UMPQUA RIVER, MAINSTEM:

Anglers are finding a few steelhead in the lower river. Don’t forget to turn in hatchery winter steelhead snouts for a chance to win a gift card. Coho should also be in the river, but only fin-clipped fish are allowed to be retained.

Bass fishing is likely going to slow with cold conditions.

Trout fishing is closed until the opener in May. 

UMPQUA RIVER, NORTH: 

Access to the North Umpqua is limited with the closure of areas in the Umpqua National Forest and other lands near the forest. No recent fishing reports.

Winter steelhead should start showing up in the North later in December. Don’t forget to turn in snouts from hatchery winter steelhead for a chance to win a gift card.

Some of the North Umpqua and tributaries are open for trout (those above Slide Creek Dam). These areas may be tough to access during the winter months. Check the fishing regulations to see which areas are open.

Note that as of Oct 1, fishing in the fly water area is restricted to the use of a single, barbless, artificial fly. 

UMPQUA RIVER, SOUTH: 

Winter Steelhead season usually doesn’t pick up till later in the month, but there should be a few starting to return. Don’t forget to turn in snout from hatchery Winter Steelhead for a chance to win a gift card.

Umpqua winter steelhead study

Anglers who catch a hatchery winter steelhead in the Umpqua Basin are being asked to turn in the snouts from those fish. Some of these snouts contain small tags. Anglers who turn in snouts that contain these tags will be entered into a raffle for a $50 gift card. Snouts may be turned in at barrels located around the basin, Sportsman’s Warehouse in Roseburg, or the Roseburg ODFW office. Tags obtained from the fish will inform ODFW on the best release strategy for juveniles to provide the most fish back to anglers in the future.