I'm headed up to Oregon to fish the Umpqua and a couple other spots in the Elkton area. Does anyone have any suggestions for that area ? I've been checking the flows up there and they don't seem to have all of this rain we are getting down here. I've read that there have been alot of steelhead and spring Chinook being caught there.
My second cousin runs a guide service in Merlin on the Rogue river, a bit south of where you are talking about, they have success on small orange/brown nymphs-cant remember the name of it at the moment, it kinda looked like an orange version of the prince nymph. I think youll be hitting the tail end of the winter steelhead run, other than that, I dont remember much else. sorry. Good luck though . Anything is better than here at the moment.
It seems like everyone I talk to all say the same thing, "throw orange". I 've taken a few of the "top patterns" and tied them in various shades of orange. We'll see... I have timed my journey to make the tailend of the season up there. My return trip will conincide with the opening of the prime streams here. I'm sure everyone plans like I do though so I'm likely to have lots of company. I really learned alot this watching the closure periods on the American. Just before the closures appear to be when the most fish are in their respective rivers.
Prime streams here might not be so prime with the weather we have had???
This opener, just like every year, I would prefer to fish for some wild rainbows (not in the bushes and trees) and finish the day off soaking in a natural hotspring.
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Winter eats heat the way darkness swallows light. The terrors of failed power and frozen stems are stymied with fire, smoke and white ash.
these guys love to be secretive about their spots so investigate.
Also the medford Mail tribune has weekly fishing reports every thursday online. Check these out before you go.
I have heard some Steelhead reports out of the Umpqua lately and don't forget the Smallmouth. The Upper Rogue is fishing well also. I would have offerd to try and hook up and guide you around except my job up here is ending and it's back to Ca. for me.
Where are you going to be in Cali ? I fish up on the Russian around the cloverdale area quite frequently. Send me a post and maybe we can hook up. I fish alone most of the time because I am relatively new here and nobody I know fishes.