Well, if winter steelhead are already showing up in the middle Rogue River
that tells me that another great steelhead river, the South Umpqua will be
holding good numbers of fish as well. Myself and a couple buddies decided to
give it a shot and make the 1 hour long drive on the I5 North, to the land of the
Giant steelhead. The Umpqua River, where
numerous 20 pound steelhead get caught each year, and even a 30 pounder on
occasion, more specifically the South Umpqua.
Similar to the Rogue River, the water has to be at a somewhat fishable level to
have a chance at a fish this time of year. The South Umpqua is more times than not dirty
due to rain in the area which can scare anglers away but if water levels are
right, fish are there, and can be caught in dirty water on this smaller than
average steelhead stream. My best days come when the river is running between 1,000
and 1,500 CFS in the stretch that I fish, but can still be fished with
confidence at 2,200 CFS. We got this beauty at around 1,900 CFS.
The hour long trip was all worth it as you can see from the chrome bright hatchery
winter steelhead we boated after it absolutely hammered the plug I was pulling
in front of the boat. The Umpqua River system as a whole is known for NOT
having many hatchery fish for anglers to take home but the South Umpqua is definitely
your BEST BET to get one due to the hatchery on Canyon Creek. (a tributary of
the South Umpqua) The proof is in the hands of the happy angler below who was
able to take this beautiful chromer home and put it on the BBQ.
The winter steelhead season on the South Umpqua is a short one running from
January to March but anglers come here from far and wide for one good reason.
That reason is trophy sized steelhead on their way from the Pacific Ocean up river
to spawn.
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Pautzke Pro Staffer and good friend Steven Theel of Southern Oregon Fishing with
a quality South Umpqua hatchery winter steelhead caught fishing with
Phil Tripp's Guide Service on 1/9/13 |
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The snow was very heavy on the 1/10/13 and we had to be off
the water by noon in order to get back over the snowy pass! |
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This chromer was caught pulling plugs with a Chrome Seeker Custom Rod
behind the famous SEVEN FEATHERS CASINO. |
Thanks and tight lines! See you on the water this season!
This was a good suggestion that you put up here...dude…..hope that it benefits all the ones who land up here.
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