[ODFW-News] Changes to Coos Bay striped bass rules to be discussed at meeting

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Meghan Collins (541) 440-3353 or Mike Gray, (541)
888-5515	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (541) 673-0372
	

For Immediate Release	Friday, May 7, 2004

Changes to Coos Bay striped bass closure areas among proposals to be
discussed at Roseburg public meeting

ROSEBURG - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife invites anglers
to comment on 2005 angling regulation proposals at a Monday, May 17,
public meeting in Roseburg. 

The meeting, to be held 7-10 p.m. at the ODFW office at 4192 N. Umpqua
Hwy, begins with a presentation on statewide angling proposals, followed
by proposed changes to regulations for the Umpqua, Coos, Coquille, and
other Southwest Zone basins.

Proposals specific to the Coos Basin include recommendations to remove
existing closures to striped bass angling in the Coos and Millicoma
rivers and Catching Slough. Natural production of striped bass in the
Coos Basin has been unsuccessful for several years, most likely due to
alteration of spawning habitat. As such, the closure areas are
unnecessary.

Other proposals include opening Eel Creek below Eel Lake for harvest of
adipose fin-clipped steelhead, and a proposal for Tenmile Lakes to
define rainbow longer than 20 inches as "trout" from May 1 to Oct.
31. The trout proposal would allow harvest of unmarked holdover rainbow
that sometimes reach a large size in Tenmile Lakes, but are presently
considered as steelhead and must be released.  From Nov. 1 to April 30,
when marked and unmarked steelhead are passing through the lakes, fish
longer than 20 inches would still be considered "steelhead" and
would need to be adipose fin-clipped to harvest.

Public comments received May 17 will be considered by the Oregon Fish
and Wildlife Commission at its August meeting. The Commission also will
consider oral public testimony received at both the August and September
Commission meetings. The 2005 sport fishing rules will be adopted by the
Commission in September. 

In addition, public meetings will be held in Eugene on Tuesday, May 18,
at Lane Community College, 4000 E. 30th Ave, Building 17, Forum Room
309; and in Newport on Wednesday, May 19, at Hatfield Marine Science
Center, 2030 S.E. Marine Science Drive.

All angling regulation proposals can be viewed at
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrFish/2005_regdev.htm or
requested from ODFW by calling 1-800-720-6339, Ext. 76200. 

Public comment is welcomed at the meeting. Comments also can be sent to
Rhine Messmer, ODFW, 3406 Cherry Avenue NE, Salem OR 97303 or emailed to
rhine.t.messmer at state.or.us through Sept. 3, 2004. 



Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002