North Umpqua River Closed to Fishing for the Season

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has closed the North Umpqua River to all fishing activities through November due to low summer steelhead counts.

The closure comes on the same day that Cow Creek Umpqua Tribal citizens can begin applying for Tribal fishing tags through a co-management agreement with ODFW. Tribal citizens can click here for more info and applications.  (Tribal login required to view hunting and fishing applications)

The North Umpqua River will be closed through November 30 from the mouth of the river to the marker below Soda Springs Dam, located west of Toketee Falls. A similar closure was in place on the river in 2021.

According to ODFW, not enough summer steelhead have passed over Winchester Dam as of yet to meet the “critical abundance level” threshold that would allow for fishing. ODFW reports that less than half of the required number of fish for critical levels have passed over the dam so far this season.

Warm water in the ocean and therefore also in the North Umpqua is likely to be a contributing factor to the cause of the low run numbers. Poor fish habitats and an increase in non-native small-mouth and striped bass may also have contributed to the decline, says ODFW.