The hatchery fall Chinook and wild coho seasons closed on October 15th. Fall Chinook have finished spawning. Coho spawning will peak after the river levels come down during Christmas week and for a week or two after. It is a good time to go out to spawning streams to view fish with family/friends. Please be protective of fish and keep sufficient distance when viewing spawning coho to avoid disturbing them. Medium sized streams such as Moon Creek, Park Creek, Big Creek, and Middle Creek are good locations for viewing.

Striped bass fishing in the lower Coquille has slowed substantially. Upcoming rainfall and rising turbid river levels will likely inhibit the ability to catch stripers. If a week or two of dry weather returns and the river clears an occasional fish might be caught using nightcrawler or 1/3 of an anchovy/herring bait on the bottom. Use of a sliding line through a three way swivel or swivel stopper with drop lead is popular.

Smallmouth bass are essentially dormant in the winter throughout the Coquille River and main tributaries due to cooler water temps and lower metabolism. Spearfishing closed October 31st. Bait fishing for smallmouth remains open in tidewater locations and the Coquille River S.F. and where steelhead fishing is open. Fishing will be very slow. Either bait on the bottom or artificial grubs/worms worked very slowly are the best bet. Hardcore anglers may entice a smallmouth bass to bite in the tidewater reaches upstream of Coquille, with bait on the bottom. Higher river flows are expected in the next two weeks and the ability to catch smallmouth during higher water will be minimal There is no limit for smallmouth bass, which are destructive to salmon fry production. 

Steelhead have been caught in the tidewater reaches of the Coquille River. Flows are expected to rise substantially from the 17th through 20th bringing fish upstream into the lower reaches of popular sections of the E.F., N.F. and S.F. Coquille. As river levels drop fishing is expected to be fair to good in those reaches.

For any questions on Salmon Fishing in the Coos or Coquille please call the Charleston office at 541-888-5515 (dial zero at the answer of the machine).

Trout fishing closed in rivers and streams in the Coquille Basin on October 31.