Chinook numbers increase on Rogue River
As the water termperatures continue to cool down, the fall Chinook salmon will continue to work their way into the Rogue River.
Michael Becker, of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in Gold Beach, said the waters are about 67 degrees currently, and more Chinook will move upriver as the temperature decreases.
About 35 to 50 catches of fall Chinook per day are being reported, Becker said, and numbers look normal for this time of year. The two-year-old jacks are also starting to appear.
Becker said that the bay still is best for fishing, but steelhead fishing is beginning to slow down, although you can still catch some adult summer steelhead. Becker said it’s important to make sure that the steelhead are fin-clipped.
Many 16 to 20 pound fish are available in the area, as well as three-year-old fish, Becker said. One person reported catching a 481?2 pound fish.
The ocean should be good for fishing next weekend, Becker said, when the waters are calm. Fish for bottom fish, especially lingcod.
