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Follow Grants Pass Daily Courier writer Zach Urness to the most beautiful outdoor destinations in Southern Oregon
and Northern California. This site includes videos, stories and photos, along with everything you need to know about hiking,
camping, rafting and fishing in our magnificent section of the West Coast.
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| Metaphysical ramblings: Zach's blog |
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I'll blog nearly every day on issues related to the outdoors and my other interests. Feel free to comment on anything you see on my site or ask me a question below. |
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February 3, 2012, 6:37 pm
WINTER STEELHEAD FISHING SET TO CATCH FIRE Southern Oregon fishing reportFor the first time in a few weeks, anglers are champing at the bit to get on the local rivers.Bait anglers, fly anglers, pretty much everyone is looking forward to a weekend expected to offer nice weather, good flows and a strong winter steelhead bite.Both the middle section of the Rogue River and the lower Applegate River should feature good, if early season, steelhead fishing.“I think it’s going to be a great weekend,” Troy Whitaker of U-Save Gas and Tackle said. “From Grave Creek to Gold Hill, there’s going to be fish. It’s just a matter of guys picking out their favorite run and hitting it hard.”Although the fishing conditions should be workable for both bait and fly anglers, the conditions will favor bait anglers.The flow will probably stay slightly above 3,000 cfs in Grants Pass, meaning the river will still be a little high and dirty.Whitaker said there were any number of lures that could work this weekend, but spotlighted darker colored plugs as perhaps the best option. Lindy's River Rocker, Whitaker said, could work particularly well.He added that KwikFish K-11s were a good option, along with side-drifted eggs and yarnballs dipped in Pautzke’s Nectar.Whitaker said that recently he’s noticed the steelhead holding in the deeper river slots, but added that once an angler finds one fish, there are likely to be others nearby.For fly-anglers, Josh White of the Rogue Fly Shop said because the river will likely be a little high and dirty, he would use brightly-colored eggs and glow bugs.As of Feb. 1, anglers can keep one wild steelhead per day, five per year, of at least 24 inches or larger on the Rogue River. Hatchery steelhead can be harvested year-round.APPLEGATE RIVERThe Applegate is gradually dropping its river level into shape, and anglers might consider focusing some attention on the lower section by this weekend.White said the best flows occur when the river is running below 1,000 cfs at Wilderville, with 600 to 800 cfs being best. The Applegate is open for retention of adipose fin-clipped (hatchery) steelhead as of Jan. 1. Retention of non adipose fin-clipped (wild) steelhead is not allowed and fish must be released unharmed.LOWER ROGUEBank anglers are continuing to pick up steelhead at a pretty good rate. The water color is perfect for plunking, but as water clears, boat anglers should starting picking up fish. Anglers will want to check flows before heading out and try to fish when the water is dropping. CHETCO RIVERThere are lots of steelhead spread throughout the river. Anglers are starting to pick up some spawned-out steelhead.ELK RIVERSteelhead fishing is picking up with the peak of the run still a couple of weeks away. Most anglers drift from Elk River Hatchery to Ironhead boat ramp. Check river conditions by calling 541-332-0405.o o oPast blogsPOLL SHOWS WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR ROGUE RIVER WILDERNESS EXPANSIONWINTER STEELHEAD FISHING PREVIEW FOR ROGUE VALLEY’YOU KNOW ITS BEEN A ROUGH MONTH OF FISHING WHEN YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS MOCKING YOU’IS IT MORAL TO SAVE EXOTIC, ENDANGERED ANIMALS BY HUNTING THEM?GLENDALE SPILLS RAW SEWAGE INTO COW CREEK FOR FOURTH TIME IN THREE YEARSOBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO UNVEIL NEW RULES FOR NATIONAL FORESTS
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| Comments (Talk back to Zach) |
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Zach 1/12/2012 9:43:39 am
Jim, I think I just posted the link on your Facebook page ... but if not, just go into the "stories" area and copy and paste the link. Or just shooting me an email at: zurness@thedailycourier.com. [ Report abuse ]
Jim Sager 1/12/2012 7:45:26 am
Zach how can i share the link to this story? [ Report abuse ]
Zach 1/11/2012 10:57:03 am
Jon -- No kidding, that's awesome Jon. [ Report abuse ]
Jon 1/11/2012 10:12:49 am
HEY, I am planning to kayak that same trip during spring break! 157mi in 6days. [ Report abuse ]
Zach 12/23/2011 11:58:24 am
Thanks Kurt -- Is that the cool garden? I recall having heard a decent amount about it ... [ Report abuse ]
Kurt 12/23/2011 10:57:55 am
Zach.. When at Sunset Bay be sure to travel down the coast just a bit to Shore Acres & take in the lights. Worth a trip in itself, even if it's raining! [ Report abuse ]
Zach 12/9/2011 11:34:04 am
By the way, story on ducking hunting Klamath Lake is coming on Tuesday ... [ Report abuse ]
Zach 12/9/2011 11:31:10 am
Jon -- Man ... see I need to get the heck out there are start working on my game. Problem is, working on a story on mountain biking the Taylor Creek area for a week from Tuesday, so might need to hit the trail again this Saturday. There isn't enough water, I don't think, in the good runs of the Smith yet but I'm sure there will be soon. Yeah I need to get on the water ... so many things to do so little time! [ Report abuse ]
Jon 12/8/2011 10:15:55 pm
Heading out to run nugget and powerhouse this weekend. It will be cold. When are you gonna run the smith?? [ Report abuse ]
Zach 12/5/2011 8:34:46 am
And from what I've heard they're still pretty bright for the most part. [ Report abuse ]
Zach 12/5/2011 8:34:09 am
Chad -- Still summers. [ Report abuse ]
Chad Merrill 12/5/2011 1:47:45 am
Hey Zack I just moved to Grants Pass and I was wondering are the Steelhead being caught summers or winters? ODFW page says the winter run won't start until January. [ Report abuse ]
Dargoalcola 12/2/2011 10:18:06 pm
iiyama prolite e2407hds http://www.thrythix.com [ Report abuse ]
Zach 11/29/2011 9:46:40 am
Sure Jon. I found him on Facebook, of all places, and I'll email you his email address. By the way, you excited about all the rivers to run this winter? You gotta make sure to hit the forks of the Smith! They're the best. [ Report abuse ]
Jon 11/28/2011 8:40:11 pm
Do you have a way to contact Darin which you could send to me? [ Report abuse ]
Otto 11/26/2011 5:51:08 pm
Thanks a lot, your photos are much better than the 10 year old scans I have. [ Report abuse ]
Zach 11/26/2011 4:17:15 pm
No problem, Otto. Go right ahead. You guys run a great site, by the way. I've used summitpost a number of times during climbs. Happy Trails! [ Report abuse ]
Otto 11/26/2011 3:52:00 pm
Hi Zach I've been enjoying your blog. I have a question for you. I maintain a Summitpost page for the Siskiyou Wilderness http://www.summitpost.org/siskiyou-wilderness/567158 which I'm currently expanding. One thing I'm adding is a section on lakes. Would you mind if I displayed a couple of your photos in this section? I would of course credit you as author and you would retain all copyright, I would only be displaying them. For Island Lake and Bear Lakes I only have old non-digial photo scans that do not do justice to such a beautiful area. [ Report abuse ]
Kurt 11/20/2011 9:35:48 am
Death penalty for cell phone yakkers? Too lenient. [ Report abuse ]
ryan m 11/16/2011 5:51:06 pm
would it be possible to get email a copy from your sports dept or photocopy by mail from your copy editor greg hanberg of the swc and skyline fall sports allstar teams /thank you for help in finding info mr urness [ Report abuse ]