Steelhead are rarely easy. Environmental degradation has carrying capacities low and variable ocean conditions create unreliable pea...
Steelhead are rarely
easy. Environmental degradation has carrying capacities low and variable ocean
conditions create unreliable peaks and valleys in our fish populations. The summer
steelhead run in the North Umpqua typically numbers 3000-7000 fish annually according to the counts at Winchester dam. While many local anglers find
these estimates unreliable they are the best we have. Regardless of
how many fish are present, there is no river I would rather fish.
Thirty four miles
of the upper river are designated “fly only” and provides a much needed refuge
for both anglers and fish. During the summer months, steelhead are further
protected by angling rules that prohibit the use of weighted flies and any
weight or other attachments added to the line.
These rules, along with a core of group anglers dedicated to the river's heritage and ethics
make fishing the North Umpqua a real refuge for those not wanting to
participate in the highly competitive and selfish atmosphere of other Oregon Steelhead
fisheries. Only six guides are allowed
permits to operate in the fly water which further protects the quality of the
experience.
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| Few Umpqua runs are typical cast and step runs |
Fishing the North Umpqua is not as straight forward as most steelhead rivers, It is a good sized river stuffed into a small canyon with a steep gradient. There are very few long classic riffles and many runs are fished from a single rock with a dozen casts. The wading is also difficult, often deep and always over slick basalt. Studded boots are mandatory and a wading staff is highly recommended. Finding runs to fish is not difficult. From the Deadline near Idleyld Park to Steamboat Inn, the popular runs are marked by roadside turnouts, each with a well-worn path to the water. Cleat marks on rocks from decades of anglers give clues to the best parts of the runs to fish.
The fish are like
summer steelhead everywhere. They respond well to surface and near surface
presentations. Getting your fly deep is rarely necessary. Many runs are deep but the fish are usually
suspended above underwater structure and are rarely deeper than six feet.
There are many spots on the river where 9’6”-10’ single hand
rod with a matching salmon-steelhead taper line is perfect. The increased
casting precision is very important to hit specific holding lies. Most anglers
however choose the two handed approach 10'6"-11'6" switch and 12'-13’6” spey rods are
great. They make long casts that cover the water efficiently easy. The Beulah Platinum 8124-4 paired with a 500 grain Beulah Elixir scandi line would be a
superb choice. Whether fishing single or double-handed, your leader should have
a 12 lb tippet and be about the length of the rod you are using. Rio Salmon and Steelhead Leaders and tippet are great choices.
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| Though it's arid all summer, The Umpqua is in a rain forest |
There are great debates about fly choices for the North Umpqua. Many local anglers like to match the fly to the conditions, using larger flies early in the season when flows are higher and smaller more natural flies later in the season as the water gets lower. Others feel that larger flies have a bigger draw for the fish and gives them more incentive to move from the deeper lies regardless of the water conditions. For those unfamiliar with the river it’s probably best to be prepared with a wide variety of sizes and colors. Skunks and Muddlers from sizes 2- 8 are a good place to start. Purple patterns like the Deschutes Madness or Solitude’s Purple Green Butt would be a good addition along with a pattern or two for surface fishing. Bombers, and Lights Out would be a great choices. For those wanting to impart some action to their surface pattern, locally known as “Chugging” you’ll want Solitude's Fighting Gravity.
The North Umpqua is one of the great rivers of Oregon. A
trip there should be on the bucket list of everyone who loves the steelheading.
The deep emerald water, stunning basalt canyon and magnificent old growth
forests provide an incredible backdrop for pursuing North America’s greatest game fish.
Rob Allen
Spey Wizard
Rob Allen
Spey Wizard
