SN
THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM
WEDNESDAY EDITION | MARCH 3, 2021 | $1.00
ODFW REGIONAL
FISHING REPORT
www.dfw.state.or.us/RR
Siuslaw News
Community
&
Lifestyle
Sports Calendar
March 4
• SHS Cross Country
Hosts Tillamook
3 p.m.
• SHS Soccer
At Marshfield
6:30 p.m.
First-place photo "Days End" by Jim Buch was the winner of February's Siuslaw
Viewfinders Camera Club photo contest, which was themed "Water in Nature."
Picture perfect
March 5
• SHS Football
At La Pine
7 p.m.
March 6
• MHS Football
vs Chiloquine (at P.
Hill) 5 p.m.
Tide Tables
Second-pace photo of a Buffelhead duck on take-off from the water, by Stephanie Ames.
Entrance Siuslaw River
High Tide
T
Low Tide
March 3
2:36am / 8.0
3:11pm / 6.5
9:08am / 0.4
9:02pm / 1.5
March 4
3:18am / 8.0
4:18pm / 5.9
10:07am / 0.4
9:49pm / 2.4
March 5
4:06am / 7.8
5:38pm / 5.4
11:14am / 0.4
10:47pm / 3.2
he
Siusl aw
Viewfinders Camera
Club held its judging
of photos for the group's
February contest, which was
themed: "Water in Nature."
First place went to Jim Buch
with his photo "Days End."
Stephanie Ames earned
second place with her photo
of a Bufflehead duck trying
to become airborn. Third
place went to Cliff Harvey's
photo, which was of a light-
hearted moment of a bevy
with swans following a lead-
er.
Third-place photo by Cliff Harvey
March 6
5:04am 7.6
7:10pm / 5.3
12:28pm / 0.4
March 7
6:13am / 7.3
8:36pm / 5.6
12:04am / 3.6
1:43pm / 0.3
March 8
7:28am / 7.3
9:40pm / 5.9
1:31am / 3.7
2:52pm / 0.0
March 9
8:38am / 7.3
10:27pm / 6.2
2:49am / 3.5
3:48pm / -0.2
Salvage ends, repairs continue along Highway 101
Over the weekend, the
Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT)
crews successfully re-
moved the massive drill rig
that had fallen from High-
way 101 to the shore below
during reconstruction of a
retaining wall near Yachats
at milepost 170.5.
On Saturday, large cranes
were able to remove the rig
and finish work that had
been requiring a road clo-
sure from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
each day for more than a
week.
As of Sunday, the road is
open, but ODOT officials
warn that long delays at the
construction site will like-
ly continue through mid-
March.
In addition to the mile-
post 170.5 location, trav-
elers along Highway 101
will continue to experience
delays along other areas of
the coastal highway.
Bridge repair work con-
tinues at the Siltcoos Riv-
er Bridge, where traffic is
reduced to a single lane of
traffic as crews replace old
bridge railings. Because
the location of the project
is on a dangerous curve in
the road, ODOT is cau-
tioning drivers to reduce
speed in the area.
A temporary traffic light
has been placed to control
traffic. The bridge work
is expected to continue
through March.
For Highway 101 con-
struction and repair up-
dates, visit www.tripcheck.
com or call 511.
LAKE, PONDS, RESERVOIRS:
Mid-coast lakes scheduled to
receive stockings the week of
Feb. 8 include Cleawox,
Munsel, Lost, Carter, Dune,
Alder and Thissel. Tis’ the sea-
son for mid-coast trout. This
week (Feb. 15), the Big Creek
Reservoirs near Newport will
be stocked.
SIUSLAW RIVER: Winter steel-
head
Winter steelhead fishing
continues to be slow on the
Siuslaw like all the other coastal
rivers this season. The river has
dropped into shape and will
have good conditions through
the upcoming weekend. Expect
the fishing to improve as
February is typically the peak
month on the Siuslaw. The
Whitaker Creek area is the best
place to target returning hatch-
ery fish.
ALSEA RIVER: Winter steelhead
Winter steelhead fishing
continues to be slow on the
Alsea. Even with the ideal con-
ditions over the weekend, the
fishing was slow. Anglers are
still catching some fish every-
day throughout the system
from the NF Alsea bank fishery
all the way down to the plunk-
ing shacks on the lowest por-
tions of the river, but it’s been
tough. The later returning wild
broodstock fish are providing
the majority of the catch now
and typically peak in February
and early March
Reminder: The popular win-
ter steelhead bank fishery
around the Alsea Hatchery
remains open but the hatchery
grounds are closed to the pub-
lic. Anglers Alsea bank fishery
all the way down to the plunk-
ing shacks on the lowest por-
tions of the river, but it’s been
tough. The later returning wild
broodstock fish are providing
the majority of the catch now
and typically peak in February
and early March
Reminder: The popular win-
ter steelhead bank fishery
around the Alsea Hatchery
remains open but the hatchery
grounds are closed to the pub-
lic. Anglers are required to park
in the designated parking lot to
access the river and are not
allowed to park near or enter
the hatchery grounds.
Be respectful of the hatchery
staff and follow these rules to
ensure this popular fishery
remains open for the 2021 sea-
son.
Cutthroat trout fishing will
reopen May 22.
SALMON RIVER: Winter steel-
head
Winter steelhead are around
in the Salmon River. The peak
for winter steelhead on the
Salmon River is typically Janu-
ary to March.
Note: Reminder, the Salmon
River hatchery remains closed
to walk in anglers. Anglers can
use access points upstream and
downstream of the hatchery to
access those traditional fishing
locations.
SILETZ RIVER: Winter steelhead
Winter steelheading contin-
ues to be slow on the Siletz
despite the ideal conditions and
dropping river levels over the
weekend. There are still fish
being caught every day but it
has been tough. The river
remains in good shape for the
weekend with good color.
Mid-February to mid-March
See
FISHING 2B
Welcome to March and hopefully the start of some warmer sunnier days. Th is weekend I noticed it was like summer on Bay
Street. Th ere were so many people out and about and enjoying indoor restaurant dining. Not as many masks as I’d like to see
though. We still need to be vigilant since we all have not been vaccinated yet, but the end is in sight. It’s hard to believe it’s
been a year since we started closing businesses and wearing masks. Hopefully by summer things will be back to
mostly normal, although I think it will never be the same as before COVID.
Take care, wear a mask, wash your hands and be safe.
100 Hwy. 101, Florence, OR • 541.997.7777
Lynnette Wikstrom
Broker
“We’re next to the Bridge.”
lynnette@cbcoast.com · Cell: 541.999.0786
COAST REAL ESTATE