Umpqua River Fishing Guide

Local water

Fishing the North, South and mainstem Umpqua

The Umpqua is the heart of Logan’s guide service. The North and South Umpqua join near Roseburg, and the mainstem winds through the Umpqua Valley past Elkton and Scottsburg to Reedsport and the ocean at Winchester Bay.

Few rivers in Oregon offer this many species in one system. Logan fishes the Umpqua for winter and summer steelhead, fall and spring salmon, sturgeon, smallmouth bass, striped bass and shad.

Upper river: steelhead, smallmouth and shad

In the Umpqua Valley, the heated drift boat is the tool of choice. Winter steelhead run from late December into April, smallmouth fishing peaks in March and April, and shad arrive in May.

Lower river and estuary: salmon and stripers

Near Reedsport the river widens into a tidal estuary, joined by the Smith River. This is striper water and prime fall salmon water, fished from the 24-foot Willie Boats Raptor.