Umpqua Bassin

[arkansasbasser]

I am thinking that I will camp on the river this 4th weekend but I have never been. Anyone have any ideas as to best camping spots and best part of the river to fish for this time of year? Also, can I run a 12 boat with 15hp motor on that river? Or would I be better off to bank fish? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Bill

[Stadir]

I was on the river on Saturday and did quite well, the lower reaches shallows are really starting to warm up due to the sunshine. And the water is just getting shallow enough that the pools are starting to be exposed. I caught and released about 30 fish with a couple of pounders and 1 that was around 3-4 lbs and I missed another one about the same size. The fish look like they were activily feeding, except the big guys. I hit them with a orange and white Spinnerbait with a trailer (due to short striking), it was still trying to protect it's bed. I added the trailer after missing the first big one. I also got bites on a shad rap, wacky rigged senkos, and a few on surface skitter-props.

If you are camping try Sawyer Rapids, theyhave RV and tent camping on the shore. They should be able to point you in the right direction when it comes to fishing, and as always stop in at Arlene's in Elkton. They will have good, up to date info and a killer breakfast at a good price. The water below Elkton seemed the warmest and most productive. Try for the newly formed pools and slack water eddies that have started to warm for the summer. I could see mid sized fish chasing my presentations so by this weekend the bite sould be on. Good luck and let us know how you do.

[arkansasbasser]

Thanks Stadir. I'll let you know. Thanks for all the good info. Do you think that a bigger bait might keep some of the little ones off and catch bigger fish? Bill

[Stadir]

Thanks Stadir. I'll let you know. Thanks for all the good info. Do you think that a bigger bait might keep some of the little ones off and catch bigger fish? Bill

If you have you have children I would say bring both.

But yes, larger bait will make your catches a little larger. Last year I was having pretty good luck with some Berkeley Realstix, Zara Heddon Spook, and Wild Eye Swim Shad. These will work well for larger fish, but the fish must be agressive for these baits and lures to be really effective (I was using these in August last year). For kids I would say to bring some worms and sit right behind the high school in Elkton. There is a pretty large area there with alot of medium sized fish that are perfect for a fish fry, not to mention that right now you might catch a few bigger fish also.

Quick note that the larger bass that I caught, that were feeding, were spitting up minnows.

[Basshound]

Hey, bill. Dont forget the baby sluggo's. rainbow trout pattern.

[elkthumper]

arkansasbasser, will you please give a quick report once you get back. im eager to hit that river but dont want to spend the gas to drive down there for a slow day

[arkansasbasser]

Hey, bill. Dont forget the baby sluggo's. rainbow trout pattern.

CHECK!!

[arkansasbasser]

arkansasbasser, will you please give a quick report once you get back. im eager to hit that river but dont want to spend the gas to drive down there for a slow day

It's looking like now that it might not be this weekend but next. I'm getting outvoted because of the 4th celebrations. I will post when I do go though.

[Stadir]

Was on the river Sunday the 6th. The morning started slow due to the cloud cover. But, man about noon the sun came out and they started hittin like gang busters. Between 2 of us we caught over 100 fish some small but some big. The 4 big ones were 3.2lbs, 2.3lbs, 2.1lbs and 2lbs. Caught a couple of pounders and bigger that weren't big enough to weigh. Water is warm and they are hitting everything.

I used a spinnerbait in the morning and caught a few good sized. The biggest were caught on Berkeley Realstix in rainbow and Storm Wild Eyes. For the latter let them sink a little then twitched twice and watched the bronzebacks roll over the top of them. Only lost 3 to broken lines. My buddy tried to fish for trout with a rooster tail and kept getting bass on that to.

I would say to stay home in the mornings and wait for the sun before you go out. Seeing as how the next week and weekend should be good any day should have you catching all you can handle.

[arkansasbasser]

Was on the river Sunday the 6th. The morning started slow due to the cloud cover. But, man about noon the sun came out and they started hittin like gang busters. Between 2 of us we caught over 100 fish some small but some big. The 4 big ones were 3.2lbs, 2.3lbs, 2.1lbs and 2lbs. Caught a couple of pounders and bigger that weren't big enough to weigh. Water is warm and they are hitting everything.

I used a spinnerbait in the morning and caught a few good sized. The biggest were caught on Berkeley Realstix in rainbow and Storm Wild Eyes. For the latter let them sink a little then twitched twice and watched the bronzebacks roll over the top of them. Only lost 3 to broken lines. My buddy tried to fish for trout with a rooster tail and kept getting bass on that to.

I would say to stay home in the mornings and wait for the sun before you go out. Seeing as how the next week and weekend should be good any day should have you catching all you can handle.

What stretch did you fish? Thanks, Bill

[Stadir]

What stretch did you fish? Thanks, Bill


At the time we were fishing in a raft. It is easier to dump in and draw out. A kayak would also be good in that area. We put in at the first bridge above Elkton, pulled off to the bank a couple of times and finally got out off of Mehl Creek rd. There is a little shoulder area where you can park a vehicle. Just watch out going up the bank packing a raft, I was on the bottom end of the deflated raft and went a$$ over tea kettle down the bank and ended up on the bottom of the embankment. Bruised my pride but little else. Still the fishing is great in that stretch. I believe that most drifters start at the Kellogg bridge and do not concentrate on fishing the final stretch heavily. The bass seem to be less pressured in that area and patrol the banks a little more.

I went this weekend up a higher near Tyee and caught very few little guys, saw a couple of bruisers who weren't interested in any of my offerings. Due to time constraints and my nagging girlfriend I had to cut the trip short. Hopefully this coming weekend will be better.

[arkansasbasser]

At the time we were fishing in a raft. It is easier to dump in and draw out. A kayak would also be good in that area. We put in at the first bridge above Elkton, pulled off to the bank a couple of times and finally got out off of Mehl Creek rd. There is a little shoulder area where you can park a vehicle. Just watch out going up the bank packing a raft, I was on the bottom end of the deflated raft and went a$$ over tea kettle down the bank and ended up on the bottom of the embankment. Bruised my pride but little else. Still the fishing is great in that stretch. I believe that most drifters start at the Kellogg bridge and do not concentrate on fishing the final stretch heavily. The bass seem to be less pressured in that area and patrol the banks a little more.

I went this weekend up a higher near Tyee and caught very few little guys, saw a couple of bruisers who weren't interested in any of my offerings. Due to time constraints and my nagging girlfriend I had to cut the trip short. Hopefully this coming weekend will be better.

GF's and wives can be like that. Even my dog. So I just leave em home now. My catch ratio has gone way up. I'm going to the river first weekend in August. Maybe will run into you. Bill