N Umpqua, fly zone regs question

fishinlady97140 · 04-02-2008, 10:03 AM

I wonder if someone can interpret the regs for me on the fly zone of the N. Umpqua...it appears to me there IS no trout season for keeping them, but is catch and release year round. My brother's planning a trip from Chicago the first days of May, called the Steamboat Inn, and they told him it's closed. One would expect them to 'know the rules,' but one was asking the other and nobody seemed certain.

Can someone in the know clarify?

Thanks!

C-lice · 04-02-2008, 11:14 AM

The North Umpqua fly area is catch-and-release only for trout year round.

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/docs...egulations.pdf Page 48

Other Oregon coastal streams are closed to trout retention until 05/24/08 (to protect outmigrating smolts).

Unfortunately, May is probably the least productive month for steelhead fishing in the North Umpqua fly area. There are lots of beautiful wildflowers popping that time of year, though. Head up toward Illahee Flats and see all the trilliums, lamb's tongues, and lady slippers.

fishinlady97140 · 04-02-2008, 11:29 AM

Thank you for clarifying...thought I might have to get an attorney's interpretation

How 'bout trout in the first week of May? Any opportunity, or should we just look at the flowers?

Thank you much
Caty

Two Fister · 04-02-2008, 11:37 AM

The Deschutes and Crooked should be fishing well in the first week of May. I'll be too early for the big salmon fly hatch on the surface, but theres a lot of other stuff going on.

The lakes should be clearing up...well they will at least if winter ever goes away! If Diamond Lake is iced off you could work your way up the North Umpqua and then rent a boat at the lake. That again is totally dependent on whether or not things warm up or not.

TF

fishinlady97140 · 04-02-2008, 11:37 AM

Well, I just spoke with ODFW and it seems it is closed...under general trout regulations, it will not open until 5/24 -- so I guess he's gonna have to settle for some sturgeon fishing (and I'm going to recommend he not use his fly rod)

C-lice · 04-02-2008, 01:10 PM

If he's not 100% fly, there will certainly be spring chinook in the bait water then.

AndyK · 04-02-2008, 05:33 PM

There are early summer run steelhead in the North Umpqua in May. They are not as numerous as later in the summer.

Rain, with a corresponding rise in river levels will bring fish into the "camp water" at Steamboat.