Notice: If you value your opportunity to harvest a wild Steelhead, you need to attend the ODFW Commissioners meeting on January 17th in Salem and voice your concerns. The ODFW Commissioners meet on Friday, January 17th in Salem (ODFW HQ 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr SE, Salem). The Native Fish Society supported by some greedy fishing guides have petitioned the ODFW Commissioners to eliminate harvest of Wild Winter Steelhead in the Southwest Zone. The same petition was heard in 2018 and resulted in a reduction of wild winter steelhead to three annually, it had been five. So here we go again, special interest groups and greedy fishing guides trying to eliminate any opportunity to harvest a fish. Many of us want to harvest a fish, prepare it and enjoy eating it with our families. Please go to Salem and tell the Commissioners what you think.

Wild Spring Chinook harvest on the main stem of the Umpqua River soon to be eliminated by ODFW. Spring Chinook runs on the South Umpqua have been very low for the past couple of years. Under Emergency Rule ODFW will close the main stem Umpqua River to harvesting wild Spring Chinook in 2020 to protect South Umpqua fish. This closure will be announced prior to the season opening. If you have questions call Greg Huchko in the ODFW Roseburg Office.

Don’t forget to permanently mark your Crabbing Buoys with your name and vessel number or fishing ID Number. This is a new rule for 2020.