Coquille River

[Mark Shimozaki]

I will be in Bandon Oregon the last week in March 2023. Does anyone know about the Coquille River for Steelhead at that time of year ? If so any guide recommendations ? Or another fishery close by .

Thanks

[Mr T]

add on for a golf trip?

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Captain Gino Bernero guides up that way for Steelhead.

916-952-0467

[Mark Shimozaki]

Yes 4 days of golf !!! Need a break and want to wet a line.

Thank You Bill. I will contact Captain Gino


Mark

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Mark, give us a report on that trip some day.

I love that Oregon coast......

[BumpBailey]

Kind of current info for you.... I just got back from Bandon two weeks ago. Golf, Phenomenal! I can't wait to go back! I inquired about this topic on spey pages and was told to catch and kill as many Smallmouth Bass as I could! They do still get salmon and steelies but, the SMB population has exploded... Granted my time frame is different than yours.

will say this. When I go back, I will definitely bring a rod and would hit Round Lake(on property (Bandon Trails) for some bass and cutties... Might need a float tube though.... Shore access looks limited....

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

The three best Smallmouth rivers in Oregon, the Grande Rhonde, the John Day and the Umpqua, also have Salmon and Steelhead.

Many of us "think" or "assume" that the Smallmouth, Largemouth and Striped Bass are eating up all the young Salmon and Steelhead.

100 years ago in the Sacramento river drainage in California we had Striped Bass, American Shad, Steelhead and Salmon that all cohabitated in huge numbers.

If we had not dammed up 99% of our California rivers we might still have huge runs of all these wonderful gamefish.

[BumpBailey]

I am not taking sides on this one, just relaying what was told to me....

https://nwsportsmanmag.com/stick-a-fork-in-them-battling-bass-to-save-coquille-fall-chinook/

[Darian]

That's a damning article. Seems like perfect storm of conditions has created the explosion in the Smallmouth population. Unfortunately, with changing climatic, ocean and environmental conditions, Salmonids (wherever they occur) will probably face the same situation regardless of our efforts to save them.

[Mark Shimozaki]

Through my research looks like Coquille river for Steelhead is a no go. Like everyone says Smallmouth would be it.

But Williamson River for huge trout in June - July really looks good. Might have to do an additional trip to Oregon !!!

Any thoughts ??

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

100 years ago all the Sacramento Valley rivers had tons of Smallmouth in the lower reaches before the dams.

Imagine 100 years ago, or before all the dams, the fish could live were every they wanted in our drainages.

First LMB down low, then SMB, then Brown trout, then Rainbows and Cutthroat trout and then finally Brook trout up high?

I heard back then many of the Valley rivers dried up in late summer too.



Mostly dams, logging. development, backfilling, commercial fishing and AG have done in the anadromous species.

Now with the reduced numbers of anadromous fish the predators have a bigger negative impact.

Climate change too.........


I had an evil thought once: Eliminate the fish, eliminates the fishermen, eliminates the headache for the water barons?

[cutthroat22]

Not sure why you think Coquille River is a "no go" for steelhead in March. Check out the SF. It can be pretty good. The last week of March is the tail end of the season but there should still be fish. You are also not too far from the Elk, Sixes and more.

The Williamson is a very different fishery and can be quite challenging while learning. June is too early for me. I prefer to go later -Aug/Sept. Good luck!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

The Grande Ronde river has the largest size SMB in the summer and good Fall Steelhead runs?