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12/16/2016 - Fishing Report
Lots of water will make fishing tough (Fishing report)The persistent rainstorm that spanned Tuesday and Wednesday not only blew out the Rogue River for fishing until at least Sunday, it set a new Grants Pass-specific record.Between 8:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Thursday, the water discharge rate observed by the United States Geological Survey was higher than the previous date's high of 40,300 cubic feet-per-second measured in 1978.Thursday's discharge rate peaked at 43,400 cfs. The water level swelled to more than 16 feet, four feet below flood stage.The conditions may keep anglers off the water in the short-term, but prove a positive by this time next week."I know that when the water drops, we should start seeing some winter steelhead," local fishing guide Troy Whitaker said. "It'll be prime time for them. This big push of water, if anything is down below us, will push them up and get them moving through."Whitaker, of U-Save Gas and Tackle, suggested people begin to assemble their yarn balls and leaders.Darker colors such as black, reds and purples will work better than others, as fish tend to pick up darker colors more easily in dirtier water.• APPLEGATE RESERVOIR. Fishing for trout should begin to pick back up with the decreasing reservoir temperatures.Trout anglers will want to try trolling. A good bet will be a Wedding Ring and bait combination.One angler reported a flasher tipped with a worm produced good results during mid-day hours. Fishing with bait from shore in the upper reservoir should also produce results.• 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.• ILLINOIS RIVER. The Illinois River is open for trout and steelhead angling. Big winter steelhead are likely moving up the river now, and when water levels drop should be in the upper sections.
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