We spent Saturday night with friends overlooking the main stem of the Umpqua. Early fall weather was gorgeous. Warm windless afternoons and long evenings remind us why late Summer in the Pacific Northwest is simply unbeatable. Sunday we floated the Umpqua from James Woods ramp to Osprey.
The Lower Umpqua is still warm. Boating, swimming and fishing conditions are ideal.
Our best rigging for the plentiful Smallmouth Bass was a Tungsten Thin Mint tied off the tag end of a Double Surgeons knot with a Tan or Orange Clouser Minnow about 30 inches below it. The two fly rig is deadly as most of the fish you catch vomit causing a feeding frenzy amongst their “school mates”. Two Bass on one line are common using this rig.
Looks like a blast! Can’t tell you how jealous I am of your watermaster!