Chinook fishing slow in some rivers, Crabbing still good
Chinook fishing in the Coos River has slowed this past week. But with a forecast of rain and larger tide exchanges, we should see more salmon coming into the river. The wild coho season on the Coos has closed but you may still retain fin-clipped coho.
Chinook fishing in the lower Coquille River has also slowed, but the wild coho season has remained strong with good numbers of fish being caught in the lower river and bay. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates we have taken about 45 percent of our 1,500 wild coho quota. Some fishermen have remarked that wild coho are larger the later we get into the season. The Coquille is also producing some 30-plus pound Chinook, and we still have plenty of jacks in both river systems to keep the fishermen excited.
Salmon fishing on the lower Rogue River in Gold Beach still is producing some Chinook, and there are plenty of fin-clipped coho being caught in the bay.
Summer steelhead fishing near Agness has slowed with reports of fish scattered throughout the lower river.
The Umpqua River still is kicking out nice Chinook, but the river is full of coho with the majority being wild that must be released. I had an interesting report that late season smallmouth bass fishing has improved in the lower river. Bass size is much larger, but you won’t experience the 100-catches-per-day fishing that we get in the summertime.
Trout fishing should dramatically pick up this week as ODFW will be releasing the final stocking of their trophy-sized trout in Bradley, Empire, Powers and Saunders lakes.
Crabbing in Charleston and Winchester Bay still is producing good catches. On my annual crabbing trip with the residents of Heritage Place in Bandon, we experienced how much the crabbing has slowed in the Coquille. Thanks to Captain Wayne Butler of Prowler Charters who donated the use of his boat, and Mark Fleck of Englund Marine who brought the bait, we were able to take some residents for a trip they look forward to every year. Sue Fleck, Heritage Place activities director, along with her late husband, Jim, started this trip years ago using Jim’s and other local fishermen’s boats. After Jim passed away, Sue asked her son Mark, myself and other fishermen if they would help to carry on this tradition. Last year I brainstormed and asked Wayne if we could use the “Mis-Chief” so we could have all residents on one boat. He gladly donated, and the residents thoroughly enjoyed the trip. We were able to catch just enough crab for them to enjoy a nice lunch. Thanks to Tony at the Port O’ Call for cooking the crabs for us.
For the start of hunting season, I received a good tip from local taxidermist Ron Russell. On page 90 of the ODFW 2009 Oregon Big Game Regulations manual, you will find a Wildlife Transfer Record Form. Use this form if you have any other person transport a portion of your game in their vehicle. It is legal to have others transport meat to a locker or processing plant, or to give somebody a portion of your take, but they must have this form in their possession. The transfer form may be duplicated and used many times, and works for all big game animals plus water fowl and upland game.
For those of you planning an out-of-state hunt, Ron also said to check out the Hunter’s Warning on page 14. If you’re hunting deer, elk or moose in the states listed on this page, you may not bring any portion of the spine or brain into Oregon. ODFW is trying to reduce the risk of transmitting chronic wasting disease into our state.
Archery elk hunters said they are seeing more nice bucks in our black-tailed deer herd. With a little more rain we should have a good start to our season.
Good luck fishing and hunting.
Listen to the Oregon Outdoors Radio Show Thursdays from 3-5 p.m. on KWRO 630 AM and rebroadcast on Friday mornings from 7-9 a.m. on ESPN 1230 AM. Oregon Outdoors can now be heard on KDUN 1030 AM from Eugene to Port Orford on Friday evenings from 3-5 p.m. and on Saturday mornings from 6-8 a.m.
