Oregon

DIAMOND LAKE/HOWARD PRAIRIE TROUT
Roseburg) Trout remain the number one gamefish for southern Oregon anglers at this time, with rockfish providing solid sport for saltwater enthusiasts.
According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at Diamond Lake angling has been good with many people catching their limit. Most anglers are using Powerbait and spinners just off the bottom. Fish are ranging in size from 8 to over 20 inches long. Anglers are reminded that only one trout over 20 inches long can be harvested per day. Consult regulations if you wish to fish the inlet or outlet streams on Diamond Lake.
At Eel Lake fishing for largemouth bass is decent. Bass are concentrated near sunken trees and are biting on crankbaits, plastic worms, and spinnerbaits.
Trout anglers will want to fish deeper areas of Emigrant Reservoir, such as near the dam. Fishing for bass and panfish should be good. The reservoir was 56 percent full as of August 17.
Due to high mercury levels anglers should be aware that a health advisory has been issued recommending limits on consumption of all fish from Emigrant except rainbow trout.
A health advisory has been issued for Fish Lake due to high blue green algae levels. Fishing is not prohibited, but the advisory states that proper precautions should be taken to avoid water contact. In addition, Oregon Public Health recommends that people who choose to eat fish from waters where algae blooms are present should removal all fat, skin and organs before cooking, since toxins are more likely to collect in these tissues.
Fish Lake has been producing good numbers of trout despite decreasing water levels and clarity. The lake is down to 48 percent of capacity as of Aug. 17. Trout have been ranging in size from 8-13 inches, and boat anglers have done well still-fishing with bait.
Trollers often fish Needlefish, Wedding Ring and worm combinations, Panther Martins, and any lure with fluorescent reds and greens. Anglers fishing bait will catch trout on Powerbait, Velveeta cheese, and worms.
Garrison Lake is located in the middle of Port Orford. Bank anglers fishing along the fore dune have been doing the very well. The best way to access the fore dune is thru Tseriadun State Park. Boat anglers fishing for trout are having a tougher time getting to the fish through all the weeds. If anglers don’t want to fish for trout, they should try fishing for largemouth bass.
Boat anglers are reminded to clean all aquatic vegetation off their boats and trailers before heading home to help control the spread non-native plants and animals.
Howard Prairie continues to produce trout for anglers despite the hot weather. Anglers will want to fish early in the morning or in the evening for best success, and most anglers have been still fishing with yellow or green floating bait. Catches have included some fish between 15-18 inches. Some anglers continue to troll for trout with either a Tasmanian Devil or flasher and lure/bait combinations. Anglers trolling Wedding Rings caught trout this past week.
Lost Creek has produced some trout limits recently for anglers fishing in the morning by the dam and above the bridge. Trollers fishing Wedding Ring and worm combinations fished deep had success, although the fish are biting sluggishly.
Approximately 1,000 larger trout were stocked at the upper end of the reservoir recently. The reservoir was 65 percent full and the surface temperature was 77 degrees as of press time. Bass fishing should be good.
In the Coos Bay area fishing for rockfish and surfperch around the railroad bridge near the airport has been good. A jig with a plastic twister tail is a good bait to use for rockfish, while a sand shrimp on or near the bottom will work great for surfperch.
Chinook fishing is starting to pick up. A few chinook have been caught by anglers mooching the Coos Bay Bar. Anglers are also catching chinook trolling near the Highway 101 Bridge, in front of the casino, and in the Marshfield Channel. This is the start of the chinook salmon run and fishing should get even better in the following month.