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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2015)
4 B SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015 Vessel safety checks help prevent boating mishaps Owners of pleasure boats, large and small — including cruisers, fishing boats, pontoon boats, canoes, kayaks, jet skies, and wave runners — are encouraged by the U.S. Coast Guard and local Marine Law Enforcement Officials to have free Vessel Safety Checks (VSC) of their boats. In our area, VSCs are per- formed year-round by Certified Vessel Examiners who are members of either the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGAux) or the United States Power Squadrons (USPS). Vessel Safety Checks include mandatory items required aboard a pleasure craft, plus 16 other recom- mended safety and/or discus- sion items. A boat passing the VSC receives a Safety Seal Decal. Skippers needing additional safety equipment may receive a discount on safety-related items at their local Marine Stores. To locate a convenient local VSC examiner, and to receive a free Vessel Safety Check, visit www.safetyseal.net/GetVSC. You can also contact Florence resident and Certified Vessel Safety Examiner Jonathan Yoder directly at 541- 991-1181. Note that boats do not have to be in the water for the safety checks. “We encourage Marina own- ers, Harbormasters, yacht clubs, marine stores, insurance agencies and other boating groups to conduct safety days or even safety weekends with vessel checks,” said Yoder. “We’d be more than happy to be invited by them to conduct these free VSCs at their loca- tions.” Lighthouse tours being conducted daily through summer YACHATS — Heceta Head Lighthouse tours are now being held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Lighthouse maintenance and inspections of the upper Fishing from 1B and bank access. SIUSLAW RIVER: Cutthroat trout The cutthroat trout fishery is slow to fair. Fishing during the early mornings or in the larger tributaries is the most produc- tive. River conditions are very low and warm for this time of year. Bait is not allowed above the head of tide but small spin- ners, spoons and fly fishing can be very productive. ALSEA RIVER: Cutthroat trout The cutthroat trout fishery is fair in the mainstem and in some of the large tributaries. With the low and warm river conditions the best opportuni- ties will be in the early morn- ing when water temperatures are the coolest. Small spinners are typically productive as wells as small spoons or fly fishing with nymphs or streamers. SALMON RIVER: Cutthroat trout Cutthroat trout fishing is slow to fair with the early morning being the most pro- ductive. Using small lures like spinners, spoons or various flies can be productive. SILETZ RIVER: Steelhead, cutthroat trout Summer steelhead fishing is fair in the upper river. Low flows and warming river tem- peratures is making new fish race up into the cooler holding waters of the gorge area. New fish will continually be moving into the river through the summer with peak num- bers typically in July. River flows are much lower than normal for this time of year so think small and subtle presentations. Typical steelhead tactics apply such as bobber and jig/bait, or casting spoons or spinners. Cutthroat trout are now also open to harvest and can be found throughout the main stem river and many large trib- utaries. WILSON RIVER: Steelhead, Chinook, cutthroat Spring Chinook fishing is slow in the low clear water. Summer steelhead fishing is slow also. Fishing for cutthroat trout should be fair. Use lighter gear for best results as the water is extremely low and clear. YAQUINA RIVER: Cutthroat trout Cutthroat trout fishing is slow to fair. The best opportu- nities are coming in the early mornings when river tempera- tures are the coolest. River conditions are very low and warm for this time of year. The mainstem Yaquina and Big Elk Creek are good places to try casting small spinners or spoons as well as bait fishing near the head of tide. TENMILE BASIN: Trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch Streams in the Tenmile Basin are open for trout fish- ing. Fishing is restricted to artifi- cial flies and lures in streams above tidewater. Anglers should have good levels mean tours will only be conducted on the lawn area adjacent to the lighthouse and in the first level of the light- house, but not up in the tower itself. An updated schedule of tower tours will be announced when they resume. Heceta Head State Scenic Viewpoint is 14 miles north of Florence on Highway 101, and features the lighthouse, short trails, picnicking, a small beach and a historic lighthouse keep- ers home managed by the U.S. Forest Service but operated as a bed and breakfast . The park serves an estimated 625,000 visitors each year. success catching trout in the deeper pools and riffles using spinners or flies. The water level in Tenmile Lakes is extremely low and boat anglers should use cau- tion when boating in the lakes. Tenmile Lakes is open all year for trout but trout fishing has been slow. Bass anglers have been catching several largemouth bass in Tenmile Lakes. Bass can be found this time of the year in shallow water near structure like logs or weed lines. A few anglers have been catching yellow perch from the fishing dock at the County Boat Ramp and near the edge of the weedlines. A worm or piece of cut bait fished near the bottom works well for catching yellow perch. PACIFIC OCEAN and BEACHES: Bottomfish, son opened July 1. The fishery is open seven days a week inside the 40-fathom line. Fishing for bottom fish is restricted to inside the 30 fath- om curve. Fishing for black rockfish continues to be good from Charleston to Bandon. Salmon: Adipose fin- clipped coho salmon seasons are now open in ocean waters along the entire Oregon Coast. Best catches have been in the waters off the Columbia River. Ocean recreational fishing is open for Chinook salmon along the entire Oregon coast. C RABBING : Ocean crabbing is great, and bay crabbing con- tinues to improve. Larger ocean crab off the central coast are molting, and a soft shell COOS COUNTY LAKES/PONDS: Trout, large- mouth bass, bluegills Trout are still available for kids in the Millicoma Pond at the Millicoma Interpretive Center and fishing is excellent. Millicoma Pond is set aside for kids fishing only and is a great chance for them to hook into fish. Call before traveling to Millicoma Pond to make sure the gates are open. The phone number is 541-267-2557. Fishing for largemouth bass and bluegills have been good in many of the Coos County lakes. Fishing for bass will be best in the mornings and late evenings. Fish for bluegills around structure like submerged logs and weedlines. COOS RIVER BASIN: Dungeness crab, bay clams, rockfish, trout Streams in the Coos Basin are open although most of the larger rivers will be too warm for trout. Trout anglers should focus on small streams and fish early in the morning or in the evening. Angling is restricted to arti- ficial flies and lures in streams above tidewater. Anglers should have good success catching trout in the deeper pools and riffles using spinners or flies. UMPQUA RIVER, SOUTH: Steelhead The mainstem South Umpqua upstream to Jackson Creek Bridge is open to fish- ing, with trout fishing being strictly catch and release. Catch and release trout fish- ing in South Umpqua tributar- ies below Jackson Creek Bridge is also open, with fish- ing restricted to the use of arti- ficial flies and lures. Smallmouth bass fishing should be productive with warming water temperatures. WINCHESTER BAY: Bottomfish, perch Fishing for bottomfish in the Triangle and South jetty has been successful. Perch fishing has been productive in the bay, and it was reported that good size striped perch were being caught along the jetty. Crabbing has been improv- ing, and there have been reports of coho and chinook being caught in the ocean off of Winchester Bay. salmon, Dungeness crab, surf perch The ocean is open for har- vest of Dungeness crab. Crabbing has been good out- side of Coos Bay and Winchester Bay. Anglers continue to catch surf perch from the beaches near Winchester, Bandon and Coos Bay but catch rates have slowed down. The best fishing is usually on the incoming tide. Sand shrimp is one of the best baits to use when fishing for surf perch. Recreational ocean salmon season from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. is open for chi- nook salmon and fin-clipped coho. The bag limit is two salmon per day, and a mini- mum size for Chinook salmon at 24 inches or larger and a minimum size for coho salmon at 16 inches or larger. Fishing for chinook has picked up along the south coast and anglers are reporting catching lots of coho. The nearshore halibut sea- Jubilee Basketball Tourney this weekend North Bend High School is hosting its annual Jubilee Basketball Tournament Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18. Anyone who has attend, or is still attending, any Coos County high school, as well school in Florence or Reedsport, is invited to par- ticipate. The tournament will be held at North Bend High School. For more information, email Travis Parker at travis 2215@yahoo.com. indicates the meat will be watery. Smaller crab that have not yet molted — look for barna- cles on the shell — are a better option for the crab kettle. FOLLOW US FOR THE LATEST NEWS /S IUSLAW N EWS ❘ @T HE S IUSLAW N EWS VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT RAY DUNNING Florence Habitat for Humanity Ray started building Habitat houses in Florence when the local Habitat affi liate was fi rst formed. House No. 1 was fninished in 2000 and Ray has worked on all 26 houses built since then. Now Ray also works on Home Repair projects, building steps and ramps, repairing roofs and decks. He has been a loyal volunteer Ray Dunning and Sam Lewis building a wheelchair ramp. for Florence Habitat, contributing his fi nancial support to keep the helping to set up the ReStore, remodeling the organization going. Habitat for Humanity offi ce and refi tting the construction trailers owes a great deal to Ray Dunning! in addition to building work, while also Florence Habitat for Humanity PO Box 3302, Florence, OR 97439 541-902-9227 Alpha Bit Café Home Insulation First Baptist Church Oregon Pacifi c Bank County Transfer and Recycling SPONSORED BY: Wanda Johnson, Broker Coldwell Banker Coast Real Estate Florence Habitat for Humanity Chad Clement, D.D.S., P.C.