N. Umpqua

[BumpBailey]

Hi All. I am finally going to get to lay eyes on the hallowed waters that are the North Umpqua. Family and I will be camping along the river just below Steamboat Inn the end of July. I have three weekday mornings to get some fishing in before they awake. I've never fished for summer steel so I need some direction. What size two hander? Both of my speys are set up Skagit. Will a floating tip on a skagit head work or, should I swap that out for a scandi set up? Is the N. Umpqua DIY friendly?

If you don't want to publish to the masses PMs are perfectly fine.

Tight lines!

[Andy]

A stout 6 will work, many fish a 7. Skagit for heavy tips but not with floating tip, too much ruckus: scandi or rage much better for skater and traditional swing flies.

Its grad school for summer runs so, though finding spots isn't too hard (turnouts with well worn trails), the fishing is super demanding (nicknamed skunqua for good reason).

Mellow the learning curve with Tony Wratney or Rich Zellman for a guided morning, you won't regret it (though you still might not see a fish).

Good luck!

Andy

[BumpBailey]

A stout 6 will work, many fish a 7. Skagit for heavy tips but not with floating tip, too much ruckus: scandi or rage much better for skater and traditional swing flies.

Its grad school for summer runs so, though finding spots isn't too hard (turnouts with well worn trails), the fishing is super demanding (nicknamed skunqua for good reason).

Mellow the learning curve with Tony Wratney or Rich Zellman for a guided morning, you won't regret it (though you still might not see a fish).

Good luck!

Andy

Thank you Andy. I know Rich Z. and will reach out to him... I think he has a two day minimum though...

I figured skagit wasn't the way to go.... oh well, I guess I'll have to I have to buy another "tool".

I am definitely going with tempered expectations on the catching.... but high expectations of the beauty! A hook-up would be icing on the cake...

Very stoked to see this part of the country!

[Brian Clemens]

Pm sent....

[PV_Premier]

Sounds like a few of us will be making the trek up there this summer...

My maiden voyage too...

hey Brian I will take that same PM! :cool: LOL

if I move a fish or two on a skater, I'll be happy.

[JasonB]

Pm sent...

[aaron]

A stout 6 will work, many fish a 7. Skagit for heavy tips but not with floating tip, too much ruckus: scandi or rage much better for skater and traditional swing flies.

Its grad school for summer runs so, though finding spots isn't too hard (turnouts with well worn trails), the fishing is super demanding (nicknamed skunqua for good reason).

Mellow the learning curve with Tony Wratney or Rich Zellman for a guided morning, you won't regret it (though you still might not see a fish).

Good luck!

Andy

I typed up a response then deleted it as its all covered right here.

[BumpBailey]

This board is the best! Thank you all! I promise photo's upon my return. I can't promise there will be steel in them but, it wouldn't be for lack you all trying to point me in the right direction!

[PV_Premier]

I am just back from 5 nights at steamboat.

Tough fishing, pack your patience and some sink tips.

In retrospect I was probably not fishing fast enough water, the water seemed warm and my guess is the fish were looking for the O2.

Fished most days morning and/or evening. Skated up 3 grabs, nothing on tips and 2 of the 3 fish looked to be 1-salters from long distance glances. The third fish was a good one and very aggressive, but we simply could not get connected despite multiple chances.

Brian Clemens was up there as well and got a fish or two and more grabs than me. Maybe he will post a report and a pic.

Beautiful place to get skunked, hospitality at Steamboat is top notch.

Bring a trout rod (4wt is good), they're quite responsive to stonefly drys in the fast riffles during the day. Head about 7-10 miles above steamboat for the best water. Most fish are 8-12" but there are a few 15+" around. They all fight above their size class especially in the current!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I would try to get out with a guide if you can.

If you learn how to fish it and where some good spots are it might be worth it.

Lots of dead water to cast on.

The fish hold in very specific spots because of all the big rock structure.

Get out very early ( first choice) and late (second choice).

Pray for some weather......

This is a beautiful, special, mean river.

Wading there is really a weird, bad deal for most.

I would use a #4 dark fly and 8# Maxima Ultragreen tippet.

I heard the fish start up there after July 4th.

October would be a good month.

_______________________________

For many years veteran fly fishing guide Mike McCune use to camp there every summer for 6 weeks.

He fished real early, then again at 1:00 pm and then the last 2 hours.

20 years ago I met him there and he helped me hook and land one nice Steelhead.

.

[hwchubb]

The reports have been pretty tough this season. I havent been up there yet this year but the numbers in Steamboat Creek have been very low (70’s vs 200-400 most years by now). It’s actually good to hear you raised some - maybe the run is just late.

Had heard that there are some big resident rainbows in there, but never targeted them. I did skate up a 20” brown a couple years ago. Perspective is funny - I normally would be thrilled with a fish like that. There, I was almost disappointed.

Thanks for the report!

[Brian Clemens]

This year was a bit different than last, a tad less water and a bit warmer, temps outside were way hotter as well. When I first got up there on the 12th, there was roughly 65 fish in Lee's Pool, when I left on the 20th almost 200. As far as fishing goes, I only landed one this year, slower compared to last, however I averaged 2 grabs a day. One day I blanked but on another day, I had 4 grabs, which was the day that was much cooler and cloudy all day, the fish were definitely on the move that day. Everyone I talked to that day either an opportunity at a fish, had a fish on or landed one.

This year the fish were not on the grab, lots of flashes, boils and short strikes on top. When fishing a tip, I had many fish taking several feet, to even yards of line and then nothing. I wasnt the only one having the same problems. However, after several days of getting my ars handed to me by a few fish, many grabs, bumps, boils and flashes, I was finally able to land a nice 4lb hen on my North Umpqua special using a sink tip.

Great times as always, and dont know a better place to swing for steelhead in the summer, fish hard, and sometimes come up with a goose egg.

[JasonB]

I just have to say that fishing a tip on that river is quite the injustice to a special place.

In that light, just how would fishing a “fly” concocted of foam glue and rubber be any more “just”? I’m all for fishing a floating line when and where I can, but purely for my own casting and swinging pleasure; I certainly wouldn’t be passing judgement on others for fishing with a tip. Personally I find it to be a very precarious ledge to stand on if we want to define what’s the most pure form of enjoying (and honoring) a special piece of water.

I’ll admit to having fished with tips on the NU, and having skated foamy abominations too. I can’t say that either caused to me to feel any less sense of respect and wonder for the river.
JB

[STEELIES/26c3]

In that light, just how would fishing a “fly” concocted of foam glue and rubber be any more “just”? I’m all for fishing a floating line when and where I can, but purely for my own casting and swinging pleasure; I certainly wouldn’t be passing judgement on others for fishing with a tip. Personally I find it to be a very precarious ledge to stand on if we want to define what’s the most pure form of enjoying (and honoring) a special piece of water.

I’ll admit to having fished with tips on the NU, and having skated foamy abominations too. I can’t say that either caused to me to feel any less sense of respect and wonder for the river.
JB

Nicely stated :)

[Acosby7]

You are certainly right about the foam flys and have a good point. My statement came off the wrong way. I don’t mean to say fishing tips is doing it wrong. but I do believe that this river is the most challenging piece of water to fish in the west coast and rightfully should be fished in the most difficult form. It bums me out hearing people that are disappointed by dismal days. There are still plenty of places to go to actually catch fish.!

[norcal tom]

River deserves only the best . Floating line an a muddler will get you all the fish you need . A Hardy an a 10ft 7 wt single hand rod is all you need up here.

[Brian Clemens]

Just to be clear here, I always swing through each run I fish with a skater or muddler on floating line first, sometimes depending on the run or if I had a flash or boil, I follow it up with a tip.

Im never disappointed when I go up there and never said I was. I was just giving everyone my experience on this trip, as I was kinda asked to chime in.

I love fishing up there, doesnt matter how its fishing, how I fish it, if I get fish or not, just getting away from my daily routine and being on a different watershed like the North Umpqua is good enough for me. This trip is my vacation after guiding nonstop from Oct to June and I fish it like it's my vacation.

[PV_Premier]

And we all wonder why people call fly fishermen pretentious :rolleyes:

[RSK]

I haven't fished the NU for a number of years now but when I did it had a no weighted fly or weighted line restriction. Did that change? Kind of liked the rule on the upper waters.

Russell

[PV_Premier]

No weighted fly (in summer season), no split shot, no indicators, no nets. Sink tips are not excluded.

[RSK]

So it is still illegal in the summer camp waters and would be the same as using bait. No judgment on how people fish as long as it is legal and in the spirit of the law.

Russell

[JasonB]

Again, a sink tip is legal, but weighted flies, split shot, indicators and other attachments to the line are not. October 1st, weighted flies are again legal. I find the distinctions are a bit nebulous at times, but all in all it seems that they are helpful in terms of easing some of the intense angler pressure, and also minimizing conflicts between anglers. While I don’t pass judgement easily, and I certainly have fished sink tips at times, I actually would be in favor of banning the use of tips between (at least) Mott bridge and the falls during the summer months. I’d favor such rules purely to reduce the angler impact during the busy summer months, and it would likely keep the fish just a bit more grab happy in general. In the meantime, there certainly are some runs that really do fish well with a sink tip, and I’ve found that I have just as good a shot at getting skunked either way.
JB

[cdccopp]

I received an email from a friend in Roseburg stating that the State Game Commission on 8/02 declared an emergency regulations for the N. Umpqua. Starting Monday 8/06 fishing will stop daily at 2pm and this afternoon closure will last until 10/01/2018. This is because of low water and higher than normal water temps.
DS

[BumpBailey]

Back from our Yellowstone Trek and I can definitely say that I saw some of the best that our country has to offer! Our first 4 nights were spent in two of the prettiest campgrounds that I have ever seen. Patrick Creek on the Smith River was breathtaking. We only stayed there for one evening but that place set a pretty high bar! We made it to Susan Creek on the NU the next day and again, were taken aback by the beauty! I would not hesitate to stay in either of these two places again. I can confirm that the fishing was tough. One smolt to hand in three mornings. But as someone stated earlier, there may not be a finer place to get skunked. Enjoyed a great lunch at the Steamboat Inn. Dinner the next night wasn't as good. B ut you can't beat that view. We did two waterfall hikes and loved them both. Susan Creek Falls and Toketee Falls. Check them out. Tried to find Lee's Pool but failed on that pursuit. Rock Creek Hatchery was a good visit. Bottom line. I can't wait to go back!

Thanks again to all who chimed in with advice. Tight lines!

Jay