Umpqua river near Elkton

[coyote]

Anyone tried the Umpqua near Elkton for Smallmouth yet this year? I'm floating the river this weekend.

[fishlipper]

I have not, but I heard there has been a really good crankbait bite (lipless and otherwise). Looks like some guys I know have been ripping them along the current seams and doing really well. The water levels should be pretty high, but I am not sure how high. Good luck and let us know how you do. Throwing jigs this time of year can yeild some good fish too.

[nitrobass]

I'll be there tomorrow. Hoping for big smallies on beds!

Team Pabst Blue Ribbonz

[fishlipper]

Nitro what part of the river are you going to be fishing? Are you going from boat? Just curious, I will be visiting my folks in Sutherlin and was thinking about hiting the river.

[Basscaster]

Good Luck Nitro. Keep us posted on how you did. Hopefully those big smallies will be on bedz.

Team Old Style

[Nuttinbutnet]

Nitro- Find quiet water and rip crankbaits through them. Seam water is good a little later when they get off the beds. River is looking real good, color is great though it is still a little cool. Good Luck!

[nitrobass]

It was surprisingly slow..Water temp hit 56+ this afternoon. Still got lucky and managed some big ones. Fish are stacked in the areas with no current and good bottom.

We were in a boat, just upstream from Elkton.

[coyote]

Thanks everyone. Fishing this weekend on the Umpqua way upstream from Elkton was "very" slow. Water temperature was 50 degrees with excellent clarity. Water flow was 4+ mph. The best bite started in mid afternoon until sunset. Normally winning crank baits were cold at best. All fishing was from drift boats. Drop shotting didn't work. The only consistant lures were pumpkin and smoke colored single and double tailed grubs with weight selected for bottom retrieval in the stream flow, normally about 1/4 oz. The fish are not active. 6 of us caught about 40 total fish with the largest 21" (1), 19 "(1), 18" (2) with the rest from 16" to 8". Snow melt on the North Umpqua is causing a rise in water levels and holding temperatures down. Best fishing was in holes and slow water in and along rapids and along basalt dams at the head of some rapids. Slow, slack, seam line and still water fishing produced about 1/3 of the fish. In experienced drift boaters should not attempt many of the rapids on this river. They paid guides don't risk their clients.