Montana Fish Report

Beginning Monday, August 6, angling the North Umpqua River fly area is closed from 2 p.m. to one hour before sunrise. The closure extends from the fly area boundary at Deadline Falls to the marker below Soda Springs Dam near the power plant enclosure and is in effect through September 30.

This emergency regulation aims to protect wild summer steelhead in the fly waters of the upper North Umpqua River. Exceptionally low flows and higher water temperatures at this time of year combined with preliminary data indicating the wild summer steelhead run may be below average prompted fishery managers to enact the closure. 

An emergency regulation was set last week in the mainstem Umqpua River to protect native fish seeking cooler water at tributaries.

Tips for hot weather angling:

• Fish during the cooler early mornings.
• Land your fish quickly to help increase survival rates.
• Keep your fish in at least six inches of water while releasing it.
• Revive the fish before release. Keep the fish upright facing into the current; if the current is slow, move the fish back and forth slowly to help oxygenate the gills.