Anglers Are Reporting Good Fishing

Applegate River - Applegate, OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
3-18-2021
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Anglers were reporting good fishing last week prior to the rain. Fish are in the system and more are expected to show in the coming weeks. The middle and lower reaches of the river  will have higher concentrations of fish. As of Feb. 10, still no hatchery fish had entered the trap at the base of Applegate Dam.

The Applegate is open to the retention of hatchery winter steelhead and hatchery rainbow trout. Wild steelhead and trout must be released immediately and unharmed. It is illegal to fish from a floating device on the Applegate, but bait is allowed. Anglers are finding success throwing spoons and roe.

Anglers should do their part to harvest and remove non-local pikeminnow they encounter on the Applegate River. All tributaries are closed below Applegate Dam, except Glade Creek. Tributaries upstream of Applegate reservoir are open year-round for trout and bait is allowed. 

Releases from the reservoir should be steady at 200 cfs for the foreseeable future, as fill season is underway. The Wilderville gauge was humming along at 419  cfs on Wednesday morning, and expected to rise slightly on Friday up toward 700 cfs, but should be very fishable over the weekend.

If choosing to float, a small pontoon boat or inflatable kayak is the preferred method for navigating to public parcels along the Applegate. Remember, fishing from the boat itself is not allowed. Flows from 600-1000 are ideal conditions for floating and generally good water conditions for winter steelhead.

There is good bank access around the Hwy 199 bridge, Fish Hatchery Park, Cantrall Buckley Park, upstream of Murphy, and near McKee Bridge. There are also scatterings of BLM lands in the upper river around McKee Bridge. You can check the flows on the Applegate when planning a trip





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OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, March 11th, 2021

Ana River: Ana River is A Great Match-The hatch Fly Fishing River
Applegate River: Anglers Reporting Good Fishing Last Week Prior to The Rain
Ben Irving Reservoir: Fishing Should Be Pretty Good This Week
Chetco River: Fish Movement Has Been Slow & Fishing Pressure is Down
Coquille River: Steelhead Fishing Has Been Slow
Diamond Lake: Anglers Have Been Catching Some Nice Trout
Elk River: Anglers Are Doing Well on Steelhead This Season
Emigrant Reservoir: Reservoir is Slowly Rising
Galesville Reservoir: Reservoir is on The Rise
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Expect Weather to Bounce Around A Lot This Week
Illinois River: Conditions Are Looking Good Through The Week
Lake Selmac: Received Its First Stocking About Three Weeks Ago
Rogue River- Lower: Expect to Start Seeing Early-Run Spring Chinook Soon
Rogue River - Middle: More Winter Fish Are Showing Up Everyday
Rogue River- Upper: Winter Fish Are in The Mix
Umpqua River: River is Continuing to Drop
Alsea River: River is Now Low and Clear
Kilchis River: Kilchis is Low and Very Clear
Necanicum River: Still Some Opportunity For Catch and Release
Nehalem River: Mainstem is in Prime Condition
Nestucca River: Fishable and Should Be All Week
Siletz River: Steelhead Fishing Has Slowed Down Again
Siuslaw River: Still Some Fish Being Caught
Trask River: Trask is Low and Clear
Wilson River: Steelhead Fishing Has Been Slow to Fair
Clackamas River: Fishing is Beginning to Pick Up
Sandy River: Sandy River Report
Willamette River: Willamette River Report
John Day River: River Flows Have Been on The Rise
: Eastern Oregon archery elk hunting changes being considered
: ODFW Recreation Report