Temps in the low 70s and a chance for a little rain this weekend is just what anglers are looking for after the recent blast of early heat.
With much of the area in a moderate to severe drought, cold-water fish like trout and salmon need a break, too.
Fish passage projects, habitat restoration work and other efforts that make migratory fish less susceptible to drought continue to be a high priority for the Department of Fish and Wildlife and partners. Projects are ongoing statewide.
High lakes are a great option this summer, especially when it is hot in the valleys. Waters will be cooler in high mountain areas but they too will have less and warmer water due to the drought. If you are catch and release angling, it would be best to fish in the early morning hours when water temperatures are cooler.
“The drought-like weather we’ve been experiencing in southwestern Oregon this winter and spring has greatly increased the potential for high disease-related mortality to occur among adult spring and fall chinook salmon this summer,” said Rogue District Fish Biologist Frank Drake.
Drake and other ODFW biologists will work closely with other state and federal agencies to adjust water releases to provide the best possible conditions for fish with water that is available from Lost Creek Reservoir. A high proportion of the water stored in Lost Creek Reservoir is dedicated to benefit fisheries in the Rogue River, but during severe drought years, it often is not enough to keep disease-related mortality in check.
Fishery managers are anticipating an outbreak of columnaris disease in the Rogue River. Most mortality from this disease that occurs during the upstream migration of Chinook salmon is usually observed before the adults reach the area around Gold Hill, with the greatest losses in the Rogue Canyon downstream of Grave Creek, where anglers and other recreationists may see dead salmon. Angling in the Rogue Bay and below Agness should still be very good this year.
BPA Funding Cut
The Department of Fish and Wildlife has been notified that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is terminating its share of funding for the Select Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) Program in the Lower Columbia River effective Sept. 30, providing short notice for a decision that carries major consequences for Oregon’s commercial and recreational fisheries.
Without action by BPA, withdrawal of these funds places more than 7 million hatchery salmon currently in production at immediate risk and leaves an estimated $2.4 million funding gap across the three partners responsible for SAFE operations: ODFW, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County.
According to Debbie Colbert, ODFW’s director, “This decision by BPA caught us by surprise. It puts decades of fishery reform work at risk and goes against the recommendation of the regional fish and wildlife managers and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council to fund this work.”
Commission To Meet
Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife Commission meets Friday in Redmond. A day earlier, Commissioners will visit projects showcasing the landscape scale work underway with partners to protect and restore sagebrush habitat for mule deer in central Oregon.
Among the agenda items, the department will provide an overview of the 2027-29 Agency Request Budget, including new investments to support species resiliency, resilient agency infrastructure, and connecting Oregonians.
According to a 2024 report, outdoor recreation in Oregon generated $16 billion in consumer spending and supported 192,000 full and part-time jobs. Many visitors come to Oregon specifically for outdoor recreation. With the passage of HB 4134, these visitors will now contribute directly to conserving the natural resources that make Oregon such a special place to explore.
Sockeye Delay
Fishery managers are delaying the sockeye retention opener on the Columbia River until at least June 27 as the run is returning lower than forecasted.
While still early in the return, passage through June 17 found just over 8,900 fish, which is roughly 30-40 percent of expected for this timeframe given the preseason forecast.