2-26-2006

Hello Scott. My friend Rex and I got out on the high spot out of Coos Bay. What a beautiful ocean, with hardly any drift. 3 boats were out there with limits for all, 10 fish total. One boat had a 35# hen, I would never have kept it this close to spawning season. The ling on the left was 40" and weighed 20 IBS. More reports to follow. That fishery ends March 31. Catch you later.

Rick Middleton

Good day to you too Rick :). Some beautiful Lings your sporting there, the ocean looks like it was in great shape too. I appreciate your thinking about the spawner's. We need to do what we can to keep our fisheries in good shape for generations to come. I know it's important to me when I check out of this planet that I did something to make sure my kids and their kids would get a chance to experience the same great times out there that we all did. Thanks for thinking of all of us here at fish works and sharing your fishing trip with us.

Hey Everyone,

Fishing the South Umpqua last weekend caught a nice chrome stealhead. Unfortunately now that these new regulations have been past, we had to let this one go. Can’t wait for these restrictions to be lifted!

“May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it.”

Chad O.

Nice catch Chad. I know it's tough having to toss them back but we have to look out for the future populations, those natives are the key to it all. Half the fun of fishing is just getting out in the great outdoors. Reeling in a fighting steelhead is just icing on the cake. This weather is making for some great days on the water, maybe luck will put a keeper or two in the smoker ;).

Thought I would let you know what's up on the Loop since reports seem to be a little slow coming in. Still getting fresh fish everyday as you can see in the photo but the numbers are way down. The river level is still high for drifting, the color is phenomenal and the water temp has remained around 42 degrees for a couple weeks. we've been plugging and side drifting. No Bass yet however they should start poking there heads out soon.

Hi Todd, you are correct the reports have dropped off a bit this week. Was pleased to see yours in the email this morning. Glad to here that things are percolating on the loop, sure is a beautiful steelhead. Still no bass or "Springers" hehe. Kind of early for them I suppose but sure starting to feel like spring is here :). If the weather keeps up like this the Bass will be jumping and biting pretty soon too. I sure appreciate you taking a moment to email us and let us know what's up in your part of the world.

Well I figured you had to work sometime. Someone has to pay the bills. Nice to get out there and make good use of the time we do have not earning a living. Sure is a beautiful fish. We have read your reports here at fish-works for along time know and know how careful you are in the catch and release process. It's great to be able to catch them on a camera. Good memories in later days when we can't get out there as often as we want anymore. As always we appreciate you sharing your fishing trips with all of us.

Hi Scott

Hit the trifecta this week-end: Amy & I golfed in glorious sunshine on Saturday, skied the slopes on Sunday, and I took my buddy Troy steelhead fishing on President’s Day. Can’t get much better than that! Troy & I caught 3 nice metalheads on the South Umpqua today, and broke off a fourth really big fish in nasty water. One nice hatchery buck came home with us today. We caught two fish on eggs, two on yarn balls. It was a beautiful day on the river today!

Rod Lathrop

A weekend just doesn't get much better than that Rod. I was taking a hard look at the Siuslaw yesterday, it's still running a little high and not the best visibility but it's much improved from what it was a few days ago. It looks like our burst of sunshine and blue skies is going to be replaced with a cloud overcast and of course more rain :). Can't be sunny here all the time, there is a price for all this green. Should be warmer temps, just going to be a little wetter. I sure appreciate you sending in your pictures and reports. Those steelhead are bright and shiny.

A little late but here's pics of some chromers caught on the Siuslaw early last week. Hooked seven, boated eight (all of which were natives, thereby assuring a kiss and a quick release to go and do their thing!). The natives with a few hatchery fish are still coming in and there are fish around!

I attended the fish allocation process in Salem on February 8. This was regarding the Columbia system which includes the McKenzie and upper Willamette, in the neck of the woods where I presently reside. The allocation process is an ongoing (ie: never ending) work in progress, but I'd like to invite all the sports fishers who read your reports to take a look at and give a thought to joining and supporting the CCA (Coastal Conservation Association) if they haven't already done so. We had several hundred members show up at the meeting to support limiting/ending gill nets on the Columbia as well as limiting the incidental catch of all salmon and steelhead in other Northwest river systems. The CCA has been around for some time and done a lot of good on the South and East coasts of the US. They got stripers and redfish listed as a game species. Gary Loomis of G Loomis Rods helped bring them to the Northwest. Now it's time to take advantage of what Gary did and get active and involved here in our own individual home river systems. As recreational fishermen (and this can include target specific commercials as well) we need to take an interest in our own fisheries as well as how our migratory fish are harvested to the north of us: read that as Canada and Alaska. A number of studies indicate that Oregon's runs of salmon and steelhead over the past two or three years have been dramatically impacted by fishing/harvest practices to the north. This is not to say that habitat, management and other practices play no role, but that over fishing and harvesting to the north has had an impact on the number of our fish that return to home waters.

If any of your readers are interested in getting more information on how to become involved with restoring our fish runs they can get additional information at: Click Here For More Info on what you can do to help
The least we can do as avid fishermen/fisherwomen is to help assure that our children and grandchildren have a chance to fish for and catch those beautiful salmon, steelhead and searun cutthroats that are a part of our heritage as Oregonians.

hey Lauran thanks for the report and pictures. I am with you, we need to support the rebuilding of our fish populations and do everything we can to maintain good numbers for many years to come. I would hate to think of a world where my grand and great grand kids couldn't experience the thrill of hooking up with a steelhead or salmon, or all the other fishing we enjoy here in Oregon for that matter. If you don't have the time or energy to get in there and hands on help out, then contribute a little to the folks who do. I like to think that this site helps that process in a small way, by promoting various events throughout the year that provide funds to these organizations, and of course I part with a few bucks out of my own pocket every year as well. I'm sure allot of our regular readers will see this post and your link, I am equally certain that allot of them will see their way to toss a few bucks in the kitty too. Think of it as investing in your, children and their children's futures.

Fished the Slaw this Friday the 13th . Caught this beauty on a pink
weighted corkie on a hot pink hook. First cast to follow hooked,
played, then lost another around the same size. Lots of aerobatics to
make for a great day. Lots of boats as usual.
Peace Rick

Hi Rick, wow what a great catch, that picture defines the word steelhead. I hadn't heard from anyone that has been fishing the Siuslaw in a bit. I know the waters were starting to shape up nicely with the nicer weather we have gotten the past few days. Thanks a bunch for the photo and the report.

Hey Todd nice to get another report from the Umpqua, you are picking up some really nice steelhead up there this year. Your guest must be very pleased with fish like this one :). I think we might be a tad premature for Springers hehe but I can sure appreciate your enthusiasm. Thanks for sending in another picture and report. I was worried you might not, after some folks tried to lecture you on catch & release tactics. Follow that link to an earlier report from Todd Harrington so that there is no confusion about how your fish are handled. ;).

Hello there Robert, you have been working the Millicoma steady this month and for good reason. You seem to be pulling some real nice fish from there this year. I was comparing with reports from last year and it appears that this year has been more productive for you over there. I sure hope this is indicative of the other runs this year. We got plenty of rain and snow this winter so river conditions should sure be good, now all we need is for the rest of nature to be kind. As always, thanks for sharing the pictures and reports with all of us, they are appreciated.

Hello Dave, nice fish, I'm sure that must have been a fun one to reel in. Glad to hear the Elk is still active. The weather the past few days is lending itself to some better water conditions but more rain on the way I understand, so folks need to get out there and get to it while it last. Thanks for the report and photo Dave.

Hi Scott,
Thought you might like to see the metal head that I landed on Friday the
8th. Got it on the Siuslaw using roe. This hen was 10lb's and it took
awhile to bring her in. The water has been high and muddy, but if you keep
tossing the bait in, it will eventually bounce off their nose and then
they bite.

Later
Sunny

Hey there Sonny, what a great looking fish. I hear you, I have been keeping a pretty close eye on the Siuslaw and it is finally starting to settle down some, a day or two more like we had today and it could come in to great shape for a few days of steelheading. Thanks for sharing your report with all of us here at Fish-Works.com. We all appreciate the reports that our members take time to send us. I am constantly amazed by the growing number of regular and new visitors to our site. We hope to hear from you again.

Hi Scott,

Took my friend Bill Spiry on the South Umpqua today and had a ball. We caught four fish; brought two nice hatchery hens home. All fish today on pink and orange yarn balls with a little bit of sand-shrimp gel for good measure. Beautiful day on the river – we should have more like today!

Tight Lines,

Rod Lathrop

Hi Rod, I'll second the motion on a beautiful day. The sunshine and blue skies were a welcome sight this morning and what a great way to have spent the day. I was sure pleased to see some more reports roll in today. Old Robert has been keep us afloat so far this month. Saw the Robins show up in droves the other day, signs of spring are in the air, and not a moment to soon. Looks like, from the pictures that allot folks decided to get out there and take advantage of the nice day. The fish sure look healthy. Hearing mixed reviews on our spring salmon runs, some saying hot, some saying not , only time will tell. Thanks for thinking of us, great photos.

Scott

I'm starting to think you may the only one out there fishing this month. Do you cure your own eggs or use a ready made mix? You will have to share your recipe one of these days if you do your own cure. Can't thank you enough for providing us with some great reports this month. It has kept the boards up to date with fresh info for our visitors to read. I would imagine many will be making their way to the coast for some fishing this month. If we get a break from the rain they will start showing up in droves.

Hey there Robert, you been saving me this month with your reports and I assure you it is very much appreciated. I would say you were in the right place at the right time, sounds like your arms will be aching for a week after all that rod wrestling :). Glad to hear the water is continuing to shape up and that the run is strong. I am hopeful that this will be indicative of all the rest of the coastal runs to come later this year. I can almost smell the smoker from here.

Robert

Hi there Robert, I see you found your camera ;). Great to hear from you. The weather has been pretty wild the past few days. I saw a few brave souls out there working the river the other day during some of the hail, sleet and snow showers. I guess we know who the dedicated fishermen are at this time of year. Sounds like you had a pretty good time out there anyway. As always we look forward to your reports and the pictures are always a plus. Thanks for the report.

Scott

Hi Scott,

This was published in the Eugene Register-Guard in the Outdoors Section. If you can post it, that would be great. With that many fish stolen, someone out there gotta know something.
Thanks, Huan

From the Register-Guard
Published: Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Steelhead stolen from Whitaker Creek fish trap
Oregon State Police game law enforcement officers are seeking the public's help in tracking down the person or persons responsible for breaking into the Whitaker Creek Fish trap last week and stealing an estimated 100 winter steelhead that would have provided brood stock for future runs. The theft occurred sometime Sunday night or early Monday morning, Feb. 11-12. Fish in the trap were to have been spawned the next day. "That was going to be one of the biggest egg-takes of the season, especially the wild fish," said fish biologist Jeff Ziller, who estimated the fish would have weighed an average of 8 pounds apiece. The Oregon Hunters' Association offers a reward in such cases, according to police. In addition, the local Northwest Steelheaders board was to discuss offering a reward at its meeting tonight in Eugene. Anyone with information is asked to call the Turn In Poachers hotline, (800) 452-7888.

I for one sure hope they catch the folks involved in this and throw the book at them. What a terrible loss for all of us here on the coast. Those brooders and their eggs will in a significant way impact the steelhead population for generations to come.

Hi there Robert, sure glad to get your report, it's been quiet for about a week now. The weather stirred things up for a few days but it seems to have settled back down a bit yesterday and today. It never ceases to amaze me how fragile these water systems are and how much a few degrees difference in water temperature or a storm can have on fishing activities. As always, thanks for keeping us in mind and sending your photos and reports.

Scott,
Thanks again for posting the Clean-up info. It was a very successful day. We had about 15 people and 6 boats and we covered about a mile. Special thanks goes to the Gardiner STEP volunteers for their efforts. Attached is a picture of the trash that was collected in about three hours.
Levi Harris

Hello Levi, always happy to help out in any way we can. It looks like folks did a good job and made our world a better place for this upcoming tourist season. Winchester Bay and the Umpqua River are some beautiful places, I hope over time we all work a little harder to keep them that way. Thanks for all the hard work you do and please let us know if we can help out again in the future.