North Umpqua River

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Aaron Stiny and Jason Hartwick are up there right now.

Should have a report soon.

[shawn kempkes]

I saw this on the odfw website. For anybody that plans on heading up there.

asked to help North Umpqua summer steelhead


Date:

August 2 , 2007


Contact:
Jim Brick or Meghan Collins (541) 440-3353

ROSEBURG – With a current combination of higher water temperatures in the North Umpqua River and low numbers of returning summer steelhead, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife asks anglers to voluntarily limit their fishing to cooler morning hours.

“We’re at our lowest return level in 40 years for summer steelhead,” said Jim Brick, acting Umpqua District Fish Biologist. “Anglers can help out right now by voluntarily stopping fishing during afternoon hours when the river temperature is the warmest. Early morning angling puts less stress on the fish.”

Brick said fish mortality levels increase drastically when water temperatures are over 74 degrees, and angling – even catch-and-release – further stresses the fish. Higher water temperatures also decrease available fish habitat, disease resistance, spawning success and supplies of food and oxygen.

Winchester Dam fish counts for the period May 1 – July 23 show just 2,447 summer steelhead have returned to the North Umpqua, 1,500 of which are wild fish. The ten-year average for the same time period is nearly 5,000 fish with about an even split between hatchery and wild fish.

Although the run continues through October, poor ocean conditions and less hatchery steelhead produced for the North Umpqua are also contributing to lower returns.

The 2007 angling regulations continue to apply. Harvest of wild summer steelhead is prohibited, however anglers may harvest two adipose fin-clipped steelhead per day with two daily limits in possession.



The mission of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations. The agency consists of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, a commission-appointed director and a statewide staff of approximately 950 permanent employees. Headquartered in Salem, ODFW has regional offices in Clackamas, Roseburg, Bend, and La Grande with ten district offices located throughout the state. For additional information, please visit www.dfw.state.or.us.

[dtp916]

:shock: That's not what I was hoping for.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Thanks for the heads-up Shawn.

[WinterrunRon]

Ditto... thanks for posting.

[nrthcsteel]

Fished the North Umpqua two weeks ago for 2 1/2 days. Weather was great, low overcast and cool for most of the day. Had one "toilet flush" on a waker the second morning, but no hook up. Talked to a few others and most were coming up with zero but there were fish being caught. The goto fly, according to many people, was the green butt skunk. Have a three day midweek float on the Deschutes week after next and will be making "pit stops" at the North Umpqua for a couple of days on the way up and back to break up the long drive. Look forward to hearing the report from the guys up there now. The North Umqua is a great river. Very challenging, with straight forward easy to read/fish water to very complicated water that requires very good line/fly control to hit the bucket. Add to that some very scenic surroundings and youve got everything a great steelhead river should be and then some! Also there was recently a petition out there that you could sign over the internet that concerned the killing of wild winter steelhead on the Umpqua river. I think the deadline for signing it may have past, not the most computer savvy so cant provide a link but a search will probably bring up the subject. Just a heads up as it appears there will be some future issues concerning the management of wild fish on the Umpqua. I think we should do all we can to protect/preserve wild fish whether it is on our homewaters or waters we visit each year or may visit in the future. Take care Kevin

[aaron]

Just got back, water was in the mid 60's but cooled to the high 50's as the weather cooled off a bit.

As far as the ODFW goes, most folks in the know agree they do about as much harm to the wild steelhead runs up there as good. They were the only group opposed to the ban on killing wild fish which thankfully was passed. They tag wild fish with transmitters that deny them the chance to feed after they spawn therefore guaranteeing the fish has zero chance of feeding and returning. For them money takes precedence over protecting the wild steelhead runs. Lee Spencer who is hired to oversee the big bend pool on steamboat creek while the fish hold there ended our lengthy conversation about the role of the ODFW by saying he fears the day ODFW takes over protecting those fish from poachers.

[Jasonh]

What a great place. The fishing was great and the scenary gets no better. Looking forward to getting back up there.

For those of you that head up there make sure to head up Steamboat cree to the fishwatch and talk with Lee Spencer. What a great guy who watches over the fish and is a wealth of knowledge about the NU and its wild steelhead. He has a little packet that hopefully Aaron and i can post here for people to read about angling for steelhead. It is very interesting with tons of great information.

[nrthcsteel]

Thanks for the update guys sounds like you had a great time. Jason thanks for the heads up on Lee Spencer, sounds like something I will definatly go check out. Especially if the afternoons are blazing hot@! Only a few more days and I will be knee deep swinging away............. Kevin

[Adam Grace]

Jason and Aaron, did you guys take any pictures of your fish. What'd they grab and what sizes did you catch?

[Jasonh]

Kevin,

Good luck up there and i think you will enjoy your visit to steamboat creek and visiting with Lee. The fishing conditions were tough but if you spend the time and cover a lot of water you shoould be able to raise a few. Let us know how you do.

Adam,

Took plenty of pictures, unfortunately no picture of fish. Aaron managed one pic of me fishgting the fish and then the camera batteries went out. I had my 20d in my backpack but did not want to take the time to get it out with the fish in hand as the water was in the low 60's and that would have been too dangerous for the fish.

As for flies, all our take/boils were on skaters. Fished a variety of patterns such as the ska-opper, grantham sedge aka steelhead whacker, and muddlers to name a few.

[Rick J]

Hi Jason - what stick and line set up were you using?

Best regards,
Rick

[Jasonh]

Rick,

I fished my Scott ARC 1287-3 with a cnd 6/7 line. This is my favorite setup for dry line summer steelheading.

I think a switch rod or even a single hander would be great up there in many runs because of all the roll casting you have to do in some spots. I might just have to check out the sage 8110-4 to take up there in the future. It is just nice to be to spey or single hand on a river like the North Umpqua.

[Adam Grace]

I love that Scott 128-7 ARC! Rick used to or still does own that same rod if I remember correctly. A great rod for summer steelhead! I enjoyed it on the Klamath when I fished it with Rick a few years back. Although in some spots I would have like a little bit more length for some longer casts and control.

Jason, you guys went hard core swinging, very cool, with dries no less - very hard core. That's too bad about the picture of the fish but please post some of the area that you were fishing.

[Jasonh]

I'll post some pics tonight when i get a chance.

[jbird]

Jason

Looking forward to the pics. Theres nowhere quite like it!

Jay

[Jasonh]

Okay, i am having some trouble uploading some pics. I have a new apple macbook pro with aperture and cannont seem to get the photos off there and onto photobucket to put on here. It might be a couple of days as i will be travelling back east this weekend.

Jay,

Fished the rogue at tou velle (sp?) on the way home for an hour. Nice little stretch of water there. No tugs but was fun to fish and see the rogue to help break up the drive. I know a few of you guys are starting to pick up some fish so hopefully it will be a good year up there.

[MrBig]

I'm dying to see some pix!

[Jasonh]

Sunset at Rip Rap pool

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/longhorn4life/IMG_0830.jpg