NORTH UMPQUA RIVER
OREGON FLY FISHING
Species: Steelhead and Sea Run Cutthroat Trout
Season: Summer Steelhead June to November; Winter Steelhead and Sea Run Cutthroat Trout February to April
Peak Season: Summer Steelhead July to October; Winter Steelhead February to April; Sea Run Cutthroat Trout March to April
Rates: $425 per boat/day (2 people per boat)
Method: Dries for cutthroat and summer steelhead, nymphing and swinging flies for winter and summer steelhead
Hatches: March brown, PMDs, BWO, and caddis
What’s the big deal about the North Umpqua? All one needs to do is get a glimpse of this famous river and you will instantly fall in love with its beauty and charm. The bonus is strong steelhead runs that continue from summer through fall and into winter and then in early spring. We’ve been able to catch these prized anadromous fish on the North Umpqua from June through April!
The North Umpqua supports four separate “runs” of steelhead:
Summer run: June through August
Fall run: September through December
Winter run: January through March
Spring run: April through mid-May
Then the cycle starts over again making the North Umpqua almost a year-round steelhead fishery.
We fish the North Umpqua from Lonerock Boat Ramp to the forks (confluence of North and South Umpqua Rivers). Most fishing is done from drift boats. Nymphing under indicators or swinging traditional patterns on spey rods are the most common techniques.
Summer and fall fish average 4 to 8 lbs with occasional 15 lbs-plus fish landed. Winter and spring fish average 9 to 12 lbs with a few over 20 lbs each year.
