The best reports on our mid and south coast estuary Fall Chinook fisheries continue to come out of Winchester Bay, the lower Umpqua, and Coos Bay. Herring, anchovies, and spinners are all producing fish. Seasoned lower Rogue River guides were spotted this past week on Coos Bay and on the lower Coquille as testimony to the disappointing results for trollers down at Gold Beach working between the Hwy 101 Bridge and the jaws. Rogue Chinook are moving through the bay very quickly and folks fishing a little higher up the river are faring better than those fishing down at the mouth. Crabbing continues to improve in most of the estuaries. Tuna have moved farther offshore as a result of cooler currents. Coho have begun to move into the Clackamas River. The Siletz and the Coquille opened September 1 to Coho retention.
Chinook are beginning to spawn in the McKenzie and its tributaries. It's always fun to observe this fall ritual, but the fish should be left unmolested.