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11/25/2016 - Fishing Report
Free fishing days may be hampered by murky water (Fishing report)First, the good news: Today and Saturday are free fishing days around the state. Anglers do not need a fishing license or tag to try their luck, but must abide by all laws, regulations, catch limits and other restrictions."Basically, they have to read the synopsis and figure out what the rules are for where they want to go," local fishing guide Troy Whitaker said. "You're allowed two hatchery steelhead or coho salmon. If you go to a lake, you're allowed five trout."Now, the bad news: Incoming weather systems have the potential to blow out stretches of the Rogue River in and around Grants Pass, as well as other local bodies of water."Blow out" in this case refers to the waters having risen and been churned to the point of low visibility."If we don't get that rain for whatever reason, you can fish anywhere from Valley of the Rogue down," Whitaker said. "You'll find fish, if that rain doesn't come in."Whitaker, of U-Save Gas and Tackle, recommends using brightly colored spoons or spinners dropped in back eddies to lure the coho.Side-drifting nightcrawlers or small pieces of roe with puff balls from a boat will work for both kinds of river fish.Only hatchery fish are legal to take home; no wild fish can be taken from the Rogue until Jan. 1.Fish from hatcheries are distinguished by their clipped adipose fin, between the dorsal fin and tail. Steelhead anglers may begin seeing winter steelhead on the Illinois River soon, as they typically show up by Dec. 1 in the upper river.• APPLEGATE RESERVOIR. Fishing for trout should start picking back up with the decreasing reservoir temperatures. Trout anglers will want to try trolling, and a good bet will be a Wedding Ring and bait combination.One angler reported a flasher tipped with a worm produced good results during midday hours. Fishing with bait from the shore in the upper reservoir should also do well.The lake is 10 percent full. French Gulch is the only boat ramp that is currently useable.• APPLEGATE RIVER. The Applegate River is open for trout angling but closed to chinook and steelhead angling.Wild trout must be released unharmed. Rainbow trout over 16 inches are considered steelhead and must be released through Dec. 31.• LAKE SELMAC. Trout fishing should be improving with decreasing water temperatures however there is a lot of aquatic weeds. The lake was stocked with 600 pounders this fall and fishing should be good.• LOST CREEK RESERVOIR. Lost Creek reservoir was recently stocked with legal and trophy-sized fish, and fishing should be good.One angler caught seven trout in about six hours fishing with a green Wedding Ring and a worm behind an oval egg sinker and dodger.Surface water temperatures have dropped to 53 degrees and the fall months are shaping up to continue the good trout fishing here.Bank anglers are catching fish near the Takelma ramp and near the marina and spillway using PowerBait or threading a nightcrawler below a bobber.• REINHART POND. Reinhardt was stocked recently and fishing should be good for trout.• ROGUE RIVER, above Lost Creek Reservoir. This area offers good trout fishing, easy access, beautiful scenery, numerous Forest Service campgrounds, and cooler temperatures making this a great destination throughout the week and weekends.Spinners tipped with nightcrawler, or fished by themselves work great up here. It is also a good place for the novice fly angler to try their luck at nymph fishing under an indicator.
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