River Fishing
Lakes In Oregon
Smoking Fish

Fishing For Fun

Behold, I will send for many fishermen, says the Lord, and they shall fish them...

Jeremiah 16:16a

8 pound steelhead

7 ft. sturgeon, 1 hr. to land then let it go. The fight was exciting though

Larry with 10-12 ft. sturgeon, gills still in the water

Enjoying a sturgeon dinner together

Enjoying a day on Eel lake

Crabbing

Our days catch

Boy's with our days catch

Oh yeah

Enjoying our days catch-Yummy

Go Fishing, Have Fun

It's that simple here in Oregon.

Whether it is salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, striped bass, walleye, trout, perch, crab, or clams, Oregon has fishing opportunity for you.

My husband enjoys fishing as much as he enjoys hunting and does it to provide food for us. He does most of his fishing on the Umpqua and Smith River here in Reedsport Oregon. He fishes for sturgeon, striped bass and salmon.

We also enjoy taking the grand kids out on the lakes to do trout fishing when they come to visit and want to go fishing or when we are on a mini vacation we enjoy fishing the nearby lakes or rivers.

In the State of Oregon we are blessed with infinite fishing possibilities such as salmon, trout and steelhead, which are everywhere in our state.

River fishing is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable ways to catch fish and the more you do it, the more you will fall in love with it.

The fishing tips I will give you aren’t complicated; they are quite simple. This is because simplicity in fishing is what he believes in.

Fish "n" Tips

1) Be On The River At The Best Times. You need to be on the river fishing when the fish are the most active. This is accomplished by keeping an eye on two things; the weather and the moon. These two forces of Mother Nature impact the behavior of fish greatly.

2) If you want to know how to fish a river, decide on a favorite technique and spend as much time as possible using it to learn all the nuances.

3) Look for deeper water on any given river fishing trip, fishing the deeper parts of the river. Deeper edges and riffles and of course pools are where a majority of the fish will congregate. Deeper is better.

4) Match your fishing gear to the type of fish that your fishing for. If you're going river fishing for fall steelhead, obviously your going to need larger fishing gear. Just make sure to match it to what you're fishing for.

When fishing for sturgeon I use a heavy action 7 foot rod with 35 pound test line outfitted with sliding sinkers and barbless hooks. Each person on the boat is allowed to keep one sturgeon from 30 inches to 54 inches and the state allows sturgeon anglers to catch and release after you have tagged your limit.

Hooking into one of these Dino like fish is a blast! Sturgeon may be one of the best eating fish you have ever tasted. They not only have great strength but it is not uncommon to see them jump during the battle. Since sturgeon are bottom feeders they fish with sand shrimp, herring and shad out of anchored boats. One often has to release the anchor to chase these monster sturgeon.

Green and white sturgeon are prehistoric monsters that can be caught year round in the Umpqua River system. White sturgeon are Atlantic sturgeon which can measure up to 20 feet in length. Green sturgeon are a native Pacific sturgeon, also present in the Umpqua river and they can measure up to 10 feet in length. April, May and June are the three best months of the year for catching both the green and white sturgeon while they are feeding heavily in the Umpqua River because the bait fish are in.

When fishing for striped bass I use a medium action rod with around 15 to 20 pound test line outfitted with plugs or live bait. Each person on the boat is allowed to keep two striped bass over 24 inches.

Oregon striped bass fishing is very good. Striped bass are present in the Umpqua and Smith rivers the entire year. They are one of the hardest fighting fish in the river, but also one of the most difficult to locate and catch. Late March through May are considered the best months for catching stripers as they tend to school and feed heavily as they prepare to spawn.

Casting or trolling with large plugs, plunking with a variety of baits or fishing live bait under a bobber are all techniques that are used to catch the stripers. Striped bass average between 15 and 25 pounds with a chance at catching a fish weighing up to 80 pounds.

A Smith River striped bass weighing more than 64 pounds still holds the world record for stripers caught while fly fishing.

Some history on the Umpqua and Smith River...

The Umpqua River, is one of America's premier fishing rivers. Originating at Diamond Lake in the Cascade Mountains, the Umpqua flows through the Oregon Coast Range to meet the Pacific Ocean near Reedsport Oregon. The river contains a variety of fish species and supports year-round fishing. Boat ramps are numerous all along the length of the lower river. Winchester Bay, at the mouth of the river, is a major sport fishing destination and also has ocean charters. The upper two forks of the Umpqua River east of Roseburg are also popular for fishing.

The Smith River, is a 75 mile long major tributary of the Umpqua River. Unlike the Umpqua, which originated in the Cascade Mountains, the Smith River originates in the Oregon Coast Range and has the same character as other coastal strams such as the Siuslaw and Alsea Rivers to the north. The lower part of the river is influenced by the tides. Most angler fish for chinook salmon in the Fall, steelhead in the Winter, striper in the Spring through Summer, shad in May and June, and searun cutthroat starting in August. We also do fishing in lakes around us and in Eastern Oregon, bringing home Rainbow Trout and Bass. Some of the lake we fish include Eel Lake, Green Peter Reservoir, Paulina Lake, Thompson Reservoir, Crain Prairie, Lake Marie and other Oregon lakes. All these lakes provide spectacular scenery.

43 pound Striped Bass Three nice sturgeon

A very wise person once said, "A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work."

Angling Ethics

* Know and follow all state angling rules and regulations.

* Protect Oregon's waters from pollutants and waste. Dispose of all trash, including fishing line and tackle, at collection stations or disposal sites.

* Ask first! Do not trespass on private land.

* Be courteous to other anglers, boaters, hikers and campers.

* Remember the warm water conditions can stress salmon, steelhead and trout. Seek cooler waters during summer months, especially early in the day.

* Clean angling equipment and boats. disinfect wading boots to prevent the spread of aquatic hitch hikers such as weeds and disease.

* Avoid actively spawning fish.

* Teach future generations how to enjoy and conserve Oregon's fish and their habitats.

* Report angling violations to the State Police.

Remember, poachers are nothing more than wildlife thieves whose actions can affect Oregon's fish and wildlife populations and future angling and hunting opportunities.

With both time and money at a premium for most families, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is creating fishing opportunities close to where people live in cities, towns and other population centers.

You can visit their web site at: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It includes the latest information on fishing conditions on over 200 lakes, rivers, streams and reservoirs in Oregon.

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