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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.
  
  
• Fishing is picking up on Diamond Lake and some anglers are beginning to catch their limits with most fish 12 to 14-inches long.
  
  
• Good numbers of spring chinook are in the upper Rogue. Over 1,200 hatchery fish have returned to Cole Rivers as of mid-May, and 700 of these were recycled back into the fishery last Thursday in Gold Hill.
  
  
• The Free Fishing Day event at Herbert’s Pond has been cancelled and moved to Galesville Reservoir on Sunday, June 2 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
  
  
• ODFW will host an adult fly fishing workshop at LaVerne Park on the Coquille River on Saturday, June 8. For details and to register.

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 91 percent full.

APPLEGATE RESERVOIR: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout

Trout fishing has been good at Applegate, and the reservoir is scheduled to be stocked again this week. 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 temperature was 60F on Monday.

The lake is 97 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 re-opens to trout angling on May 25. All non-adipose fin-clipped rainbow trout and all cutthroat trout must be released unharmed.

ARIZONA POND: rainbow trout

Light to no fishing pressure and a lot of trout make Arizona Pond a pretty good weekend fishing spot. 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 and fishing should be good.

CHETCO RIVER:  cutthroat trout

With the trout opener this weekend, anglers will find cutthroat scattered from the estuary to as far you want to travel. Flows are expected to come up this week, but should be perfect by the weekend.

Chetco River flows near Brookings.

Fly Fishing -Royalty Free Image-

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

Cooper Creek received over 8,000 trout ranging from 8 inches to 2 pounds. 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

Stocked trout are still biting in the area lakes. Anglers having the best success are fishing in the early morning and evenings. Bluebill Lake, Bradley Lake, Eel Lake, Powers Pond, Saunders Lake, and Tenmile Lakes were all stocked earlier this month 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.

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

Trout fishing in streams opens this Saturday, May 25. Anglers should have good success fishing with small spinners or flies for cutthroat trout. The daily limit for trout caught in streams is two per day. For streams and rivers above tidewater, anglers are restricted to using artificial flies and lures. 

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 spotty. 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.

A few shad have been caught in the South Fork Coos River last week.  The number of returning shad to the Coos Basin has been very low the past several years.  Anglers catching shad will either cast or troll shad darts. 

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.

COQUILLE RIVER BASIN: steelhead, surfperch

Trout season for streams in the Coquille River Basin opens this Saturday May 25.  Anglers should have good success catching cutthroat trout casting spinners or using flies. The daily limit for trout caught in streams is two per day. For streams and rivers above tidewater, anglers are restricted to using artificial flies and lures.

A few shad were caught last week on the Coquille River. Shad fishing is usually best on the Coquille River from the town of Coquille up to the Arago Boat Ramp. Anglers have good success catching shad by trolling or casting shad darts.

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. Most of the fish are 12 to 14-inches, but larger fish are also being caught.

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 and fishing should be good.

ELK RIVER:  cutthroat trout

Trout opener this weekend and anglers should find good fishing for cutthroat.

Check river conditions by calling 541-332-0405.

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

Anglers should have good success catching stocked rainbow trout by fishing bait from the bank or by trolling or fishing bait from boats. Many anglers fish from shore near the boat ramps in the main campground.

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 94 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 is stocked with trout. 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 has been stocked recently with legal sized rainbow trout along with 500 larger-sized rainbow trout averaging one pound each. Spring chinook are stocked annually and are considered trout in the angling regulations for the lake. Tiger trout must be released unharmed. Anglers are encouraged to report catches of larger spring chinook or tiger trout to the local ODFW district office.  

FLORAS LAKE: rainbow, cutthroat 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. 

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

Both Lake in the Woods and Hemlock are accessible and have been stocked. Fishing at Hemlock has been good with power bait or worms. A few of the trout are less than 8 inches long and need to be released. The campgrounds at these lakes are now open. For access to 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

Anglers trolling spoons and wedding ring/worm combinations had fair to good success at Howard Prairie over the weekend. Most of the trout are in the 8 to 14-inch size range.

The campgrounds, restaurant and marina are open. The water level is at 84 percent of capacity.

HUNTER CREEK:  cutthroat trout

Opens for trout upstream of the North Fork on May 25. This fishery is focused on resident cutthroat trout and makes for a good stream fishing trip. Most fish will be 6 to 10-inches with the occasional 12-inch cutthroat. Hunter Creek is closed downstream of the North Fork.

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. Some limits are being reported. Fishing PowerBait from shore or boat has tended to be the best technique, but trollers have reported success this week.

ILLINOIS RIVER: trout, steelhead

The Illinois River below Pomeroy Dam near Cave Junction re-opens to trout fishing on May 25. Mostly this is a catch-and release-fishery on wild trout.  All non-adipose fin-clipped rainbow trout and all cutthroat trout must be released unharmed.

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

Lake Selmac has been stocked with over 15,000 legal-sized rainbow trout this spring and fishing should be good. 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 largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and other warmwater species has been good. These species can now be found along the shore around docks, logs, flooded trees, and other structure. A wide variety of lures can be used to target the lakes trophy bass. Crappie jigs or bait suspended below a bobber are effective for the crappie and bluegill. Bullheads can be taken by fishing bait on the bottom.

Brown Trout -Photo by Roger Smith-

LEMOLO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, kokanee

Fishing has been good with daily limits taken. Brown trout are averaging 16 inches or more but a nice 24 inch brown was also taken recently. The rainbows are 12 to 16-plus inches depending on the stock. People are also catching 13 to 15 inch Kodanee. The boat ramps are open as East Lemolo and Poole Creek Campgrounds.

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 8,000 trout so far this spring. The lake is also warming up and providing good fishing for crappie, bluegill and bass. 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 will be stocked again this week with legal-sized rainbow trout. Fishing has been good for stocked trout as well as for larger trout remaining from last year’s releases. Good numbers of boats were trolling upstream of the Hwy 62 bridge this past weekend. Trout were rising but were being caught by anglers trolling fairly deep as well. Boats fishing other areas of the reservoir reported fair to good success on trout during the unsettled weather on Saturday.

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 94 percent of capacity, and the surface temperature is 62º F.

MEDCO POND: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill

Fishing has been good for 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, halibut

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.
Anglers are reporting good catches of surf perch along the beaches from Bandon to Coos Bay.  Sand shrimp or sand worms are always great baits to use for surf perch fishing.  Fishing is usually best on the incoming tide.

The next All-depth halibut fishing days are May 30-June 1. The Nearshore halibut season began on May 2 but is open only on Thursdays through Saturdays each week until the quota is met (23,038 lbs) or Oct. 31. 

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 has been stocked 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.
 
The springer bite has been hit or miss depending on the water temperatures and flows.  Most fish are coming early in the morning or late evening when the sun is off the water.   Anglers should keep an eye on river flows and air temperatures and try to fish when cooler weather causes a drop in water temperatures.  It does not take much of a temperature drop to get spring Chinook biting.  The spring chinook fishing will continue thru June.

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

Good numbers of spring chinook are continuing to move through the area, and are providing some opportunities for anglers. As of Monday morning, the flow at Grants Pass was 2470 cfs, and the water temperature was 59oF. Expected reservoir releases will decrease flow by about 300 cfs this week pending rainfall totals. 

On May 25, the Rogue River re-opens to trout fishing, which can be very good in spring and summer. All non-adipose fin-clipped rainbow trout and all cutthroat trout must be released unharmed.

Rogue River, upper: steelhead, trout

Fishing for spring chinook slowed this past weekend in the upper river near Cole Rivers Hatchery with the onset of cooler weather. As of Monday morning, the flow at Gold Ray was 2490 cfs and the water temperature averaged 57oF. The flow released from Lost Creek Reservoir was 2,300 cfs and the water temperature was 51oF.  Expected reservoir releases will decrease flow by about 300 cfs this week pending rainfall totals.

As of May 14, 4 summer steelhead, and 1,204 spring chinook had entered Cole Rivers Hatchery. Approximately 700 spring chinook were recycled back in to the fishery at Gold Hill last Thursday May 16. Anglers are encouraged to contact the local district office to report catches of these hatchery fish marked with a tag near the dorsal fin.
The Rogue River re-opens to trout angling on May 25, and can be very good on the Rogue in spring and summer. All non-adipose finclipped rainbow trout and all cutthroat trout must be released unharmed.

Rogue River, above Lost Creek Reservoir: trout

The Rogue River and its tributaries above Lost Creek Reservoir opened to fishing on Jan. 1, 2013 and will remain open all year. The first release of hatchery trout will take place this week. Legal-sized rainbow trout will be stocked weekly at campgrounds and public access sites along Hwy 62 and Hwy 230 between Memorial Day and Labor Day. In addition, wild rainbow, cutthroat, brown and brook trout are found in the river and many of its tributaries. Anglers should be aware that low snow levels predicted for this week may affect access. 

SIXES RIVER:

Opens May 25 for trout. Some of the best access is at Cape Blanco State Park, Hwy 101, and Edson Creek. 

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 was stocked this week with legal-sized rainbow trout. The pond received some additional trout that could not be stocked in Lake Selmac due to high water temperatures. Fishing should be good.  Anglers should be aware of low snow levels predicted for this week.

TENMILE BASIN: trout, largemouth bass

Trout fishing in the streams of the Tenmile Basin opens this Saturday, May 25. The lakes within the Tenmile Basin are open for trout fishing all year.

Anglers trolling with wedding rings tipped with nightcrawlers are picking up trout up to 20-inches long. Trout can be found in shallower water right away in the mornings but will move into deeper water as the days goes on.

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.

A few anglers are catching a few large yellow perch. Anglers looking for yellow perch should concentrate their fishing effort around weed edges or drop offs.  The best bait are jigs and/or nightcrawlers fished on or near the bottom.

TOKETEE LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout

UMPQUA HIGH LAKES AND FOREBAYS: trout

Clearwater Forebay #2 has been stocked with over 2,000 trout so far this spring. 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. Contact the Forest Service at 541-957-3200 for road conditions.

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

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  but anglers are targeting striped bass in the tide waters.

Some spring chinook are still available, but with the low, warm water conditions, most are moving toward the North Umpqua. The warmer temperatures are making the smallmouth bass more active and available to anglers. The daily limit on smallmouth was increased to 15 per day.

Shad have arrived and anglers are fishing for them from Sawyers Rapids to Umpqua Boat Ramp. 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 April over 12,000 winter steelhead had crossed Winchester Dam and now the summer steelhead are arriving. Anglers are beginning to fish 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 and are starting to pass Winchester Dam. Fishing pressure is starting to increase 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.

The trout season opens May 25. Check the regulations for harvest and gear restrictions by location.
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

The South Umpqua and tributaries open for trout on May 25. See the regulations for harvest and gear restrictions by location. Smallmouth bass fishing is also open during the trout season. The daily bag limit is 15 bass per day. The new boat ramp near Winston should provide access to some good bass water. 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

In additional to legal-sized rainbow trout, Willow Lake will be stocked this week with over 1,500 larger trout averaging one pound each, making Willow a hot spot for angling this weekend. 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: chinook, surfperch

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:  cutthroat trout

Opens May 25 for trout.

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  HUNTING

OPEN: COUGAR, COYOTE, SPRING BEAR, SPRING TURKEY

Spring turkey hunting forecast

Spring bear hunting forecast

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 - Royalty Free Image-

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 – Ends on May 31st.   

Turkey – Ends on May 31st.

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

Young Oregon Hunters Day (YOH)
Oregon Hunters Association will be holding YOH day June 8, from 10 am to 2 pm at Denman Wildlife Area Central Point. Many outdoor events will be available for kids ages 5-16. Parental consent and chaperone is required. Free drawing to all kids but must be present to win. Outdoor events include: archery, laser shoot, fishing, shot gun shoot, tomahawk throw, pelt identification, and many other events along with food and beverages.

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

Marine Mammals

Seal and Sea Lion abundance in coastal waters around Coos County is high this time of year, especially 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.  

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

Shore bird viewing is very good right now. Large flocks of Western sandpipers, least sandpipers and a myriad of other species are available for viewing along most beaches or mudflats in local bays. 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 bullhead catfish 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 are parading their new goslings on Denman Wildlife area ponds additional new hatches may be seen in the next few weeks. Remember to keep your dog under control and not disturb any nests or birds. 

Weekend and weekday spring hikes by the BLM and Nature Conservancy have guided hikes through mid-May and a few into June on Upper and Lower Table Rocks.  Contact BLM web site or Nature Conservancy’s web site reservation are required.  Table Rock provides great viewing of wildlife and wild flowers, with guides providing additional information about the area and its scenery.

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.

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

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.

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.

Deer

Fawns will soon be seen in our area. Keep in mind that fawns seen alone are not abandoned. Please do not pick them up or move them, because their mothers are probably foraging nearby. Contact the local ODFW office or reference the ODFW website if you have fawn questions.

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