Green Peter, and Foster reservoirs are full and all boat ramps are useable.
Both have been stocked numerous times with rainbow trout and are producing good catches, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Bank fishing remains good as surface temperatures are still relatively cool. Green Peter is also producing some good catches of 10-16 inch chinook, with some over 20 inches being taken.
Kokanee catch has finally started to pick up with 12-15 inch fish being caught in Green Peter. Trolling at 20-25 feet with flashers and white corn or worms has been working well.
South Santiam stream flow is moderate and fishable and recycling of steelhead from the Foster Dam trap is in full swing, according to the ODFW.
Summer steelhead counts at Willamette Falls are approaching 12,000 fish. Conditions have been good in the mainstem of the Willamette, though water temperature has now exceeded 60 degrees. Spring chinook numbers remain very low and all streams above Willamette Falls, except for the Molalla River, are now closed to the retention of any chinook.
Chinook salmon in most upper Willamette reservoirs are considered trout under the special regulations and do not fall under the recent closure.
Stream flows in Quartzville Creek above Green Peter Reservoir are receding some, though still affected by snowmelt. The creek was stocked with 2,000 rainbow trout at the end of June and again on Monday, July 14.
Clear Lake was stocked July 7 with 4,500 legal-sized rainbow trout.
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Kokanee Power of Oregon is planning a Kokanee Derby at Green Peter Reservoir on Saturday, July 26.
Entry fee is $35 for members and $40 or non-members, which includes lunch at the weigh-in site at the Sunnyside Park Day Use Area.
Prizes range from $400 for first to $25 for 10th. Two 50/50 side pots will be available as well as drawings for prizes.
For more information, contact Ron Walker at 367-1339.
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With sport catch of some rockfish higher than anticipated,fishery managers have reduced the marine fish bag limit for anglers from six to five and move the fishery inside of 20 fathoms.
Sport anglers may still retain two lingcod, but that fishery is also restricted inside of 20 fathoms. The regulation changes took effect July 7 and are scheduled to continue through Dec. 31.
Several groundfish species in Oregon waters are managed using state and federal harvest caps including black rockfish and yelloweye rockfish. In 2004 the nearshore sport groundfish season closed just before Labor Day,when anglers reached the harvest cap for black rockfish. In 2005 the fishery for black rockfish was closed in mid October.
Black rockfish make up the majority of an angler’s marine bag, so reducing the marine fish bag limit should forestall reaching the harvest cap for that species. Yelloweye rockfish generally live in deeper waters, so bringing the fishery inside of 20 fathoms should reduce the number of that species anglers catch incidentally.
The marine fish bag includes rockfish, greenling, cabezon and some other marine species. Anglers occasionally catch, but may not keep, yelloweye rockfish and canary rockfish. The two species are considered depleted by the National Marine Fisheries Service and a certain percentage of those incidentally caught must be reported as mortality.
Anglers may fish for flatfish, like sanddabs, flounder and sole, inside the 40-fathom line through Dec. 31, since anglers can generally avoid incidental catches of rockfish when targeting those species. In addition, anglers may continue to fish for Pacific halibut, salmon and species such as tuna under current regulations.
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In an effort to keep Oregon’s native turtles healthy, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists are asking residents to be on the lookout for turtles this summer and to report any sightings.
“Turtles are often seen on land at this time of year,” said Susan Barnes, ODFW wildlife biologist. “They are usually females in search of suitable nesting grounds to lay their eggs. The best thing to do is leave them alone and let them continue on their path.”
Barnes also warns motorists driving along streams and rivers to watch for turtles crossing. “Our native turtles are in decline, so anything we can do this summer to protect them is helpful.”
If you see a turtle, please report it via the Internet on the Native Turtles of Oregon Web site, http://www.oregonzoo.org/Turtles/ If you do not have Internet access, call your local ODFW office.
Oregon has two native turtles: western painted and western pond, both of which are listed on the state sensitive species list and highlighted in the Oregon Conservation Strategy as species in need of help. Both turtles are dark brown or dull olive, but the western painted turtle is brightly decorated with a reddish lower shell and yellow stripes on its neck and legs. As adults, turtles are 4-9 inches long.
Population declines are due to habitat loss, degradation of nesting areas by invasive plants, competition from non-native turtles, illegal collecting and disease.
Western pond turtles are found in the Coast Range, East Cascades, Klamath Mountains, West Cascades and Willamette Valley ecoregions. Western painted turtles occur in the Willamette Valley and Blue Mountain ecoregions and along the Columbia River.
It is not legal to hold native turtles in captivity, though you can attract them by providing suitable habitat.
Two species of non-native turtles in Oregon out-compete native turtles for nesting areas, basking sites and suitable habitat. They are red-eared sliders and common snapping turtles. Red-eared sliders have red “ears” (markings) on the side of their heads. Snapping turtles are very large with a big head and long jagged tail; they are especially destructive as they consume native fish, plants and wildlife.
It is illegal in the state to buy, sell, possess or release either of these non-native turtles. If you’ve just realized you are in possession of one of these non-native turtles, contact your local ODFW office.