Southwest Oregon Fishing Reports
From ODF&W
Bottomfishing is now open to fish at all depths. Fishing for lingcod has been good when anglers can get out on the ocean. The daily bag limit for marine fish is 5 of which only one can be a copper, quillback or China rockfish. Anglers are also allowed 2 lingcod per day. The harvest of cabezon will not open until July 1.
To help protect you and others during the COVID-19 pandemic, take the following precautions when fishing: follow social distancing guidelines when bank fishing, only fish from a boat with other members of your household, carry your own hand sanitizer or soap/water, and if a place is crowded, go somewhere else.
ODFW has taken down the online trout stocking schedule in order to prevent public crowding at waterbodies when we deliver hatchery fish. They will continue stocking trout but we will deliver on a slightly different schedule and at some different locations to avoid a rush of anglers showing up along with the hatchery truck.
Angling pressure has been light on the Chetco. In lower clear water conditions like we’ve had recently, anglers will likely have better luck if they switch to lighter tackle. In varying water conditions, fly-fishing, tossing spinners, running plugs, bobber, and jig, and drifting/bouncing eggs are all tried and true options.
ODFW has been conducting some spawning surveys/redd counts this year to monitor steelhead during these low flow periods. Surveys have indicated this has been a really good year for steelhead spawning on the south coast. In addition, anglers have noticed quite few down-running spawned-out steelhead in their catch.
Steelhead anglers continue to catch bright steelhead on the South Fork Coquille River. The river level is still very low but steelhead are being caught in the deeper pools. Anglers having success are using lighter lines and small baits/lures.
Anglers fishing in the upper portions of tidewater of the Coquille River are catching striped bass. Most of the fish are 20 – 26 inches long.
Anglers have been catching lingcod, rockfish, and greenling while fishing along the jetty and submerged rock structures in Coos Bay. The daily bag limit for marine fish is 5 of which only one can be a copper, quillback or China rockfish. Anglers are also allowed 2 lingcod per day. The harvest of cabezon will not open until July 1.
Low water conditions have kept angling pressure pretty low on the lower Rogue. Winter steelhead are distributing in the lower Rogue. Anglers have had luck using many techniques. Currently the most common are plunking and side-drifting with eggs.
Bank anglers will want to look for fish on inside of bends in the river and slots along willow banks.
With current low water conditions, folks might also want to consider using lighter tackle like spinners, spoons and bobber dogging.
The only boating access in the upper Rogue at this time is the ramp at Cole Rivers Hatchery, the Denman Wildlife Area’s Modoc Access Point (near the Upper Table Rock trailhead), and Fishers Ferry. The Modoc access point requires a day use or seasonal pass to wildlife areas and a key. Only patrons that already have a key from ODFW should access this spot. ODFW Denman Office is currently closed to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anglers have been catching striped bass in the upper portions of tidewater of the Coquille River. Most of the fish are 20 – 26 inches long.
Fishing for recently stocked and holdover trout has been good in several area lakes and reservoirs including Ben Irving Reservoir, Cooper Creek Reservoir, Empire Lakes, Galesville Reservoir, Garrison Lake and Loon Lake.
Jackson County Parks and ramps are closed, Josephine County Parks day use and boat ramps are open. Learn more about the specific water bodies below.
Lost Creek Lake is a great location to bank fish as trails are open and there is ample bank access.
Bank anglers willing to do a little walking on the Elk River have been very successful catching steelhead.