08/12/08

Despite having great water conditions and good fish counts over Winchester Dam, our fishing on the North Umpqua remains slower than normal. Many unguided anglers are fishing 2 or 3 days per steelhead. Even anglers fishing with a guide can expect to work for each fish. Outside of a few special days, my clients have been bringing only a fish or two to the fly each day this summer. Nobody is quite sure what to make of this season. Some suggest many of our wild fish that usually spend their summer in the fly-only section made an early escape into Steamboat Creek with our higher than normal flows. Others feel that many of our fish are opting to hold down in the middle river because we have not had the warm water temps to force them up the river. We are all hoping for the latter and our fishing will only pick up as these fish make their way up river. Time will only tell. Until then, pick a favorite fly you have confidence in and keep swinging - enjoy the beauty of the North Umpqua until one climbs on!