Tony’s Fishing Report

Local lakes: I had a chance to talk to a couple of anglers that spent the afternoon on Bradley Lake in Bandon last Friday. They told me that they were marking plenty of fish on their fish-finder, but were unable to hook up after trying several trolling methods. Lake temperatures have been extremely cold in recent weeks. Look for temperatures to warm up a bit as a southerly front moves over the south coast this week. I recently asked local fish biologist Gary Vonderohe about the status of the improvements to the boat launch area at Bradley Lake. He said that all the funding is in place, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is completing the permit process. He told me that the public should see the project get under way this summer. The dredging of the boat launch area and the installation of a dock system will give boaters safe access, and shore anglers a chance to fish. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is working on the 2012 Southwest Region trout stocking schedule. We should have some info by Feb. 1.

Local rivers: Despite last week’s low and clear river levels, anglers did well catching winter steelhead on most south coast streams. Most of the fish were taken in the lower portions of rivers near tidewater. With plenty of rain in this week’s forecast, look for opportunities to come — and steelhead to be on the move — as rivers begin to rise again. When this series of weather systems finally passes, look for winter steelhead fishing to kick into high gear. Typically, the height of the season comes from mid-January through the end of February.

Pacific Ocean: High winds and surf will keep even the larger commercial crab vessels in port. Anglers thinking about jetty fishing should use extreme caution at this time of year.

Area shellfish: Due to the dry weather last week, local crabbers did well in the bay at Bandon. A couple from Grants Pass caught two limits of Dungeness crab from their boat in the lower bay. Look for things to change this week as rain events will bring plenty of fresh water into the bay, and chase the crab back out to sea. A seven-day series of afternoon minus tides begins today, which is good news for bay clammers. The Charleston and Cape Arago area is a great place to harvest local bay clams, and winter is the best time of year to harvest them.

(Tony Roszkowski has owned and operated Port O’ Call — TonysCrabShack.com — on the Bandon waterfront since 1989. Many South Coast anglers rely on his fish and shellfish reports. Hear more from Tony on ‘Oregon Outdoors’ Thursdays on KWRO 630 AM.)