Striped bass fishing in the lower Coquille picks up substantially in April and May with mid-May to June being some of the best monthsFish can be caught using nightcrawler or 1/3 of an anchovy/herring bait on the bottom along current lines in 8-12ft of water. Use of a sliding line through a three-way swivel or swivel stopper with drop lead is popular.

Smallmouth bass are reaching their most active period pre-spawn in the upcoming weeks with warmer weather. Spearfishing closed on October 31. Bait fishing for smallmouth remains open in tidewater locations and the Coquille River S.F. and where steelhead fishing is open. Fishing is expected to be solid in May-June, slowing a bit in July when waters become very warm. Try bait on the bottom or artificial grubs/worms worked slowly. Smallmouth should start hitting topwater gear in mid-May, when topwater gear and lures will become viable. Hardcore anglers may entice a small mouth bass to bite in the tidewater reaches upstream of Coquille, with bait on the bottom. There is no limit for smallmouth bass, which are destructive to salmon fry production.

Steelhead have finished their spawning run for 2026, and fishing is over for the season. There has been some confusion about use of bait in the Coquille basin during the steelhead season due to the language in the S.W. section Regulations Exceptions. Bait is allowed in all mainstem forks of the Coquille basin for steelhead. The plan at this point is to adjust the language in the regulations for the 2027 manual.

For any questions on Salmon Fishing in the Coos or Coquille please call the Charleston office at (541) 888-5515 *dial zero in the options menu.

ODFW is steadily stocking coastal lakes in the district (Saunders, Bradley, Butterfield, Empire Lakes, Powers Pond) on a two to three week rotation. Trout fishing has been fair in those locations. Trout fishing is closed in rivers and streams in the Coquille Basin until May 22.