EMPIRE LAKES - With spring upon us, there are multiple local fishing opportunities for you and your family to take advantage of at lakes in Coos County and around the state.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recently released their spring fishing forecast, which includes a statewide overview of conditions and fishing opportunities, including those on the South Coast.

"When the weather starts getting nice, more people come out to fish. A lot of different types of fish become active as well. We just want people to know where they can go fishing and what sort of fish are available," says Mike Gray with ODFW.

Every March through the end of June, ODFW stocks local lakes with both legal and trophy size rainbow trout, and for the past two years, they have been able to up the amount they put into the lakes.

"In this district which includes Coos, Coquille and Tenmile lakes area, we were able to add 30,000 additional legal size rainbow trout in 2007 and again this year in 2008."

In addition to trout, gray says there are also many warm water fish including large mouth bass, blue gill and yellow perch.

There are some requirements if you plan to fish in area lakes.

For all those over the age of 14, you must have a license, which can be purchased at the ODFW office in Charleston or at area businesses.

There will be a free fishing weekend the first weekend in June at Tugman State Park and Powers Lake.

For more information on the spring fishing forecast including daily bag limits log onto www.dfw.state.or.us