Umpqua Smallie Action is Hot!

This is the time of the year when there are lots of options for fishing in the state of Oregon. One of our finest fisheries that exists is the smallmouth bass fishery on the mainstem Umpqua River. These fish are tough fighting and they are also very aggressive. They tend to eat many flies, and the presentations range from stripping poppers in and getting these fish topwater style. Also you can strip in streamers like clouser minnows, wooley buggers, or baitfish patterns, and these fish will crush these flies. Nymph fishing like you would for trout is another great way to catch them, and it seems to be that the largest fish are taken with nymph presentations. You can really rack in the numbers when smallie fishing, and the fish range from small dinks to trophy 4-7 pounders. A trophy smallmouth bass will utterly rip you on a 4,5, or 6 wt rod; so use at least 2x flourocarbon tippet.