An Umpqua River Report Of Sorts

[MontanaMoose]

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:



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



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



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:



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

[JohnScott]

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

[MontanaMoose]

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

[MrFishingToughGuy]

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.

[MontanaMoose]

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

[steelieslayer]

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?

[JohnScott]

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

[MontanaMoose]

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

[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

[MontanaMoose]

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



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



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:



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:



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