An Umpqua River Report Of Sorts

Well, the river was blown but there was some fly fishing to be had in some big eddys.
Here's my good buddy working for winter steel
reported to have been making their way upstream:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01426.jpg

Here's what it looked like over the bow of his 21 foot sled at speed:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01431.jpg

My fly fishin' bud at the helm of his rig:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01430.jpg

All in all we had a lot of fun and since it was our first time on blown out,
brown water, we learned a lot about navigation and things to do to keep safe.

Bonus pic of some wild life and wild sky:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01423.jpg

Hopefully the river will start behaving soon so we can hit it again under
somewhat better conditions and have some pics of steel to show.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

That's some interesting water you got there, George.

Sounds like you guys had a good time, and got back safely. That'll do most days !!

John

It sure is John, imagine being able to rock hop there during
low to normal river levels. Neither of us had seen much if any
of this part of the river though. It's mostly private access and this was
a chance to see how some 'other halves' live. Pretty neat day altogether.

And yep, any day of fly fishing...well you know !

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

You rock hop on that stuff? The two times I've been there the only thing that seems to touch the rocks is my butt, more so than my feet.

We do MFTG, because
that area is a lot different during
low river levels, consisting of continuous
rock shelves and drop offs. Very well known
for smallmouth bass holding structure.
Combined with the shelves there are the
occasional wadable riffles where we swing
for steel and smallmouth at the same time
of year and with pretty much the same gear.

The Umpqua drainage is very diverse and holds
resident trout, steel, king and silver salmon and
some rough fish. I've even hooked a small catfish on the fly.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

whats the north part of the river looking like. im going to be heading down there weekend after next. the water is pretty high all over. although there are a few places i know of around there that fish when those rivers are high water and brown. they are shaping up as we speak and people are getting them. cool pictures ive always wanted to go bass fishing down there. i think i heard of a run of shad on those parts. have you ever fished that run?

George -

I may have to swing through Oregon some time later this year and get some first hand experience on the Umpqua. What would be the best time to give it a go ????

John

Well, the part I can see is flat now and has changed from coffe with cream to a moss and forest green tinge....not quite green tea yet. Yep, there's been some shad runs in the almost 10 years I've been here but I just can't wrap
myself around those fish when the steel and smallies are about, but I have fished them, even caught one once then'quickly went back to smallie fishing. Heh, heh...

I know you told me somewhere along the line just where you are but I forget...pm if you like and also, fly fishing conditions where you're talking about could be good weekend after the next. I'm away to the coast this coming holiday wknd to check out the surf, but please be sure and let me know just before you're heading down so I can check things out for you. Shoot, may even get a chance to froth some water together.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

.....as a moved away fishing bud used to say. Hello John, well to me the best time to try is anytime the system isn't blown out as there is always something going on. I guess to me the best time is in the spring. I can get steel, trout an smb from then on till high water.

When I say spring I mean anytime the water is 'clearish' and when the air temps are above 44 or so. If by later in the year you mean summer, that's a good time too if you don't mind the heat...makes early morning/late evening fly fishing the ticket. Makes the middle part of day a good 'rearming' time. Sometimes I've gone to the river at daybreak for smallies, dashed up high on the river for trout and to try for steel then hit the lake after supper till dark for lmb.

Be sure to keep me posted via here or in pm as to when you're coming out John and we'll get something going !

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

Views to a steelhead run...here's a piece of soft water the steelhead
have to navigate on their way upriver:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01463.jpg

From there, it's a good pull and or leap to get above the 'falls':

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01461.jpg

Here's a piece of water that some of you may recognize, imagine that for
a while the river was about 10ft. above where I was standing when I took
this picture and as can be easily seen, whole trees have been deposited
on higher points than 10 ft over the current flows, which are still high:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01453.jpg

I turned around and took this picture, where there was an island September before
last, some will barely recognize where they waded across easily back then since
the shore has been rearranged and much of the shrubbery and some of the small
trees we had to walk or wade around are gone:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01452.jpg

It was warm for a time today, somewhere around 58, maybe even 60
and I got some sun on my face for a while. Had to put on sunglasses even.
As an added bonus for the day, while casting to the 'big pool' straight out
from where we park to fly fish here, I got a nice little 'half pounder'.
I'm not big on taking pics and this guy was only about a 15 incher anyway
but chrome bright and very feisty wild 'trout'.

Hoping to get out again tomorrow, though I don't know if it will be the river again.
Maybe go up to the lake.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

Have you been doing any good down there down there moose? I have had a rough last month on the coast. I have been finding fish but in spots im not familiar with and the slower water is harder to get them to strike. Im so bummed out on the fishing i might go crabbing and jettie fishing.

That sounds like something I might have to get into soon. What do you get there steelieslayer?

I've been upriver twice since I saw you last, but
no hookups...din't even see any steel on redds where I usually do. I should have gone up today except for the downpour last night...maybe tomorrow (wednesday) or day after.

I din't make a report last two times since nothing happened beyond getting some fresh air and a lot of exercise. If anything good happens (well, it's fly fishing so it's always good) I'll post something here. The water looks good though. Last trip was Whistlers. Full bank access and no one around. Photobucket is down or I'd post the Whistler pics.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

George -

From your previous posts on this thread, it seems there might be some more interesting changes in the river that you can document for us, whether the fishies want to play nice or not.

One of the fascinating things for me, fishing the same five to six mile stretch of the South Fork for the past six years, has been how much it has changed year to year, and how very different most of that stretch is now compared to when I started fishing it.

I suspect you've seen a lot of changes on the Umpqua, and I, for one, would really enjoy hearing about them, and seeing the current conditions ( no pun intended ) through your eyes and lens.

John

This first pic is a place that takes hours of brush busting to get to, so no one ever fly fishes there.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01661.jpg

Next, a gravel bar I really want to fly fish from someday...again hours of hiking and brush busting to get to.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01669.jpg

This is just to show the color of the river a few days after a decent rain.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01664.jpg

This last pic is where I met steelieslayer after a pm from him that he was coming in from the north
to try for some steel on the Umpqua.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01675.jpg

I've started taking pics and posting them in FAOL because I was inspired by John Scott as
I'm sure many of you have been also. Thanks John !

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

John, I sure have seen changes in the rivers
I fish now and that I've fished over the years.
I've only been fly fishing the Umpqua drainage
since '92 I think it was when a friend and I first
made the trek north from where I used to live.

Since '99 when we bought the place here near
the Umqua, I've fly fished it a lot more and that's
when I started noticing the changes. Not
unlike the river that I moved away from, this
river has lost whole gravel bars, beaches, rock
outcroppings, trees, buildings and of course
at the same time, runs, glides and new gravel
bars and pools have been created.

As mentioned in the pic post above, your great
mini-documentaries on your waters have inspired
me to grab a few shots each time I go out now.
Admittedly I struggled with photobucket, pic sizing
and holding still enoughto get a decent shot, but it
din't take long to take pics that are good enough.

I used to carry much bigger cameras but taking
pics with the cell phone (1.3mp) has been part of
downsizing what I'm packing when I'm out on the waters.

So, thanks to you I'll continue grabbing shots of the 'current'
conditions pretty much where I go. Of course there is some water
I can't take pics of...you know...those secret places that only
I know about. Just kidding. No I'm not. Heh, heh...

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JohnScott

George -

From your previous posts on this thread, it seems there might be some more interesting changes in the river that you can document for us, whether the fishies want to play nice or not.

One of the fascinating things for me, fishing the same five to six mile stretch of the South Fork for the past six years, has been how much it has changed year to year, and how very different most of that stretch is now compared to when I started fishing it.

I suspect you've seen a lot of changes on the Umpqua, and I, for one, would really enjoy hearing about them, and seeing the current conditions ( no pun intended ) through your eyes and lens.

John

---

George -

Great pics. That is some really beautiful water you've got there. One of these days I am going to hike into that gravel bar with you and get a lesson on how to fish the Umpqua.

John

P.S. You are welcome - and your thanks are hereby redirected to my friend Ryan ( Wild One ) who inspired me to start taking pics, and Len ( Spinner 1 ) who helped me figure out how to post them.

You're welcome John, of course your pics are great
but yes, I have to agree inspiration has
also come from wild one and spinner1.
Others too really...I just felt like I was missing
something by not taking pics and letting everyone
see what it looks like through my eyes.

And hey, I can't wait till we step out onto that gravel
bar and try to decide who gives who lessons first !

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

P.S. Too cold to go
fly fishing today?

Here's a few pics of another gravel bar I like...
this place is a little easier to navigate
though there is some brush bustin' involved
if I want to get away from the 'crowds'.

This is where I park, then an easy walk to the
bar.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01790.jpg

Looking to my left....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01792.jpg

To my right....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01791.jpg

Hiking upriver on the bar to put some distance between myself and the crowd...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01793.jpg

More pics coming, continuing up along the bar, headed for the brush bustin' to get
to the really good gravel bar.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

Heading into the brush, glancing back...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01794.jpg

Deeper...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01806.jpg

....and deeper....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01804.jpg

Hidden gravel bar in sight....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01803.jpg

Next, pics of the 'secret' steelhead place..

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

Stepping out onto the prized gravel bar....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01801.jpg

Hiking to the top of the bar....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01798.jpg

All that to fish this 'best' little piece of water....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01797.jpg

Turning around, looking at the way back...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01800.jpg

Fished about 3.5 hours including two other bars on the way...had a great time...got some sun on my face...running around in a t-shirt, worked up a little sweat. No need to wade when fly fishing the 'bars' either and plenty of running up and down room for when I hook the 18 pounder.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

hey man, i went out to the jetties in newport last weekend and i got a couple or rock bass at night. i cant say i was fly fishing but it was really fun to get them at night. had a few smoked oysters at the oyster farm. then we headed up river on the way back home and i fished with my buddys dads old shakespeare split cane rod. boy we have it nice with the graphite rods. his real he had on it was really sweet though, it was an old orvis baitten kill or something. i will probably head over to the coast tomorrow afternoon and get some fishing in this weekend. keep up the good work, jason

George -

Can't figure out how I missed the pics you posted on 2-19 ?? Have you had a chance to get back there again ??

John

Hey Jason, great hearing from you. So were those the green rock bass, or another color?
I remember talking about the cabezon last time.

Did you do any good on the river on your way
back? Oh btw, do you know about the fly fishing
expo at Reedsport this Saturday? I figure you do but thought I better ask. Hope to see you there...I'm bringing salt gear just in case.

Hello John, well you're a busy guy with your cross country 'snow wading' and working the Elkhorn and I'm glad. As far as going back to
those bars, I will when it stops raining and once
they're not under water anymore.

The other bar we spoke of earlier (the big hike one)
is underwater too of course but I'm ready to go back up
there and do the hike to let you know.
That reminds me...I think I pm'd you about that.

Also, the 2/19 pics aren't this bar or even that area:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01669.jpg

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

Love all the pics George.... keep it up

Thanks Allen, I'm having a lot of fun messing with the cell camera and have begun taking pics just about everywhere I go near water. Look for pics of a fly fishing expo in the 'Events' column, oh maybe by Sunday late or Monday. There should be a few pics of fellow FAOLer's in the mix.

Any fishing or are you still out of state? The river is up here so I'm on hold. I can go to the lake in a day or two though, so I'll do that whilst waiting for the Umpqaua to drop a few feet.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MontanaMoose

Thanks Allen, I'm having a lot of fun messing with the cell camera and have begun taking pics just about everywhere I go near water. Look for pics of a fly fishing expo in the 'Events' column, oh maybe by Sunday late or Monday. There should be a few pics of fellow FAOLer's in the mix.

Any fishing or are you still out of state? The river is up here so I'm on hold. I can go to the lake in a day or two though, so I'll do that whilst waiting for the Umpqaua to drop a few feet.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

---

I am turing my jon boat into a mini bass boat for ffing... I had a guy doing some welding for me this week but I am picking it up tomorow.... will try to get out before the next storm comes in but it is not looking good... at least we are finally getting some rain

Glad you're going to get out after some bass, presumably on Shasta Lake.
Wow, not fished down there since the last time I went to Salt Creek I think it was.
I used to toss the jon in at Lakehead believe it or not and row and use
the electric motor to go all the way up to the
inlet. Good bass up in there in june or so.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

On the North Umpqua a couple of
months ago....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01669.jpg

And yesterday...I took the pics with a different setting and in three parts...
also I did the hike and it's not even an hour...I'd guess something like a 1.75 miles...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01948.jpg

Moved the camera just a bit to the right...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01951.jpg

And a bit more to the right....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01952.jpg

As can be seen, it's now a 'wet bar'. It's still very fishable even though the river
came up quite a bit this last rain but it's dropping fast. I didn't fish there yesterday
but I got some pics of the trail and the bar. I'll post those next.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

This pic is on the trail to 'John's Bar' and
I'm on the other side of the river from the
bluff pics...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01944.jpg

This is a peek through the trees just before
stepping out into the open and looking around...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_01942.jpg

These next two are out of sequence but
they're of steel in the tank at the ladder a ways
downriver and were taken just today...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_02007.jpg

Group photo...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...se/P_02008.jpg

Next set of four were taken yesterday with the
new camera...not sure if I'm going to keep it
but for telephoto, most pics aren't bad...

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

These were taken yesterday also
with a different camera...first one
is across from the bar I hiked to..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/100_0053.jpg

The next three are taken on the bar once I
hiked the approx. 1.75 miles up river on
the other side...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/100_0054.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/100_0055.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/100_0056.jpg

The one with the telephone pole is up on the
bluff and is a pullout along the hiway...the next
two were taken while standing on the bar...very
fishable and I could easily spend a couple of hours there
covering water.

I'll pack the waders, boots, mini-chest pac, lunch etc.
in the big backpack and spend a day there soon.
The tanks at the ladder were pretty full and the run
count is still getting higher even though it's the
first day of spring. Spring ! Yeah !

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

George -

Neat series of pics. The tank at the ladder really gives some insight into what you are in for. Good luck when you go fishing there. Looking forward to those pics, for sure.

John

Thanks John, well it already poured
once this morning and rain is in the
forecast for the weekend so the 'bar'
will as seen in the previous post's pics
for a few more days at least. I see more
trailers at the launch points now so
ppl are getting fish most likely.a

There were some in the tanks that would
go around 15 lbs. or so. I'll be taking the 9wt.
when I make the hike again. At least now I know
I can fish there just about all winter even while the
river is much bigger at the usual spots.
Keep havin' fun with the Elkhorn.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

its nice seeing some chrome/native fish in those tanks. i have been up here on the central coast catching nasty spawning hatchery fish. i have spring break off and i will be fishing the upper parts of the nestucca until it closes at the end of he month. when do the upper parts of those trout streams open up april 1st? i probably wont make it down the D for opening weekend this year but i might go camp out for a few days and hike to some spots. i caught three rock bass out of lincoln city yesterday evening during slack tide and might go back today looking for some perch.

Hello steelieslayer, glad you're getting some on the water days.
Any size on the rock bass?

Trout on the North opens May 23rd this year to the best of my
reading skills. It's hard to decipher that section in the book but
you can always call the gamey here in Roseburg. I'm nearly certain
it's May 23rd though. I do an annual trek 'up there' on just after that
day and I usually do well if it's not blown.

You coming down anytime soon? Lemme know if'n you do.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose