|
04/14/2017 - Fishing Report
Winter steelhead heading to the ocean are really hungry (Fishing report)The Rogue River is currently a two-way street for winter steelhead. Some are still swimming upstream to spawn. Others are on their way back to the Pacific Ocean after doing so.Steelhead that have yet to spawn will present fattier, thicker bodies than those headed out, which in some cases can resemble snakes.Local fishing guide Troy Whitaker of U-Save Gas and Tackle prefers to catch and release the departing fish so they can get back to the ocean, regain strength and return to spawn for another year."The fish that have spawned already are going to be really hungry," Whitaker said. "They'll eat just about anything, especially nightcrawlers. It's still better to catch them when their bodies are full of fat."All of the steelhead can be caught by using plugs featuring combinations of silver, red, pink and green patterns.Trout fishing on the Rogue is currently closed off so that hatchery salmon can swim safely out to the ocean to grow before returning for their own spawning cycle. Anglers fishing for steelhead should consider using larger hooks to avoid hooking smaller fish.Spring chinook are being caught on the lower part of the river but have yet to arrive in Grants Pass.Away from the Rogue, Whitaker has received positive reports from anglers at Lost Creek Reservoir and Applegate Reservoir.Fishing between 30 and 60 feet of water is best at both locations. Applegate Reservoir is scheduled to be stocked with 10,000 trout next week. Lost Creek Reservoir is set to receive 15,000 trout.The weekend of April 22 is a designated free fishing weekend. Anglers do not need a license to fish but must obey all rules and regulations.• EXPO POND. Anglers can once again fish the pond just to the north of the arena, which is now within a RV Park developed by Jackson County. Fishing has been good, and this pond will be stocked again this week with legal-sized rainbow trout.Parking is available to the right as you drive in Gate 5. A day use fee to park here is $4. An annual parking permit can be purchased from Jackson County Parks Department for $30.Fishing for bass and other warmwater fish should improve with warmer weather.• GALESVILLE RESERVOIR. Galesville has been stocked several times with legal-size trout and with over 50 trophy-size trout in 2017.In addition to trout, the reservoir has been stocked with coho smolts and there have been reports of them being caught in good numbers on the lake.Many people mistakenly think these fish are kokanee. The coho smolts should be adipose fin-clipped, and please remember to release the ones below eight inches in length.In the reservoir, all landlocked salmon are considered trout and are part of the five-per-day trout limit, with only one trout over in length allowed for harvest.Fishing for bass and other panfish will improve with increasing temperatures.• LAKE SELMAC. Selmac will be stocked with another 5,000 legal-sized rainbow trout this week. Trout fishing has been good; however, be advised there are a lot of aquatic weeds.Anglers are already catching some largemouth bass. Fishing for bass and other warmwater species should improve as the weather warms.
|
« Back to fishing main page
| |
|
