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| July 27, 2012, 6:01 pm |
GOLD HILL TO ROGUE RIVER BEST STRETCH FOR SALMON, STEELHEAD Southern Oregon fishing reportFor anglers seeking salmon and steelhead, the run of choice has been the stretch of the Rogue River from Gold Hill to the city of Rogue River, according to multiple local fishing guides.“That’s been the best place recently,” Josh White of the Rogue Fly Shop said. “A lot of people have gotten (salmon) up there, and the steelhead have been going pretty good as well. It’s been very good for this time of year.”For those most interested in fall chinook,” Troy Whitaker of U-Save Gas and Tackle recommended using KwikFish with a sardine wrap or tuna bellies.“The (salmon) usually start holding up in that Gold Hill area first, and eventually it works its way down to Grants Pass,” Whitaker said. “Right now, the majority of people are going around Gold Hill.”Those fishing for steelhead have been scoring on small plugs and Pee Wee Warts, along with copper-colored spinners and copper and black Panther Martins.“People just out there having fun in rafts have done pretty well with trout and some steelhead,” Whitaker said.White said fly-anglers have been doing well in the Gold Hill to Rogue River run as well, but noted they should make sure to use large flies.“The biggest problem (for fly-anglers) has been the amount of water still out there,” White said. “I use the really big heavy stuff to make sure I get it down.”White added that using eggs or yarn could work for steelhead as well.Whitaker said he’d seen some salmon rolling in the Grants Pass area, as well as downstream in the Galice and Taylor Canyon areas, but expects the numbers to pick up more during the first few weeks of August.LOWER ROGUEWarmer water has slowed the movement of chinook up the river and should improve the bite in the estuary.Boat anglers trolling from the mouth up to Highway 101 have been doing the best. If the ocean is flat, anglers may want to troll off the mouth targeting chinook staging to come into the Rogue. Anglers will want to check regulations before heading out, as hook and size restrictions differ between the ocean and the river. The surf perch bite in the lower Rogue Bay has slowed. Most of the fishing pressure is on the south side where a sand spit has formed and provides great bank access. UPPER ROGUEAn excellent summer trout fishery in the Rogue watershed is the river above Lost Creek Reservoir, offering shade, scenery and fishing opportunities for trout.Legal-sized rainbow trout will be stocked weekly at campgrounds and public access sites along Highway 62 and Highway 230 until Labor Day. In addition, wild rainbow, cutthroat, brown and brook trout are found in the river and many of its tributaries.DIAMOND LAKEThe fish are moving to cooler water with the hotter weather. The south end of the lake should continue to provide good fishing.Anglers using worms or flashy jigs and PowerBait have been successful. Trout from 10 to 18 inches or more have been caught.Fly anglers have landed fish on trolled wooly buggers and drifting nymphs.The daily limit has remained at eight fish per angler (eight-inch minimum and only one fish longer than 20 inches). Although the lake is not closed to water contact, the Forest Service did post some cautionary signs to remind people not to swim or allow their dogs in areas where there is an obvious build up of green scum.APPLEGATE RESERVOIRApplegate Reservoir has been stocked with legal- and larger-sized rainbow trout, offering a good opportunity for anglers.Trolling has been the primary technique for trout. Trolling lures or flasher worm combinations at some depth should produce well.Fishing for smallmouth bass should be good on rubber worms. The reservoir is 78 percent full.o o oPast blogsHIKE OF THE DAY: Lemolo FallsMAN ARRESTED FOR LAYING TRAPS FOR MOUNTAIN BIKERSOPEN LETTER TO A MOUNTAIN BIKE THIEF (AND FIVE GREAT PLACES TO RIDE)FISHING REPORT: STEELHEAD, SALMON HITTING ON MIDDLE AND UPPER ROGUE RIVERMAN MISSING AFTER HE JUMPS INTO RIVER TO SAVE DOG |
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