SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2015 P RO FISHING GUIDE TO OFFER TIPS AT As fall chinook season opens on the Siuslaw River, the Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) brings guide Jim Martin to Florence on Wednesday, Aug. Fishing from 1B during the early mornings or in the larger tributaries is the most productive. River condi- tions are very low and warm for this time of year. Bait is not allowed above the head of tide but small spinners, 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 are making new fish race up into the cooler holding waters of the gorge area. New fish will continually be mov- ing into the river through the summer with peak numbers 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. UMPQUA RIVER, SOUTH: Steelhead The South Umpqua River, STEP MEETING 5, to talk about fishing for Chinook and coho. The club meets at 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Florence. The public is invited to attend. Martin, who grew up learn- ing to fish in Alsea, has been working as a guide for more than 12 years. He is one of Cabela’s Pro Staff guides and brings a lifetime of experience fishing Oregon rivers on board. Martin will talk about fishing for fall chinook and coho on the Siuslaw River, as well as share tips and strategies that he uses when he takes clients out on the river. There will be an opportunity to ask questions as well. Prior to Martin’s talk, there will be a short business meet- ing. including all tributaries, is closed to fishing for trout, steelhead, and salmon from 2 p.m. until an hour before sun- rise. The mainstem South Umpqua upstream to Jackson Creek Bridge is open to fish- ing, with trout fishing being strictly catch-and-release. Fishing is restricted to the use of artificial flies and lures. Smallmouth bass fishing, which remains open under nor- mal rules, should be produc- tive especially in the morning and late afternoon/early evening. TENMILE BASIN: Trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch Streams in the Tenmile Basin are open for trout although there is a 2 p.m. fish- ing closure for trout, salmon and steelhead in streams above tidewater. Most of the larger rivers will be too warm for trout and the water level in many of the smaller streams is extremely low. Fishing is restricted to artificial flies and lures in streams above tidewater. 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. Mooching with herring or trolling a cut-plug herring work well for catching salmon. Anglers are still catching a few rockfish inside lower Coos Bay around the jetties. The best fishing has been around the slack tides. Tuna fishing along the south coast has been very slow. There have been a couple reports from Charleston of tuna caught 20-30 miles off shore but in very low numbers. The nearshore halibut sea- son is open seven days a week inside the 40-fathom line. Anglers were catching a few halibut near Bandon inside 40- fathoms this past weekend. no more than one can be a canary rockfish. Anglers are also reminded that no more than one can be a cabezon (no change from last year). COOS COUNTY LAKES and PONDS: Largemouth bass, bluegills Fishing for largemouth bass and bluegills has 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 weed lines. 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. PACIFIC OCEAN and BEACHES: Bottomfish, salmon, Dungeness crab, tuna The ocean is open for har- vest of Dungeness crab. Crabbing has been good out- side of Coos Bay and Winchester Bay. Recreational ocean salmon season from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. is open for Chinook salmon and fin- clipped coho. The bag limit is two salmon per day, and a minimum size for Chinook salmon at 24 inches or larger and a minimum size for coho salmon at 16 inches or larger. Fishing for chinook from Bandon to Winchester Bay has been slow. Fishing for coho has been decent but only about a third of the coho caught were fin-clipped. B OTTOM F ISHING Rockfish catches were fairly good last week, particularly out of the Charleston area. Lingcod catches were slower. REMINDERS: The ocean is open for bottom fishing only inside of the 30-fathom regula- tory line (30-fathom way- points) through Sept. 30. • New for 2015. China, cop- per, and quillback rockfish (in addition to yelloweye rockfish) may not be retained. • New for 2015. The marine fish daily bag limit is seven fish, of which no more than three can be blue rockfish and S HELLFISH : Recreational shellfish safety status: • Recreational harvest of mussels is closed from Cape Arago (south of Coos Bay) to the California border for ele- vated levels of domoic acid, and includes all beaches, rocks, jetties and bays. The recreational harvest of mussels is open from the Columbia River south to Cape Arago. • Recreational harvest of razor clams is closed along the entire Oregon coast from the Columbia River to the California border due to ele- vated levels of domoic acid. C RABBING : • Ocean crabbing remains relatively slow, although last week the Charleston area was a bright spot. Larger ocean crab off the central coast are molting, and a soft shell indi- cates 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. Bay crabbing has improved but is still slower than ocean crabbing at this time. Bay and ocean crabbers might run into red rock crab as well as Dungeness crab. Red rock crab is a native species but is not present in all of Oregon’s bays. Good places to try are from the docks in Tillamook Bay, Yaquina Bay and Coos Bay. SERVING THE FLORENCE AREA Gift tes Certifi ca ! b a Avail le Protect Your Vehicle From Th e Elements! Wash • Wax • Detail Please Call or Email For An Appointment We Come to You! Trent Petersen Owner/Detailer 541-999-6078 PetersenAutoDetailing @Gmail.com INDOOR / OUTDOOR USLAW SI S igns 3 & G R A P Woody Woodbury 2066 Highway 101, Florence 541-997-0343 For more information or to learn more about STEP, contact club president Ron Caputo at 541-997-4961. Petersen Auto Detailing S 2 B Independent Owner/Operator Florence Grocery Outlet 1SPEVDFt%BJSZ%FMJ )FBMUI#FBVUZ 'SP[FO'PPETt'SFTI.FBU )PVTFXBSFTt#FFS8JOF 0SHBOJD/BUVSBM'PPETBOENVDINPSF C H I 'ų 8 • • • • • • SIGNS & BANNERS VEHICLE GRAPHICS VINYL LETTERING STICKERS & CLINGS WINDOW GRAPHICS YARD SIGNS 997-8148 LOCATED AT: 7KH6KLSSLQ·6KDFN 2QWKHFRUQHURI th 6WUHHW+LJKZD\ We have ample RV parking! COOS RIVER BASIN: Dungeness crab, salmon, bay clams, rockfish, trout Streams in the Coos Basin are open for trout although there is a 2 p.m. fishing clo- sure for trout, salmon and steelhead in streams above tidewater. Most of the larger rivers will be too warm for trout and the water level in many of the smaller streams is extremely low. Fishing is restricted to artifi- cial flies and lures in streams above tidewater. A couple chinook salmon have been caught in between the jetties on Coos Bay. Saturday only 8am-3pm 269 Ivy St. Tools, fishing, household items, furniture, jewelry & misc. S e e J i m f o r y o u r A u t o S a l e s N e e d s ! 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 Estate Sale Fri. 7/31 & Sat. 8/1 9am-4pm 2325 East 19th St. Loveseat with matching lounger, 3 recliners, drop leaf table with 2 chairs, desk and file cabinet, all in new condition. Kitchen items, artsy & craftsy, electric lawn- mower, window air conditioner and lots, lots more. Estate Sale prepared by Linda Wilcox 541-999-0877 See you there! Fri-Sat 9am-2pm 112 W.11th. St. off Rhododendron. Work bench, radial saw, piano, kithen, quilt etc. Sat. 8/1-Sun.8/2 9am-5pm 2493 Willow Loop E. Floor steamer, Dyson vacuum, & much more. BIG GARAGE SALE Saturday ONLY 9am-5pm 83240 Pioneer, Dune City Follow signs Sat.8/1-Sun.8/2 8am-5pm 87936 Limpit Lane (take 9th or 35th Sat. Aug.1 to Rhododendron watch for 9am-3pm garage sale signs w/pink 5405 Ka-Teech Dr. balloons) Clear Lk. Rd./HWY. 101 Variety Sale including but not limited to; home acces., sporting Household goods, some furniture, antiques, tools, books, clothes, & camping equip., clothing & fabrics, & much more. antiques. Cash only. Itʼs worth the drive. No early birds Estate Sale Fri.& Sat.9am-3pm 05560 Otter Way (off Sutton Lake Rd.) Complete liquidation of home, garage & shop. Furniture, house- hold goods, antiques, yard/gar- den, woodworking tools, freezer, and so much more-a lifetime ac- cumulation! ALL SALES FINAL. Cash/Credit/Local Checks. Photos available at www.Cindy- WobbeEstates.com Wed.-Sun. 7/29-8/2, 9am-6pm, 374 Oak St., Old Town, White Wicker dresser & Queen headboard, Zebra chair, jewelry, clothes.