[ODFW-News] Siltcoos Lake closes for coho angling

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Information and Education 503-947-6002
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  
	

For Immediate Release	Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2004

Siltcoos Lake closes for coho angling

NEWPORT - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today
that angling for coho salmon in Siltcoos Lake will close at the end of
the day Friday, Nov. 19.  The lake is being closed because the harvest
quota of 600 adult coho is projected to be met.  

In Tahkenitch Lake, fewer coho have been harvested so a closure date
has not yet been identified. ODFW fishery managers anticipate Tahkenitch
Lake will remain open at least through next weekend. The Tahkenitch Lake
fishery will be re-assessed on Monday, Nov. 22 based on the previous
week's catch. 

As long as the season remains open, anglers may harvest one unmarked
adult coho salmon per day plus one unmarked jack coho per day from the
two lakes. Anglers are limited to retaining a combined total of five
adult coho from Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes annually. Anglers may not
continue to fish for jack coho salmon after retaining an adult limit.
Waters open for coho angling on Tahkenitch Lake are upstream from the
Highway 101 bridge and downstream of the Fivemile Road bridge on the
Leitel Creek arm and the ODFW marker at Snare Point on the Fivemile
Creek arm.

All other specifications and restrictions as outlined in the current
2004 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations continue to apply.

Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes near the town of Florence were opened for
the harvest of wild coho Oct. 1. The season was authorized by ODFW in
cooperation with NOAA Fisheries because it targets fish from two healthy
runs and is managed conservatively to assure protection of the resource.
As required in plans for the fishery, a closure is now being implemented
based on projected attainment of the Siltcoos Lake quota.  

Anglers can check the ODFW Web site for further information on closures
at 
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/Regulations/2004_reg_changes.htm.
Anglers also may call the Newport ODFW Office, (541) 867-4741, or ODFW
Headquarters in Salem, (800) 720-6339, Ext. 76001. 


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