Idaho Fish Report

The wild coho season on the Coquille River from the mouth upstream to the Highway 42S Bridge begins on Sept. 14 and goes through Oct. 15. Anglers are allowed 1 wild adult coho per day and 3 for the season (no more than 5 wild adult coho may be harvested per year in the Northwest and Southwest Zones with open wild coho salmon fisheries). The harvest of Chinook salmon (hatchery or wild) on the Coquille is prohibited. Coho salmon anglers are reporting success from the Hwy 101 Bridge to above Rocky Point Boat Ramp.

Striped bass anglers are having limited success fishing the lower mainstem Coquille River. Best fishing has been after dark and low light periods of the day.

Smallmouth bass are still active in the mainstem Coquille River, South Fork Coquille and Middle Fork Coquille. Smallmouth bass can be found throughout the mainstem Coquille but are in higher abundance above Johnson Mill Pond.

There are lots of smallmouth bass in the South Fork Coquille in the deep pools. Most of the fish are under 8 inches long so anglers should use smaller hooks. As water temperatures continue to decrease more smallmouth bass will move into the deeper holes.

The use of spears/spear fishing to harvest smallmouth bass was recently approved and is allowed from June 1 – Oct. 31. Anglers may also use bait in the mainstem Coquille and tributaries from June 1 – Oct. 31.

Trout fishing remains open through Oct. 31 in the rivers and streams. There are a decent number of sea-run cutthroat moving through the mainstem Coquille into the major forks of the river.