Spearfishing and bait use for smallmouth bass temporarily allowed on Coquille River system

Coquille River - Coquille, OR (Coos County)

Spearfishing on the Coquille River -Photo by Bob Swingle, ODFW-

by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
6-2-2023
Website

CHARLESTON, Ore – Spearfishing for smallmouth bass is once again allowed on the Coquille River June 1 – Oct. 31. Spears, spear guns and angling with bait to take smallmouth bass is allowed, and there are no harvest size or limits.

The temporary rule is meant to help reduce impacts of non-native smallmouth bass on wild fall Chinook salmon in the mainstem Coquille River and the East, Middle, North, and South forks. In the South Fork Coquille, the regulation applies from the mouth to the U.S. Forest Service boundary near Powers.

Spearfishing is another tool to remove smallmouth bass and help native fish. Many spear fishing anglers participated in this unique harvest opportunity since 2020.

Anglers can use access maps to the South Fork Coquille and lower Coquille and a map of smallmouth bass distribution to target these fish. ODFW has a helpful series of videos on spearfishing the Coquille River, including how to build your own fishing spear and how to filet a smallmouth bass.

Although wild fall chinook in the Coquille suffered from poor ocean conditions, predation by smallmouth bass is the primary reason these fish have not rebounded to the same extent as in other coastal rivers.  Smallmouth bass predating on Pacific lamprey and other native species is also a concern.

Since discovery of illegally introduced smallmouth bass in the Coquille River, these invasive fish expanded their range and now are present up to the Forest Service boundary above Powers in the South Fork, up to Laverne Park in the North Fork, and up to Sandy Creek in the Middle Fork. Warm summer temperatures and low flows favor smallmouth bass over native fish and allow them to make further inroads into salmon habitat.

ODFW and partners, including the Coquille Indian Tribe, electrofished for smallmouth bass the past three years and will continue to investigate other removal methods to reduce predation on juvenile wild fall Chinook.

Multiple age classes of smallmouth bass were first confirmed in the Coquille in 2011 meaning the fish had been in the river for multiple spawning cycles.





More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Friday, June 2nd, 2023
Umpqua River: June 1 begins temporary angling restrictions on Umpqua River
: ODFW Recreation Report

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, May 24th, 2023
: Fish, clam and crab for free during Free Fishing Weekend June 3-4
Umatilla River: Rains and increased temperatures have significantly increased flows
Walla Walla River: Trout fishing on the Walla Walla, and its tributaries, opened May 22
Crane Prairie Reservoir: 88 percent full
Crescent Lake: Crescent Lake is currently 16 percent full
Davis Lake: Davis Lake water level remains low, making launching boats difficult
East Lake: Access to boat ramps at East Lake is limited by snow
Haystack Reservoir: The reservoir is currently 88 percent full
Hood River: Winter steelhead are still in the Hood River, but fishing has started to slow down
Metolius River: The Metolius River continues to fish well
North Twin Lake: Anglers report good fishing for holdover and stocked trout
Ochoco Reservoir: The reservoir is 72 percent full
Paulina Lake: The Paulina Lake Road is now open
Prinevile Reservoir: Prineville Reservoir at 100 percent full
South Twin Lake: Anglers report good fishing for holdover and stocked trout
Wickiup Reservoir: Anglers report good kokanee and bass fishing
Breitenbush River: The river is flowing a bit high due to snow melt
Foster Reservoir: The reservoir will be stocked this week with about 3,800 trout
Santiam River ( North Fork) Above Detroit Lake: Flows are currently around 1,700 cfs
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 2,500 cfs at the Waterloo gauge
Kilchis River: There is plenty of fishing access on the Kilchis River
Necanicum River: Trout season reopened May 22
Siletz River: Likely the final push of winter steelhead are moving through the Siletz basin
Trask River: Fishing has picked up this week with fish being caught daily
Wilson River: Trout season re-opened May 22nd
Chetco River: Trout fishing opened this week
Elk River: Cutthroat trout should be spread throughout the river
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant is 74 percent full
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is at 57 percent full
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie is at 50 percent full
Hyatt Lake: Hyatt is 57 percent full
Illinois River: The Illinois is open again for trout fishing
Rogue River- Lower: Water conditions continue to be excellent for late season spring Chinook fishing
Rogue River - Middle: Current flow is around 4,400 cfs
Rogue River- Upper: The release from Lost Creek Reservoir is around 3,800 cfs and 49F
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): Trout releases will start again this week in time for Memorial Day weekend
Sixes River: Cuthroat are scattered throughout the river
Winchuck River: Cutthroat trout are scattered throughout the river
Ana Reservoir: People have been doing extremely well trolling and using bait on the bank
Gerber Reservoir: Targeting yellow perch continues to be your best bet
Lake Of The Woods: Fishing should be excellent this week for hatchery rainbow trout