Montana Fish Report

This week, ODFW is stocking “pounders,” rainbow trout averaging just over a pound each, into Coos Bay area lakes for a great fall trout fishing opportunity. The weather is cooling, but the trout are still biting.

Within the city limits of Coos Bay, Upper Empire Lake is getting 3,500 trout. Lower Empire is choked with weeds and has a low water level with water temperatures too high to safely stock rainbows. Those fish instead will be split between Saunders and Butterfield lakes which will each receive 1,200 trout.

Saunders Lake is about five miles north of North Bend and is an easily accessed, pleasant place to take the family fishing. Next to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Butterfield Lake is accessed through Riley Ranch County Park. Anglers at Butterfield Lake might also hook into a warmouth, an unusual fish that looks like a crappie with a bass head

Bradley Lake, just three miles south of Bandon and Powers Pond are also being stocked this week with these pounders.

The rainbow trout harvest limit in most lakes is five fish per day, two daily limits in possession.

Check myodfw.com for fishing tips and the latest Recreation Report.