has been good. Smallmouth bass can be found along the rocky shorelines, while the other species can be found around the flooded willows. A wide variety of lures can be used to target the bass. Crappie jigs or bait suspended below a bobber are effective  for the crappie, bluegill, and yellow perch. Bullheads and the occasional channel catfish can be taken by fishing bait on the bottom.

The water level at Emigrant is at 96 percent of capacity.

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

Expo Pond provides a great fishing opportunity close to home for Medford and Central Point anglers. The pond just north of the Isola Arena will be stocked with 1,300 legal-sized rainbow trout again this week. Fishing for largemouth bass, and panfish has been good as well. Expo Pond has plenty of good bank access, and anglers can catch many of the species present by fishing night crawlers below a bobber. /Working lures around the willows and other cover can produce some nice bass.

FISH LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout, spring chinook

Fish Lake is free of ice, and the boat ramp is open. Rainbow trout, brook trout, and chinook salmon are available. Fishing has been fair to good for the stocked rainbow and anglers have been taking some good-sized trout.

The U.S. Forest Service campground is now open. The Fish Lake Resort has a restaurant, cabins, and RV spaces. The Lake is at 74 percent of water storage capacity.

FLORAS LAKE: rainbow, cutthroat trout

Floras Lake was recently stocked with catchable and trophy trout. The lake is best fished from a boat, as there is limited bank angling. The lake can be very windy, so anglers will want to check the weather prior to heading out.

Although not a very big population, Floras Lake has a few largemouth bass that, with the warmer weather, may start moving into the shallows.  

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 has been stocked with over 6,500 trout as of mid-April. Note: Some recently stocked trout may be less than 8 inches long and must be released. 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.

GARRISON LAKE: rainbow trout, cutthroat trout

Trout fishing has slowed for both boat and bank anglers. Boat anglers will want to keep an eye on the weather and fish the lake when there is no wind. Early morning is usually the best time to fish the lake. 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

Currently anglers can drive as far as Lake in the Woods. The road above that, toward Hemlock, still has some snowy patches. For other high lakes, contact the Forest Service at 541-958-3200 for information on current road conditions and lake accessibility.

HOWARD PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

Fishing has been slow for rainbow trout that range from 8 to 14-inches, but fishing should improve as the season progresses.

The campgrounds, restaurant and marina are open. Only day licenses are available at this time, annual angling licenses should be purchased before you go to the lake. The water level is at 85 percent of capacity.

HYATT LAKE: rainbow trout

Fishing for rainbow trout has been fair, but since most of the trout caught have been 14 to 20-inches long, most anglers have been pleased with their catches.

The Bureau of Land Management has one boat ramp open, but the campgrounds and other BLM facilities may not open until the middle of May due to budget issues.  The water level is at 95 percent of capacity.

ILLINOIS RIVER: trout, steelhead

The Illinois River is closed to all angling from April 1 until May 25 to protect juvenile salmon and steelhead as they migrate through the river to the ocean.

Illinois River flows at Kerby  

LAKE MARIE: rainbow trout

The lake was stocked with over 5,000 trout in 2012. The lake received its first stocking this year of 2,000 trout in March and received another 1,000 trout in early April.

LAKE SELMAC: trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie

Brown Trout -Photo by Roger Smith-

LEMOLO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, kokanee

Lemolo Reservoir is now ice-free and fishing is good. Brown trout are averaging 16 inches or more; meanwhile, the rainbows are 12 to 16-plus inches depending on the stock. The boat ramp at the resort is open. The resort is also open and willing to provide fishing tips for anglers.

From now through Nov. 1, Lemolo has a 5 trout per day, daily limit. A combination of brown trout, rainbow trout and kokanee can be harvested to make up this 5 trout limit. Only 1 trout over 20 inches can be harvested per day. For information on fishing conditions, contact Lemolo Lake Resort at 541-957-8354.

LOON LAKE: rainbow trout, bass, bluegill

Loon Lake was stocked with over 2,000 trout in early March. An additional 3,500 trout have been stocked as of mid-April. The resort is open, and their boat ramp is now open. 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 has been stocked with legal-sized rainbow trout. Fishing has been good for these stocked trout as well as for larger trout remaining from last fall’s stocking. 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.

Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass has improved with the warmer weather. Look for the largemouth bass around the willow clumps and stumps. The more abundant smallmouth bass can be found along the rocky shorelines

Lost Creek is at 97 percent of capacity, and the surface temperature is 59º F.

MEDCO POND:  rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill

Medco Pond has been stocked with legal-sized rainbow trout. In addition, fishing for largemouth bass and bluegill has improved with the warmer weather. Medco Pond offers good opportunities for bank anglers, and still fishing with bait usually produces good results.

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. Fishing for chinook salmon in the Coos Bay area has been slow lately.

Anglers are reporting better catches of surf perch along the south coast beaches.  Sand shrimp or sand worms are always great baits to use for surf perch fishing.

PLAT I RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, warmwater fish

Plat I has been stocked with over 3,500 trout as of mid-April. 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 which should continue to pick up as the water temperature increases. Bass can be harvested from March 1 to Oct. 31 and are catch-and-release only from Nov. 1-Feb. 29.

Reinhart Pond -Photo by Rick Swart, ODFW-

REINHART PARK POND: trout

Reinhart Pond was stocked last week with legal and larger-sized rainbow trout.  Fishing for these trout has been very good.  Fishing for bass and panfish has been good as well. Still fishing with bait is one of the most effective ways to target both the trout and the warmwater fish in Reinhart Pond.

ROGUE RIVER

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
 
Spring chinook fishing is slow.
  
A few steelhead are being picked up by bank anglers throwing spinners or flies, but it won’t be until late May or early June before the Rogue sees the first good push of summer steelhead. 

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. Anglers should keep on the marine forecast and try to fish when the swells are smaller and less wind.

Rogue River, middle: steelhead, trout, chinook

Fishing for steelhead is slow. The remaining winter steelhead are mostly dark, and only a few summer steelhead are passing through the middle Rogue at this time. A good number of spring chinook are now moving through the area, and are providing some opportunities for anglers.  As of Monday morning, the flow at Grants Pass was 2,400 cfs, and the water temperature was 58oF.
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

Fishing for spring chinook has been good this past week from Gold Hill to Cole River Hatchery Fishing for steelhead has been slow with the winter steelhead run winding down and few summer steelhead in the upper river at this time.  As of Monday morning, the flow at RayGold was 2,330 cfs and the water temperature was 54oF. The flow released from Lost Creek Reservoir was 1,950 cfs and the water temperature was 49oF.

As of April 30, 2,232 winter steelhead, 4 summer steelhead, and 46 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

SIXES RIVER:

Closed until May 25 trout opener.

Striped Bass -Wikipedia -

SMITH RIVER, Umpqua: steelhead, sturgeon, striped bass

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. Trout season will open in the Smith River basin on May 25.

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.

SPALDING POND:  rainbow trout

The road to Spalding Pond is passable and the pond will be stocked this week with another 600 legal-sized rainbow trout.

TENMILE BASIN: steelhead, largemouth bass

Trout fishing in the streams of the Tenmile Basin does not open until May 25. The lakes within the Tenmile Basin are open for trout fishing all year. 

Six thousand hatchery rainbow trout were stocked last week into North and South Tenmile lakes. Anglers are reporting that trout fishing has picked up the last couple of weeks for holdover rainbow trout and wild cutthroat trout. Slowly trolling a wedding ring tipped with a nightcrawler has been producing some of the best bites for trout.

One hundred hatchery rainbow trout were tagged and released into Tenmile Lakes this past week for a tagged fish contest sponsored by Ringo’s Lakeside Marina. The trout were tagged with 2-inch long, blue, numbered tags that when caught by anglers can be redeemed for a prize at the marina.  

Bass anglers are starting to catch a few more bass in Tenmile Lakes. The lake water temperature is in the mid-60s. Bass are spawning or staging in shallow waters throughout the lakes.

TOKETEE LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout

Fishing is open in Toketee year-round. The campground and boat ramp are now open. For more information call the U.S. Forest Service at 541-498-2531.

UMPQUA HIGH LAKES AND FOREBAYS: trout

Clearwater Forebay #2 was stocked in early April with 1,000 trout. 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. Access to these lakes will be difficult since the roads will be snowed in. Contact the Forest Service at 541-957-3200 for road conditions.

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. Angler effort for steelhead is slowing down as anglers are starting to target spring chinook.

This also is the time that anglers 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 are moving rapidly now that the water has warmed up and more have passed Winchester Dam. Pressure below Elkton has increased recently and fishing has been spotty. A few chinook over 35 pounds have been reported. 

Shad are beginning to arrive and a few anglers are trying their luck at Yellow Creek. Fishing for shad is allowed any time there is a season for salmon or steelhead, so the Main Umpqua is open whenever the shad arrive. Likewise the use of bait is allowed in the Main Umpqua, so bait can be used by anglers fishing for shad.

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

Steelhead -Photo by Charlotte Ganskopp-

As of March over 11,500 winter steelhead had crossed Winchester Dam. Anglers are now fishing the fly waters with good success. Remember all wild steelhead must be released unharmed. Summer steelhead will start arriving in greater numbers as spring and early summer progress.

Meanwhile springers are entering the North have passed Winchester Dam in good numbers this week with the warm weather and warmer water. Fishing pressure is starting to increase below Winchester Dam and from Rock Creek down to the Narrows. Please be aware of the anti-snagging rule described on page 11 of the regulation booklet that is in effect from Lone Rock boat launch upstream to the start of the fly water just above Rock Creek.

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.

North Umpqua River water levels at Winchester Dam

UMPQUA RIVER, SOUTH: steelhead

Closed until May 25.

The South Umpqua will close to all fishing from May 1 through May 24. It will open again for fishing on May 25. There is no harvest of either spring chinook or fall chinook allowed in the South Umpqua during any angling season.

South Umpqua River water levels near Riddle

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

Willow Lake has been stocked with legal-sized rainbow trout, and trout fishing has been good for both bank and boat anglers. Fishing for largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and the other warmwater gamefish has been good as well. Anglers can target trout by trolling lures or lure/bait combinations, or by still fishing with bait. Anglers targeting crappie, bluegill, and yellow perch have been doing well fishing bait below a bobber or by working crappie jigs around structure.

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. 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

Spring turkey hunting forecast

Spring bear hunting forecast

Controlled hunt deadline is May 15: Apply online, at a license sales agent, at ODFW offices that sell licenses, or by mail or fax order using the application found here. Read about common controlled hunt misconceptions. 

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 continues thru May 31. Bears are active and hunters are reporting seeing them when weather is not too stormy.  However only a few bears have been checked in at local offices so far.  It is expected that harvest will increase as the season progresses.  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 and in clear cuts with larger timber adjacent. Bears will be most active on days with nice sunny weather.  Most bears are seen at the end of these days within two hours of the end of legal shooting hours.

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 – 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 – Turkey season is open until May 31st. 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 - With the warm weather upon us bears should be out and about. Few hunters have reported seeing several bear while out hunting. 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. 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 -  Turkeys have been very active gobbling and searching for hens. Hunting success should be good throughout the region. 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 until April 30. 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.

Coyotes – Are abundant in our area. Remember to ask for permission to hunt on private lands.

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  VIEWING

COOS COUNTY

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

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.

Sea ducks

Surf Scoter Drake - Photo by Kathy Munsel -

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

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.

Wheatstone pond has new gosling showing up; come watch them grow up throughout the summer. Also, carp are spawning in the pond and they can be seen jumping out of the water and splashing along the shore.

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.

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. 4/23/13.

DOUGLAS COUNTY

Bullock’s Oriole adult - Wikipedia -

Bullock’s Oriole

The Bullock’s (Northern) oriole has now arrived, and is commonly seen and heard around the Umpqua Valley.   Look for their colorful orange and black bodies that are 8” long.  The Bullock’s oriole is our only oriole in Western Oregon found nesting in woodlands, orchards, riparian areas and farmland in tall shade trees like cottonwood.  Their diet is insects (spiders), snails and nectar.  Remember if you have an oriole feeder that you can make your own oriole food, similar to hummingbirds, 4 parts water to 1 part sugar ratio but always make sure the sugar goes completely into solution before hanging up for use.

Purple Martin

Purple Martins have arrived so look for them around Plat I Reservoir, Cooper Creek Reservoir and Ten Mile Lake. Purple Martin is our largest swallow in North America and is uncommon and mainly found in Western Oregon communally nesting usually near a large water body.

Fish Passage

Winter Steelhead and Spring Chinook migrating upstream passing through Winchester dam fish ladder on the N. Umpqua River, which is free and open to the public.  To view the migrating Steelhead go to exit 129 on I-5, proceed southeast on 99 to the fish ladder on the north side of the river.

Vaux Swift

The spring migration of Vaux swifts is in full swing, and will continue into early May.  To see the swifts take I-5 to exit 124 (Harvard Ave.), proceed west ½ mile and turn right onto Stewart Park Drive, turn left 300 ft. at the first cross street and the chimney is 500 feet to the west.

Swallows

Turtles and other reptiles

Western Pond Turtles can be seen on warm sunny days and afternoons at all local reservoirs plus Stewart Park Pond in Roseburg.  Springtime is a good time to run across snakes and lizards since they are coming out of hibernation as the temperature warms up.  Most all snakes are in Western Oregon are non-venomous with the only venomous snake being the Western Rattlesnake. Some common snakes in our area are: Sharptail, Ringneck, Common King, Gopher and Garter (4 species).  The most common lizards in our area are: Alligator Lizard (2 species), Western Fence and Western Skink.

Stewart Park Wildlife Trail – The Stewart Park ponds and nature trail system next to Fred Meyer in Roseburg is a great place to enjoy numerous wildlife species.  Ducks, geese, turtles, herons, pigeons, nutria, swallows, sparrows and swifts are some of the common wildlife seen in the area.  The nature trail has many interpretative signs to read along the way besides great viewing opportunities in this unique wildlife mitigation area.

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