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Oregon Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, June 18th, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: 62-65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Had another nice day at Tenmile. This time my 7 year old daughter went with me. Got on the water at about 9AM. About an hour in we got a nice chunky 2 pounder on a black/blue jig with a chunk trailer. This was way up shallow near a bush. Tossed in- lifted a bit and it was there. She was laughing like crazy 'cause the fish shook the jig and was flopping all over the floor. She fished for about 10 minutes and then went back to playing with the night crawlers. By the end of the day she was actually holding them without a glove! We decided to switch up our lures. She wanted to try a frog and I went with a brown jig with a green beaver. I put a bluegill colored tube on a dropshot on the 3rd rod just in case we saw a nest guarder. Dead for a couple hours- we saw some bass fry around some christmas trees near a dock. She wanted to net the fry- with the bass net. Told her it wouldn't work AND the game warden might get us. She stopped. Put on a spinnerbait about 1 PM and started tossing along a shoreline that had wind howling into it, sparse tules and some fairly thick pads in the back end. About 8 casts in a 3 1/2 pound bass whacked it. My girl netted it and took a couple quick photos then we tossed her back in. The wind had blown us almost to the back of the cove- had to put the troller on 5 with the wind to get us out of there. Love that new battery I got about 3 months ago! We decided to find one more spot with a little less wind. She wanted to toss her frog some more. We pulled into a medium sized cove and then into a bit smaller one from there. Looked a lot like where we were fishing previously. Sparse tules, some pads and a still pretty strong breeze blowing. She was working the frog and I was tossing the spinnerbait. Tossed it up into a shade pocket under a tree and wham- another hard bite. She grabbed the net and the 2.7, 17 1/2" bass was in the boat. It ruined that spinnerbait! Almost no skirt left and bent up like crazy. The bass had a wierd looking wound just in front of the tail along the back. Looked like a bird or something took a bite out of it. Just a little u shaped chunk gone. My daughter wanted to get a photo with it but didn't want to get bloody. Too bad we forgot the fish bandaids! I told her I'd tie the same bait I was using on her Ugly Stick but she said "You go ahead I gotta keep the nightcrawlers busy". We fished 'till about 3 and headed back to the dock. She wisely decided to put on some more clothes before the windy ride back to the dock. She was barefoot with shorts and a t shirt for the last hour or two. She liked the cool wind and the warm sun. I had on a light jacket all day and didn't take it off until we hit the dock at the end of the day. At times it looked like it could rain any minute and sometimes it looked like a perfect summer day. The constant was the wind- it was blowing the whole time we were fishing. Should have tied on 3 spinnerbaits to start.
      City: yoncalla

      Tips: Don't throw a spinnerbait for 2 hours straight with a flippin' stick. I reel lefty and my right forearm was all pumped up. Wind couldn't have helped although you could make some super long casts- 1/2 ounce x 7'6" rod= 5 seconds of air time! Colorado blades with the water so stained. Get to the lake NOW!!!!!!!!

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: 55-59

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Wow! Tenmile Lake is a fantastic place if you like catching bass. We had a great day. Monday the 24th was overcast pretty much all day and it only sprinkled once right as we were leaving the lake @ 3PM. We launched at about 7AM- cruised over to our first area and within 15 minutes I hooked a 4 plus on a jig that shakes loose 12' from the boat. I like this lake! A little while later I get the first one in the boat- a nice chunky 2 lb.,13 oz.- 17 1/2" largemouth. Most came off docks and all the fish were caught on jigs. My partner Mike may have had a slow start but he ended up with the biggest(A 5 pounder give or take a few ounces!), the most (About 14-15 fish to my 6 or 7) and as usual schooled me!! But I didn't mind a bit- I had a blast and can't wait to go over again and soon! We saw quite a few bed fish/cruisers- some we caught, some we just scared off. Most seemed to be 2 pound males. We tried pretty much all different depths and except for the 5 pounder couldn't seem to locate the egg laden big mamas! Our next two best were a 3.10 and a 3.6. Water clarity was 2-6' in most areas. We did spend about 45 minutes in another area and only caught 1- 2 lb. bass but saw several cruisers about the same 2 lb. size. On Tuesday, the 25th we spent about 6 hours at Cottage Grove Lake from 5:30-11:30AM. It was sprinkling when we launched and we had 2 or 3 short periods of actual rain and a few periods of cloudy/sunny stuff. Water temps were almost the same as the day before at Tenmile. Fifty five to begin and about 58.5 at the peak. We tried several of my favorite spots with nothing to show for our efforts. We bounced around several new spots as well as way up the creek. We were getting pretty frustrated after the great day we had yesterday at Tenmile. We tried jigs, ripbaits, rattletraps, senkos, shallow crankbaits, brush hogs, buzzbaits and finally the one lure that caught our only fish of the day...... a deep crankbait. Bounced it off some 12' deep riprap and BAM! Amazingly there seemed to be no more fish in the area- just the lone 3.2- 18"er. Thank God it hit my lure- could you imagine the grief I would have taken from Mike if he outfished me at "his" lake and then kicked my butt at "my" lake the very next day. Friendly competition is what makes bass fishin' so fun. My 2 little ones will get a chance to sample Tenmile before the summer goes by!
      City: yoncalla

      Tips: Jigs worked great at Tenmile- not at all at C.G.(At least these trips!) I've heard spinnerbaits are great at Tenmile- I only remember getting one fish on a spinnerbait at C.G. and it was a 13" trout!! At Tenmile I had only 1 bass flash out and almost hit my black/blue buzzbait- a 1 1/2 to 2 lb. fish! Kind of shocked we didn't get any senko fish at either lake or brush hog fish either. If we ever get a whole week straight of sunny weather the shoreline will be loaded with spawners at both lakes. And I will be there- how 'bout you!??! Oh yeah-watch out for that old dude in the runabout with the broken throttle cable. We think he wails around the lake 'cause he's too lazy to change the "stuck wide open" cable. It would cut into his fishing time.

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: you tell me!

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Tomorrow I'm actually going to Tenmile Lake (Not Cottage Grove). I doubt too many people have been out there lately with the weather we've been having but if anyone has here are a couple questions. What are the water temps like? How is the water clarity? And did you catch any decent fish?
      City: yoncalla

      Tips: I've packed mostly loud and obnoxious lures to go along with a few quiet/subtle ones. My old bass tourney partner tells me it looks a bit like Clear Lake in California- I hope it fishes like it !! I'll post a big long winded report in a couple days to let you know how we did. Oh yeah- we're also hitting either Dorena or Cottage Grove on Tuesday.

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: high 50's

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Took my 4 year old out in the boat for a couple hours at Cottage Grove. We didn't catch any bass. He dragged a 4" brown w/red flake worm on a carolina rig and I tossed a brownish jig w/reddish beaver. He told Mom we didn't get any fish but we tried hard. I did have 2 trout (13") follow my jig all the way back to the boat on a fast retrive.
      City: yoncalla

      Tips: The lake looks great- about as full as it's gonna get and ready for summer. If I was a trout guy I'd be hitting that west shore pretty hard about now. And I think I'll try a swimbait when I go tomorrow morning. See ya out there.

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: who knows

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got 2 things to say- Great job Bassin' Gene! Sounds like you and your partner had a day to remember at our favorite lake (Cottage Grove). And I've seen quite a few other bassers out fishing lately besides us. How about a report or 3. Don't expect secret spots or the model and color of bait to be given up but how 'bout a general idea of how your day on the water went. That's not askin' too much is it?? So far it seems like the 3 pounders of last season have grown to be the 4-5 pounders of this season. Let's hope that now that the lake is full the fishing takes off and doesn't let up. I know Carl and I can't wait for the creek bite to kick in! Shouldn't be long now eh Bassin' Gene- 4-5 days of no rain and it's on.
      City: yoncalla

      Tips: Go to the lake, cast, set hook, take photo and release, smile and repeat. And post once in a while. I'm going Sat. and Sunday- see ya there!

Monday, April 26th, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: 56

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: This report is for Cottage Grove Lake. We found the fish suspended near drop offs in 10 to 20 ft. My partner and I boated 7 bass with the best 5 going 22 lbs. topped by a 5lb. female who's color was very light having just come up from deeper colder water. All the fish we caught were pre spawn females that were staging.Six of the seven fish we caught on a deep diver(12-14 ft.)brown crawdad crankbait.
      City: Dorena

      Tips: Locate the warmest water along dropoffs and vary your retrieve(crank & stop) until you locate the fish. Once you find the fish keep working the same area as the fish will be bunched up. We went searching the shallow grass beds for spawning fish, but found none. With the full moon phase coming Wednesday you may find some spawning fish,but always try the deeper water for the staging bass.

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: high 50's

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Cottage Grove the 23rd and 24th. Tried up the creek the 23rd and couldn't get a bite. Used a jig/beaver and a crawdad crankbait. Water was looking pretty clear- about 4-6' visibility. About 34 out and a bit windy. Tried some west shore spots on the 24th but couldn't get bit there either. It was a bit warmer (47) but the water clarity was maybe 2-3' at least where I was casting from. The upcoming moon phase is my favorite one to fish especially with the water temps being what they are. I'm off to the best start I've ever had at least quality wise. I've only got 5 fish so far this year but they add up to 21.2 pounds! I need to hit it hard and see if I can finally get my daughter her first Oregon bass and with a little luck get my little boy a big bass. He would be impressed with a 3 pounder!
      City: yoncalla

      Tips: I saw a nice looking pond on Google earth and decided to go talk to the closest people to it and see if the kids and I can go fish it. They said yes! It's about 15 miles closer to home than Cottage Grove and looks pretty bassy. I had 2 nice ponds that I fished in California and was looking forward to having fun with the kids there. Now we can go, fish, drive home and not have to spend 3-4 hours. Not to mention the gas saved! I love Cottage Grove particularly in June, July, August and September but if this pond actually has any decent sized bass I'll grow to love it too. Get out and go- it's bassin' time!

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: 53-58

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I fished Cottage Grove for almost 2 hours on the 16th on my way to work. Covered a ton of shoreline along the west side with no fish and no bites. On the 17th I only had about 50 minutes to fish so I headed up the creek. The ramp looks fine but they still had the gate locked. I walked in and started casting my jig but all I was catching were weeds. Switched to a crawdad colored crankbait and got a 3 lb.,13 oz., 18" bass. She was loaded with eggs and looked very healthy. Got a quick picture and let her go. Water visibility was only about 1-2' but the overnight temp only got down to about 42-43 degrees. Off to work with a smile on my face! On the 18th I took Carl and we got the boat out for the first time this year. We were the first boat to the ramp and we were fishing by about 6:15 AM. Couldn't draw a bite at out of my favorite starting point so we moved down the bank about 750 yards and started tossing our jigs. At 7:05 AM I felt a little bump, tightened up the line and set hard. The fish pulled very hard and never once jumped. Carl netted it and we threw her on the scale. My 2nd best ever out of Cottage Grove- 5 lbs., 7 oz., 21 long! Got a couple quick photos and let her loose. She was bulging with eggs and the inside of her lips were raw and red looking- I'd guess from chasing crawdads down in the rocks! She was perfect looking and didn't have any scars, sores, etc.. About 30 minutes later we got a 3.2, 17 1/2" also on the jig from about the same area. We hit a few other areas incl. the creek but didn't get any more bass. It was pretty warm overnight the last couple nights and when I went out to load the boat I could hear the frogs in our pond making lotsa noise. That's a good thing to hear!
      City: yoncalla

      Tips: I tried a new color of trailer on my jig and it seemed to work good. I'll have to grab another couple bags of them. The water clarity has been about 1 to 2' all week. Usually when the rain stops it clears up pretty fast but not this week. There were a lot of BIG CHUNKS of WOOD out floating around pretty much all over the lake. Be very careful- some were hardly visible and huge. If you nailed one at speed you would for sure damage your boat. The middle of the lake had the biggest examples. Just from Saturday morning to Sunday morning the lake level rose at least a foot to a foot and a half. I think they want it topped out by May 1st and it just might happen. Get your license, put new line on your reel, grab a handful of whatever you like tossin' and get your butt to the lake!!

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: cool

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Used a watermelon/red senco, a jig and a DD-14 dark brown crawdad crankbait and couldn't draw a bite out of any of those great Cottage Grove bass. Fished mid lake-west shore area. Water clarity was decent. Saw a 5" bluegill that couldn't seem to swim upright. Something had taken a chunk out of it's tail but it looked ok otherwise. It was swimming in circles and butting into a small shoreline stump. If a bass doesn't eat it I'm sure a bird will come along and put it out of it's misery. Another weird thing- as soon as I made my first cast I look down and there is an unopened can of Coors sitting 3 feet away. Only 35 degrees out- too bad I don't drink. Now if it was 3 PM on a 98 degree day in the middle of summer I would have been tempted. Except the can would have probably exploded due to the heat!
      City: yoncalla

      Tips: Think I'll try up the creek if I get a chance to get out this weekend. Hopefully it will not look like chocolate milk due to this last storm. Get out and go. The next storm should really push the lake up to almost full. It's gonna be a great summer- I can feel it!!

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: no idea!

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I,m heading out to Cottage Grove this morning for a little before work fun. I got a decent fish right after the last storm so we'll see what happens today. I'm really wondering what the water clarity will be like with the wind last night and of course the rain too. I'll post again tomorrow. I'm going DD-14 dark craw, brown/reddish jig and black/black thumper spinnerbait!
      City: yoncalla

      Tips: Good to hear you had a good day at the lake Bassngene. I'll be taking my now 4 year old boy out in the boat real soon- he keeps asking to go. We'll get a break in the weather soon I'm sure. You're right- it'll just get better from here on out!!

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: 48-55

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: The previous report was for Cottage Grove Lake
      City: Dorena

Monday, March 29th, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: 48-55

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My partner and I fished last Saturday the 27th. Launched at 12 noon. The weather was warm, sunny and a slight breeze. Started with jigs and blades but no takers. I started throwing a speed trap(red crawdad) and caught a 2.5 in six feet of water. An hour later my partner landed a nice 3.5 on a texas rigged 4 inch black worm. We continued to work the edges of the grass and the drop offs and my partner missed a couple of strikes. I switched to a brown crawdad color deep diver(10-12 ft.) crankbait and next to a submerged stump I hooked into and landed a beautiful 4.5 female. We ended a great day around 5:30.
      City: Dorena

      Tips: We found our warmest and clearest water on the west shoreline with the afternoon sun warming up the shallows. The river channel was muddy and cold(48), but we did monitor fish on the graph. The water is up to the dock and the lake is filling up fast. As the weather warms, the fishing will get better and better.

    • By

      Water Temp: low 50's???

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the 24th and 25th at Cottage Grove and didn't get a bite. The 24th was pretty much dead flat calm- used a senco (Texas rigged- havn't had much of a chance to try out wacky rigged yet!) and my jig/beaver. Tried the same area I got the 4.3 at and was surprised I didn't get bit. The 25th was a totally different day. Rained off and on during the night and the wind was blowing pretty good too. Put on my rainsuit and started walking. Covered a pretty big chunk of bank but no bass!! Just tossed the jig so I didn't have to keep backtracking for the 2nd or 3rd rod. Hands were like ice cubes by the time I got back to the car and headed for work.
      City: yoncalla

      Tips: The water clarity was actually pretty decent before the rain started up again. I put 2-4' in the report for the 23rd but it was more like 4-6'. See you at the lake!!

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: hopefully getti

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Hey Bob. I'm not sure how your water clarity is, but my go to color of senco is green pumpkin w/ black flake. Second of course is watermelon w/ black flake. I've also had better luck this time of year with the 4 in. Have you had any luck with the wacky rig?
      City: Salem

      Tips: Hopefully getting to go first of the season soon!

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: cool still

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Stopped by Cottage Grove Lake on my way to work this morning. Didn't really expect to catch a fish but had to try. Started out using Big Ed's as well as my fishin' pal Scott's favorite lure- a 5" watermelon w/red flake senco. On about the 3rd or 4th cast I saw my Tuffline braid jerk just a bit so I lowered the rod tip and set the hook. The fish fought pretty good. She went 4 lbs.,3 ounces on the scale and was 19" long. Off to a good start for 2010. I alternated between the senco and my trusty jig/beaver for another 45 minutes and kept moving and covering water but couldn't draw another bite. This fish came off a drop off near a spawning area and I'm kind of surprised I didn't get at least 1 or 2 more fish. I'm starting at the same spot tomorrow so we'll see if some her friends wouldn't like a senco for breakfast.
      City: yoncalla

      Tips: Have your gear ready and accessible. My pliers were buried under a pile of soft plastics bags in my fanny pack- I actually tossed them all out on the ground to find them. By the time I got the 5/0 Gamakatsu out of her mouth and weighed/measured her it was time to get her back in the water. Didn't bother with a picture 'cause it was 35 degrees and I don't like having them out of the water that long. See ya out there-and by the way tomorrow I'm getting more than one fish!!

Monday, March 15th, 2010

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: in a pond near the willamette in independence caught a 4 1/2 pound large mouth bass on a green crippleback repala in shallow water, fish was full of eggs preparing to spawn, also caugh one other smaller largemouth
      City: jefferson

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: still cool

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished for about 45 minutes this morning at Cottage Grove. It was 26 degrees when I left the house- took 2 jugs of water to clear my car windows. Actually wore some mechanics gloves today. The braided line I love using was freezing in the guides. I had to clear out the guides about every 4th or 5th cast. Once the sun popped out that got a little better. I covered a good chunk of shore using the cast and walk method but still got no bass. The lake is slowly rising and I saw 2 boats out as I was leaving. One parked at the mouth of the creek which is where I'd start if I had been in the kayak or boat. If it stays nice a few more days the bass have got to be stacked up waiting to head up the creek and feed a bit more before spawning. I'm gonna try launching the kayak from the creek ramp even if I have to park outside the gate and carry all my gear in.
      City: yoncalla,or

      Tips: On 26 degree mornings I love my big,heavy,long red jacket. Cabelas and BPS both have them on sale from time to time for a pretty good price. A hooded sweatshirt under and your good to about 20 degrees or so. Mechanics gloves help keep your hands warm enough to fish and if your worried about smelling like a fish you could always wash them! The rubber boots I wear aren't insulated so an extra heavy pair of socks is a good idea.

Friday, February 19th, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: chilly

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished about a 250 yard section of the west shore of Cottage Grove today before work. Used a crawdad colored crankbait for 1 stinkin' cast- then had to do the old grab the line and walk backwards trick. The line finally snapped at the usual weak spot- the uni to uni knot between the leader and the braid. Grabbed my trusty jig rod and kept casting. About 10 minutes before I had to leave for work I tossed way out along side a small point. Let the jig settle and started slowly workin' it back to me. About halfway back I felt the familiar tap-tap from my first bass of 2010. Set the hook on the 3rd tap and in she comes. A nice belly full of eggs 4 pound, 8 ounce beauty. Didn't have my tape with me but she was 3" taller than the top of my rubber boots. Worked out to 19 1/2" once I got to work and borrowed a tape. Tried 3 or 4 more casts to the area but no more bites. I was in a great mood all day! Even got a semi-decent picture of her. Felt bad having her out that long as cold as it was but she swam away fine when I gently sat her back in the lake.
      City: yoncalla,or

      Tips: I tying a crawdad crankbait back on right now and the jig rod always goes with me regardless of the time of year. Fish them as slow as you can but mix it up now and then. This bass hit the jig pretty hard while I was shaking the tip of the rod. I think banging and bouncing the crank off the bottom or any cover is what gets you the most bites. But with the right crankbait you can do it slowly enough that the fish doesn't have to expend extra energy chasing it down! Gotta go- fishin' time!

Monday, February 15th, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: felt OK for 2/1

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Spent an hour and a half walking and casting along the west shore (Mid-lake) at Cottage Grove this morning. Water has come up quite a bit. Used a jig and reddish beaver along with a jerkbait. If you fish this lake later in the year you really should take your camera and a notepad and walk the shoreline. You'll discover all kinds of cool looking cover that you never knew was there.
      City: yoncalla,or

      Tips: Thanks for the kind words Big Ed. You can't catch 'em if you don't go to the lake or pond. I really miss the ponds I used to fish in California- they would usually produce 9 or 10 months of the year.Don't forget- the Bassmaster Classic is next weekend. I'd rather be catchin' than watchin' but those dudes can sure fish. Fun to try to pick the top 5 guys. See ya out there! And GO JOSH HILL!!

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

  • Coos County
    • By

      Water Temp: really cold

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I think you are the only person in the state that is actually fishing for bass this time of year. You are a dedicated, fishing addict. I sure appreciate you taking the time to report on all of your fishing adventures. It provides a lot of inspiration for me to get out there and rip some lips. I unfortunately fish small farm ponds that take forever to warm up. Three of them actually have mountain stream runoff going into them. But I'm patiently waiting for my time. Thanks Bob
      City: Salem, Or

      Tips: I've found early pre-spring bass don't move a lot for their food. I normally drag senkos along the bottom very slowly and try to put it right in front of them. Quite possibly the most boring style of bass fishing. But can be affective.