Sept. 11, 2024
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Best bets for weekend fishing
- Good numbers of fall Chinook are present in the middle Rogue from Galice up to Gold Hill.
- On the Coos River, salmon anglers are catching Chinook from the jetties all the way up to Chandler Bridge.
- Anglers have been picking up Chinook trolling both the Chetco and Rogue bays.
- Coho also are being caught in the Rogue bay.
- With cooler temperatures, look for trout fishing to pick up in lakes and reservoirs that were stocked earlier this year.
- The Rogue Pikeminnnow Roundup is in progress Sept. 1-21, with a focus on the middle Rogue River around Grants Pass. Anglers are always encouraged to harvest and remove introduced pikeminnow from the Rogue River to reduce competition and predation on native Rogue fish. During the Roundup it's possible to win prizes in three different participant categories--youth (under 12), teen (12-17), adult (18+). For contest details search ODFW Rogue Pikeminnow Roundup.
- Bass fishing has been great in the South Umpqua.
Trout stocking
Stocked the week of Sept. 9:
No stocking scheduled for this week.
Check out the 2024 trout stocking schedule.
Trout stocking maps
Check out the ODFW fishing and trout stocking maps to find nearby fishing locations, driving directions and descriptions of amenities.
Announcements
Don't spread the problem, clean your boats and gear
A summer continues, weeds are becoming a problem in many area waterbodies. After a day of fun on the water, be sure to clean your boat and gear of weeds and other debris. Some of these weeds may be unwelcome invasives, and harbor other destructive hitchhikers such as New Zealand mud snails and zebra mussels.
Sign up for the latest information on boater access
Marine Board's Opportunities and Access Report incorporates information from federal and state agencies, local facility operators and fellow boaters to provide up-to-date information so boaters can decide where to recreate and what to expect this season. Subscribe to receive email updates.
Updates by waterbody
AGATE LAKE: bass, carp, crappie, yellow perch, brown bullhead
Agate Lake is 25 percent full, and the boat ramp remains usable. Numerous large carp have been caught in the last week or so at Agate, with corn being the most common bait.
Carp are an introduced fish that can harm water quality/clarity and productivity of waterbodies, so anglers are encouraged to harvest and remove any carp caught in the reservoir. Last updated 9/11/24.
APPLEGATE RESERVOIR: trout, landlocked spring chinook, largemouth bass, small mouth bass, black crappie, bluegill,
Applegate's reservoir level is currently at 1924 feet or 34 percent full. Check up-to-date reservoir levels here, or call the Army Corps of Engineers at 800-472-2434 for flow and temperature information. The Copper boat ramp remains usable.
Fishing should be good for bass and panfish and decent for trout. Trout anglers may want to try trolling at deeper levels with lures or bait fished behind dodgers/flashers and weights. Plunking with PowerBait should also be effective.
There is a longstanding health advisory for consumption of resident species due to elevated levels of mercury. See Oregon Health Authority consumption guidelines or the 2022 sportfishing regulations for more information. Last updated 9/11/24.
APPLEGATE RIVER below Applegate Dam:
The Applegate River is open for trout fishing. This is mainly a catch-and-release fishery for cutthroat. Anglers will find them hanging out in the deep pools spread throughout the river but they're more numerous upstream of the town of Applegate where the water is colder. Only adipose fin clipped rainbow trout may be retained. All wild rainbow and cutthroat trout must be released unharmed. Consult the fishing regulations for more information. Last updated 7/3/24.
BEN IRVING RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, bass, bluegill, yellow perch, crappie
No recent reports from anglers. But with cooler weather in the forecast anglers should be able to catch a few rainbow trout holdovers. Bass fishing will continue to be good in areas with some cover. Last update 9/11/24.
CHETCO RIVER: cutthroat trout, Chinook
Anglers trolling the bay have been picking a few early Chinook. The ocean is closed to salmon, so anglers will want to mindful of not trolling into the ocean from the bay. Starting Sept. 1, the wild Chinook bag limit is 1 adult per day and 5 for the period. Anglers should always check for updated regulations prior to fishing. Last updated 9/11/24.
COOPER CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, bass, bluegill, and coho smolts
Trout angling is slow. Your best area for catching some trout would be early mornings around the two aerators. Bass fishing should still be good. Early morning fishing should be more successful. Boat anglers are having the most success. Last updated 9/4/24.
COOS RIVER BASIN: bottomfish, cutthroat trout, salmon, surfperch
Anglers can catch rockfish around the jetties in the lower Coos Bay estuary. Best fishing is typically near slack tides with good fishing one day and fair fishing the next. A jig fished with a twister tail trailer is always a good option to catch bottomfish.
The 2024 daily general marine fish bag limit is 5 fish plus 2 lingcod with no retention of yelloweye or quillback rockfish. Anglers are allowed to harvest 1 cabezon per day as part of the general marine fish bag limit.
Salmon anglers are restricted to 2 wild adult Chinook per day and 10 for the season (July 1 – Dec. 31) in the Coos Basin. Salmon anglers are catching Chinook from the jetties all the way up to Chandler Bridge on the Coos River. Chinook fishing has been best around the slack tides below the California Street boat ramp and in Marshfield Channel/SOMAR sections of the Coos River.
There are a few coho salmon in the lower Coos estuary just in time for the wild coho season which begins on Sept. 14 and goes through Oct. 10. Anglers are allowed 1 wild adult coho per day and 3 for the season (no more than 5 wild adult coho may be harvested per year in the Northwest and Southwest Zones with open wild coho salmon fisheries).
Boat anglers are catching walleye surfperch and pile surfperch using sand shrimp along old pilings or along the edges of eel grass beds.
Trout fishing is open in rivers and streams through Oct. 31. River temperatures are starting to drop and trout fishing will start to pick back up again, especially for sea-run cutthroat trout moving upstream into the larger rivers. Last updated 9/11/24.
COQUILLE RIVER BASIN: striped bass, smallmouth bass, cutthroat trout
The wild coho season on the Coquille River from the mouth upstream to the Highway 42S Bridge begins on Sept. 14 and goes through Oct. 15. Anglers are allowed 1 wild adult coho per day and 3 for the season (no more than 5 wild adult coho may be harvested per year in the Northwest and Southwest Zones with open wild coho salmon fisheries). The harvest of Chinook salmon (hatchery or wild) on the Coquille is prohibited.
Striped bass anglers are having limited success fishing the lower mainstem Coquille River. Best fishing has been after dark and low light periods of the day.
Smallmouth bass are still active in the mainstem Coquille River, South Fork Coquille and Middle Fork Coquille. Smallmouth bass can be found throughout the mainstem Coquille but are in higher abundance above Johnson Mill Pond.
There are lots of smallmouth bass in the South Fork Coquille in the deep pools. Most of the fish are under 8 inches long so anglers should use smaller hooks.
The use of spears/spear fishing to harvest smallmouth bass was recently approved and is allowed from June 1 – Oct. 31. Anglers may also use bait in the mainstem Coquille and tributaries from June 1 – Oct. 31.
Trout fishing remains open through Oct. 31 in the rivers and streams. There are a decent number of sea-run cutthroat moving through the mainstem Coquille into the major forks of the river. Last updated 9/4/24.
DIAMOND LAKE: trout
Anglers are doing well for rainbow trout. Lure and fly fishing for brown trout also has been good (catch-and-release only) with some anglers catching fish in the 24-inch range.
Diamond Lake has been stocked with tiger and brown trout. The South end of the lake is the best area to catch them. These fish are intended to assist in controlling illegally introduced tui chub. These trout are catch-and-release only and need to be released immediately and unharmed if caught. Last updated 9/11/24.
EMIGRANT RESERVOIR: largemouth and smallmouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, catfish, rainbow trout
Emigrant is 10 percent full. The main boat ramp is no longer usable. Even without a usable ramp, anglers can enjoy fishing from inflatables or other small watercraft, or fishing from shore.
Catches in recent days include largemouth bass on a wacky worm, smallmouth bass on a Vibrax bullet fly, black crappie on a crappie jig, as well as yellow perch and a good-sized rainbow trout. Fishing for bass and panfish should remain very good at Emigrant until cold weather starts.
There is a longstanding health advisory for consumption of resident warmwater species in Emigrant for high levels of mercury. Consult the sportfishing regulations or the Oregon Health Authority for more information on consumption guidelines.
The most current elevations for Emigrant Reservoir and other Rogue Basin reservoirs can be found on the Bureau of Reclamation's website, here. Last updated 9/11/24.
EXPO POND: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie
Expo Pond is the pond at the Jackson County Fairgrounds located directly adjacent to the access road at Gate 5, at the Southern Oregon RV Park.
Expo and nearby ponds are producing good catches of bass and panfish. Unfortunately catches of large carp are also being reported, mostly taken on corn. Carp are an introduced fish that can harm water quality/clarity and productivity of waterbodies, so anglers are encouraged to harvest and remove any carp from Expo Pond.
Some summertime catches of rainbow trout have been reported this year. Expo is stocked with trout early in the year before hot weather begins. The pond could be worth a try for trout for anglers looking for a quick trip
Please remember to park in the day-use parking area and walk into the RV park to access the pond. Do not park your vehicle within the RV park. A Jackson County parks day-use or season-long parking pass is required.
There are Chinese mystery snails in the most northern pond. They are highly invasive and were illegally dumped here. Please do not move these creatures and drain and dry any personal watercraft before using them in another waterbody. Last updated 9/4/24.
FISH LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout, spring Chinook
Fish Lake is 44 percent full. Fishing should be good for stocked rainbow trout Trolling is worth a try, but aquatic weeds may make trolling very difficult now. Stillfishing with PowerBait or worms should be good, or casting flies.
Anglers are encouraged to report catches of tiger trout or any other fish stories to Rogue Fish District Staff 541-826-8774. Boat anglers are asked to do their part to remove as much vegetation as possible before leaving the ramp, as well as drain and dry their vessel before boating in another waterbody. Last updated 9/11/24.
GALESVILLE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, bass
No recent reports from anglers, but warmwater fishing should be good. The reservoir should be mostly full. Targeting fish towards the head of the reservoir may produce some good results. For trout, try fishing in the deeper water for suspended fish. Last updated 8/21/24.
HEMLOCK LAKE & LAKE IN THE WOODS (Douglas County): trout
Anglers should check with the US Forest Service for fire closures in the area as conditions can change daily. No recent reports from anglers. Fishing should be good for rainbow trout with lots of large trout stocked this year. Last updated 9/4/24.
HOWARD PRAIRIE: trout
Howard Prairie is 42 percent full. The reservoir level is a bit higher than it was at this point last year, and the boat ramp at the marina is open.
An angler did very well on trout casting a rooster tail near the dam in the last week. Trolling a wedding ring spiked with a worm or PowerWorm behind a small egg sinker should be productive, along with still fishing with PowerBait. Last updated 9/4/24.
HYATT LAKE: trout, largemouth bass
Hyatt is currently 38 percent full. Hyatt is a bit lower than it was at this point last year. Trout anglers should do well fishing with PowerPait or worms near the dam for the next couple of months.
Please handle fish carefully. ODFW has received reports of anglers at Hyatt wasting smaller trout due to poor handling at release. This is even more important during hot weather. Remember that smaller trout now will become the big holdover trout next year. Last updated 9/11/24.
ILLINOIS RIVER:
The Illinois River reopened May 22 for trout fishing. Only adipose fin clipped rainbow trout may be retained. All wild rainbow and cutthroat trout must be released unharmed. Consult the fishing regulations for more information and locations open to fishing as the East Fork and West Fork Illinois are CLOSED to angling. Last updated 5/22/24.
LAKE MARIE: rainbow trout, yellow perch
Lake Marie can be a good option to escape the valley heat. The lake should still be fairly cool and anglers should still be able to catch some perch. Last updated 8/21/24.
LAKE SELMAC (Selmac Lake): trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie
Fishing should be good for bass and panfish.
Lake Selmac has its share of non-native aquatic hitchhikers. Boat anglers are asked to do their part to remove as much vegetation as possible before leaving the ramp, as well as drain and dry their vessel before boating in another waterbody.
Please help stop the spread of Oregon's aquatic hitchhikers! Last updated 9/4/24.
LEMOLO RESERVOIR: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee
Anglers should check with the US Forest Service for fire closures in the area before going out. Anglers can also contact Lemolo Lake Resort at 541-643-0750 for weather/road conditions and additional information. Trout fishing should still be decent, but air quality may be poor. Fishing may be good near the banks as fish look to feed near the cold-water inlets in the upper sections.
Kokanee in Lemolo are considered trout and therefore fall under the daily limit for trout of five per day with only one of those measuring over 20-inches. Last updated 9/11/24.
LOST CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, landlocked spring chinook, bass
Lost Creek's current elevation is about 1,816 feet or 47 percent full and dropping. The Takelma and Stewart boat ramps are available for access by trailered boats. Crowds will drop since Labor Day has passed, allowing anglers to enjoy the very good fall-winter trout fishery provided at Lost Creek.
Trollers have had good success at Lost Creek on holdover and stocked trout using a variety of gear: Apex lures, Brad's cut plug lures with scent, red hoochies, and wedding rings. Trout have been caught at the surface and down to about 50 feet with a downrigger. The lures are often fish behind dodgers, and can be spiked with corn, worms or power worms.
Bank fishing on both sides of the dam can be very effective using PowerBait. Stocked spring Chinook are also available but they will be deep and mostly found around Peyton Bridge.
Bass fishing has been good at Lost Creek. Bass have been caught on ned rigs, wacky rigs, and a Texas rigged Senko.
Anglers can get the latest reservoir details by calling the US Army Corps Lost Creek Lake and Applegate Reservoir projects information line at 1-800-472-2434. Last updated 9/11/24.
PACIFIC OCEAN AND BEACHES: bottomfish, surfperch, salmon
Fishing for bottom fish is open to all-depths year-round. The 2024 daily general marine fish bag limit is 5 fish with no retention of quillback or yelloweye rockfish. As of July 1, anglers are allowed to harvest 1 cabezon per day as part of the general marine fish bag limit. Anglers are reporting good catches of rockfish and lingcod near Charleston and Bandon when the ocean swells are small.
Anglers may choose to fish the offshore longleader fishery outside of the 40-fathom regulatory line, which is open year-round. The longleader fishery daily bag limit is 12 fish made of only yellowtail, widow, canary, blue, deacon, redstripe, greenstripe, silvergray, chillipepper, and bocaccio rockfishes. No other rockfish or lingcod are allowed on an offshore longleader fishing trip. Find information about longleader setup and rules here.
Ocean salmon fishing is open from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. for Chinook salmon through October 31. The non-mark-selective coho season is open from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt from September 1 through September 31 or attaining the quota. As of Sept 8, there is 41.5 percent of the quota remaining. Ocean coho fishing has been good outside of Winchester Bay and ok from Charleston and Bandon. All salmon fishing from Humbug Mt to the OR/CA Border is closed for the season.
The Central Coast Subarea (Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt) Summer All-Depth Halibut season is open seven days a week and has 51 percent of the quota remaining as of September 1. The Southern Oregon Subarea (Humbug Mt to OR/CA border) Halibut season is open seven days a week with 20 percent of the quota remaining as of September 1. Anglers may harvest 2 Pacific halibut a day in the Central Coast Subarea and Southern Oregon Subarea.
Surfperch anglers are still finding redtail surfperch along the ocean beaches like Horsfall Beach, Bullards Beach and near Cape Blanco. Surfperch anglers are also catching striped surfperch along rocky shorelines. Anglers have been catching surfperch when the ocean swells are calmer, using sand shrimp, mole crabs or artificial sand worms. Ready to try surfperch fishing? Here are some tips to get you started. Last updated 9/11/24.
2024 sport bottomfish seasons
PLAT I RESERVOIR: trout, bass
No recent reports from anglers. Most success will be for warmwater species now. This reservoir is managed for irrigation, so be aware of lowering water levels. Last updated 9/4/24.
REINHART PARK POND: trout, bass
Largemouth bass have been caught recently, and bullhead have been reported. Reinhart remains a good spot to fish for bass and panfish through early fall. Last updated 9/4/24.
ROGUE RIVER
Anglers trolling the bay are having good success on both Chinook and coho. Rain and cooler temperatures this week may help with getting a few new fish into the lower river. This is the time of year when fish slow down and hang in holes in the lower river or stay in the bay. Anglers will have to work a little bit harder to find them.
Anglers need to pay extra attention to the fish they catch as there are good numbers of wild coho in the bay. ALL WILD COHO MUST BE RELEASED.
ODFW annually monitors the run of Chinook, steelhead, and coho at Huntley Park (approximate 8 miles upstream from the mouth) on the Rogue River. To learn more about the project, people can visit the ODFW website to receive this years' two-week updates and to see the historical catch.
Anglers that see a game violation can report the violation to *OSP (*677) on a mobile device or call 1-800-452-7888. Anglers can also file complaints or potential violations concerning guides to the Oregon State Marine Board. Last updated 9114/24.
Rogue River, middle: steelhead, trout, Chinook
Flow in Grants Pass is about 1,500 cfs with a water temperature of around 62F.
Fall Chinook have showed up in good numbers over the last week. Anglers have reported success throughout the middle Rogue. Preferred methods include back bouncing roe and large spinners. A few more summer steelhead have been reported as well.
ODFW's Pikeminnow Roundup has started, running September 1-September 21 and focused on the middle Rogue River. Anglers are always encouraged to harvest and remove introduced pikeminnow from the Rogue River. During the Roundup its possible to win prizes in three different categories – youth (under 12), teen (12-17, adult (18+). For contest details search ODFW Rogue Pikeminnow Roundup. Pikeminnow can be fun to catch especially for young anglers. Try fishing deep near the bottom of the river with lures or bait that can include chicken livers, fried chicken skin, or other chicken parts.
Current flow, temp and turbidity conditions for the Rogue can be found at the USGS stream gauges here, or checking the City of Grants Pass water page's river data here. Last updated 9/11/24.
Rogue River, upper: steelhead, trout
With the start of September, the artificial fly season is underway between Fishers Ferry boat ramp and Cole Rivers Hatchery. Between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, anglers may only fish artificial flies on any type rod, reel; no added weights or attachments except a bubble. This reach of the Rogue is open to fishing for summer steelhead and trout. Fishing for Chinook is now closed.
Trout fishing continues to be good in the upper river, while fishing for summer steelhead is slow with only spotty success.
The release from Lost Creek is 1,200 CFS. Anglers can call the Army Corps of Engineers at 800-472-2434 for an update on hatchery counts as well as flow and temperature information.
Make sure to check the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for each section of river before you head out.
For up-to-date river levels, check all the USGS Rogue gauges here. Last updated 9/11/24.
Rogue River, above Lost Creek Reservoir: trout
The Rogue and tributaries above Lost Creek Reservoir remain open year-round, with a daily retention limit of 5 trout (no limit on brook trout). While trout stocking has ended for the year, fish are still available, especially around release sites in the upper portion of the river. Anglers should also consider moving around to catch fish that have moved out from release sites. Last updated 9/4/24.
SIXES RIVER: Chinook,cutthroat trout
In the next few weeks anglers may see the first Chinook nose its head into the estuary, if the mouth is not bar bound. Sometimes summer low flows and north winds can form a sand bar across the mouth of the river.
Anglers are reminded to check the regulation updates for the low water closure period, wild Chinook bag limit, and fishing boundary changes. Last updated 9/4/24.
SMITH RIVER, Umpqua: trout, bass, Chinook
Anglers are targeting Chinook in the lower portion of the river. Most success is accruing in the lower 3 miles of the river. Wild coho will only be open in the mainstem Umpqua, but not Smith River, starting Sept. 14.
Trout fishing in the upper portion should be good as well. The mainstem above Sisters Cr.is open for trout 2 per day, 8-inch minimum length. The area above Spencer creek will close to all fishing Sept. 16 to Nov. 30. Last updated 9/4/24.
TENMILE LAKES/TENMILE CREEK: steelhead, trout, bass, yellow perch
The water temperature is starting to drop in Tenmile Lakes and some of the vegetation is starting to die off for the season, which means largemouth bass will be transitioning off the weedlines and moving to submerged wood or other hard structures.
Topwater lures are catching bass in the early mornings, late evening and in shaded areas during mid-day. Drop shots, jigs, and wacky rigged Senkos will produce bass throughout the day.
Anglers are catching yellow perch along the weedlines in 9 to 12 feet of water using small jigs or hooks with a worm. Yellow perch will start transitioning to the deeper mudflats in 15 feet of water or deeper. Most of the yellow perch are under 6 inches long.
Trout fishing in rivers and streams is open through Oct. 31. Trout fishing in the lakes is open year-round. Last updated 9/4/24.
UMPQUA HIKE-IN LAKES AND FOREBAYS: trout
No recent angler reports. Anglers are encouraged to report their fishing trips to help guide future stocking rates.
Please check with the US Forest Service for forest fire conditions in the area before adventuring to these lakes.
Working with volunteers, stocking has been completed for this year with rainbow fry. Prospective volunteers for stocking in 2025 should contact Levi.m.simmons@odfw.oregon.gov for more information. Last updated 8/7/24
UMPQUA RIVER, MAINSTEM: Chinook, surfperch, bass
Some anglers are reportedly getting some large smallmouth. Early warm days are a great chance to catch some nice bass. There is no bag limit on bass caught in the Umpqua. There are a few reports of some striped bass being caught in the lower sections.
Open for catch-and-release only for trout.
The river remains open for hatchery Chinook and one adult wild chinook a day and five adult wild Chinook for the year from July 1 – Nov. 30. Catch rates this last week were slow to fair with the warmer temperatures. But they should pick back up with the cooler temperatures forecasted this week.
Wild coho will open Sept. 14 – Oct. 15. Only one wild adult coho per day and 3 for the season. One wild jack per day during the period. Wild coho may not be retained above the Scottsburg Bridge. Last updated 9/11/24.
UMPQUA RIVER, NORTH: steelhead
Fishing for all Chinook on the North closed July 1. Summer steelhead numbers are around the 10-year average, but very few hatchery fish have returned this year. Recent rains have the steelhead moving a little and should improve fishing. Last updated 8/21/24.
UMPQUA RIVER, SOUTH: bass, trout
Bass fishing has been great with lots of anglers finding fish throughout. Trout fishing is limited but should be good in areas where there are pockets of cooler water. The South will close to all fishing Sept. 16 to Nov. 30. Last updated 9/4/24.
WILLOW LAKE: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, black crappie, brown bullhead, yellow perch
Willow Lake offers fishing for trout and a variety of warmwater species in a beautiful setting. An angler caught a nice trout on a rooster tail recently.
For more information on camping and day use please visit the Jackson County Parks website or call 541-774-8183.
Anglers catching illegally introduced yellow perch are always encouraged to take as many of these as they want. This illegal introduction has only resulted in stunted perch and negative impacts to the bass and trout fishery in this lake and numerous others around the Southwest District. Last updated 9/4/24.
