Idaho Fish Report
Umpqua Early April Update
by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
4-4-2019
Website
UMPQUA RIVER, MAINSTEM:
Right now it looks like the river is going to be a litte high for most people drift fishing, but plunking can be good.. Most anglers use a pink Spin-n-Glo and maybe some eggs for plunking, which can be good when the river is high and turbid. All wild steelhead must be released in the Umpqua so please follow good catch-and-release techniques.
Spring Chinook should be in the river and there is a rumor the first springer of 2019 has been caught. Most anglers fish for spring Chinook from a boat using plugs or bait.
Trout fishing will reopen in May 2019.
UMPQUA RIVER, NORTH:
Steelhead fishing should be good and recent reports have anglers catching a few. The river should be on the rise, which can make fishing tough.
Spring Chinook are on their way, but no reports of anyone catching any yet.
Some of the North Umpqua and tributaries are open for trout (those above Slide Creek Dam): check the fishing regulations to see which areas are closed.
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:
The river should be on the rise, which can be tough fishing. Lots of hatchery fish have been reported this year. Anglers were doing well in the upper sections of the South around Canyonville this past week. Check out the South River Gauge.