Umpqua River Fish Report - Roseburg, OR (Douglas County)

Wild spring Chinook harvest prohibited on North and mainstem Umpqua

Umpqua River - Roseburg, OR (Douglas County)

by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
12-19-2023
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ROSEBURG, Ore. – Keeping adult and jack wild spring Chinook salmon on the North and mainstem Umpqua rivers will be prohibited Feb. 1 – June 30, 2024, ODFW announced today. Anglers may still retain hatchery Chinook during that period.

South Umpqua adult wild spring Chinook were historically low in 2023 with just 18 wild adult spring Chinook, while runs in the North Umpqua were also well below average. ODFW is forecasting returns to be low again in 2024. This combination of low returns in 2023 and a low forecast in 2024 is triggering the prohibition of wild spring Chinook harvest.

Concern for Umpqua spring Chinook, as well as other species that rely on in-stream cold water refuge through the summer is ongoing as temperatures in the basin continue to trend upward. Other issues such as access to habitat, degraded habitat, and predation from non-native predators such as smallmouth bass are also contributing to low returns.

"The best way to address these issues and reverse the fortunes of salmon and steelhead in the Umpqua is through targeted habitat and flow restoration to cool our rivers," said Greg Huchko, District Fish Biologist.

ODFW continues to work with partners (the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, watershed councils and NOAA Fisheries) to share information and address habitat and passage issues for spring Chinook in the upper South Umpqua River. Landowners interested in participating in restoration to benefit these runs can contact ODFW. In most cases, these projects can be fully funded with state or federal grants.

The wild spring Chinook harvest restrictions follow the conservation sliding scale in the CMP, ODFW's Coastal Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan. The sliding scale adjusts wild fish harvest opportunity based on the health of the North and South Umpqua populations.

The CMP was adopted in 2014 by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission. It was developed with help from stakeholder teams within the Umpqua Basin along the Oregon coast.

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OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports

for Wednesday, December 13th, 2023

John Day River: The Service Creek gage is currently above 1,000 CFS, allowing for good access for drift boats and rafts
Crescent Lake: Crescent Lake is currently 10 percent full
Metolius River: The Metolius River continues to fish well
North Twin Lake: Anglers continue to report excellent winter fishing for stocked trout
Ochoco Reservoir: The reservoir is 32 percent full
South Twin Lake: Anglers continue to report good winter fishing for stocked trout
Foster Reservoir: Foster Reservoir Report
Green Peter Reservoir: The reservoir is effectively off-limits to fishing through at least the end of December
Santiam River ( North Fork) : River is currently running at around 12,000 cfs at the gauge in Mehama.
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 9,500 cfs at the Waterloo gauge
Alsea River: Fall Chinook is still open on the Alsea
Kilchis River: The Kilchis has dropped into shape and is green
Necanicum River: Should be dropping and have good fishing conditions through the week
Nehalem River: The Nehalem River is still high and off color and being a large basin
Nehalem River- North Fork: The North Fork is in good condition
Nestucca River: The Nestucca River is still around 8 feet at this time and is dropping slowly
Salmon River: Early winter steelhead have been entering the system though
Siletz River: Siletz River Report
Siltcoos Lake: Coho fishing on Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes is still open
Siuslaw River: Fall Chinook has been slowing down the past few weeks and is nearly done
Three Rivers: Three Rivers is in shape and should fish through the week
Trask River: The Trask River is still high but is dropping and should be in good condition for angling by the weekend
Wilson River: The Wilson is dropping into shape and should be in good condition for fishing through the week
Yaquina River: Fall Chinook is open on the Yaquina
Applegate Reservoir: The reservoir near its normal wintertime level
Ben Irving Reservoir: Anglers have had some luck fishing for rainbow trout
Cooper Creek Reservoir: Trout fishing should be good at Cooper Creek
Diamond Lake: The water is still open and there still should be a decent chance to catch some trout before the ice sets on
Galesville Reservoir: Trout fishing should be good throughout the day
Rogue River - Middle: Fish activity and movement should continue through the weekend with the increased river temperatures
Rogue River- Upper: The focus on the upper Rogue continues to be summer steelhead and trout fishing
Umpqua River: This week should be a good chance to catch an early winter steelhead
North Umpqua River: Some steelhead have been spotted moving up the North Umpqua
South Umpqua River : The conditions should be great for fishing this week
Upper Klamath Lake: Yellow perch fishing is slow this time of year.
Klamath River - Upper - CA: Klamath River Fishing Report
Miller Lake: Access to the lake is likely blocked by snow
North Fork Sprague River: Flows are high at 69.1 cfs