207.5 Sparrow Park Road is the access road to the beach south to the North Jetty of Umpqua Bay.  Sparrow Park Road is located 1.5 miles north of Gardiner.  The fishing is excellent for redtail surfperch and striped bass and the beach south to the North Jetty is a productive location to dig for razor clams.  R/Vs and trailers should avoid the long narrow and winding road to the beach.  There is a turn around at the end of the road, but the only parking available is on the beach.  Motor vehicles are only allowed to travel on the beach south to the north jetty; however, motor vehicles are allowed access through the sand dunes to the west shore of Umpqua Bay on Clam Bed Road.  Local fishermen use ATVs to access the beach south to the North Jetty to fish this hotspot for redtail surfperch and striped bass. 

211.2                           Umpqua River Estuary

  The Umpqua River Estuary is Oregon's third largest bay and one of the most productive.  Historically the catch rate for coho and Chinook salmon in the offshore waters is one of the highest of any port along the Oregon Coast.  There is a lighted whistle buoy located .9 tenths of a mile west of the south jetty light.  The south jetty is marked with a light with a seasonal fog signal and radar reflector.  A 086 degree lighted range and a buoy mark the entrance channel which is subject to frequent changes.  Early settlers realized the potential of establishing a commercial port at the Umpqua River Estuary, and at the settlers urging, the Federal Government built the first lighthouse on the Oregon Coast at the entrance to the Umpqua River Estuary in 1857.  Building the lighthouse on the sand was a mistake and by 1861 erosion had undermined the lighthouse and it collapsed. 

  Ships crossing the bar at the Umpqua River Estuary were at the mercy of an unstable channel that was constantly shifting.  Nature was unmerciful when the brewery vessel Willamina ran aground at the entrance to Winchester Bay while attempting to deliver Pacific Pride beer to thirsty fishermen.  The construction of the north jetty in 1919 and the south jetty in 1933 helped to establish the Umpqua River Estuary as a major port of entry for sport fishermen, but the entrance to the bar and the jetty channel are still subject to dangerous tidal conditions.  Recorded weather and bar condition reports are available by calling (541) 271-8417.  Breaking waves can be encountered on the Umpqua River bar at any time.  The following underlined areas describe some of the dangerous tidal conditions that affect boating safety in the jetty channel of the Umpqua River or crossing the Umpqua River Bar as listed on the Web Page for Oregon State Marine Board at www.boatoregon.com and click on Publications/Library and Forms. Scroll down to Boating in Oregon's Coastal Waters and click on your bay of interest to familiarize yourself with the conditions at the bar.

The Middle Ground and North Spit: The north spit is to the right when proceeding down the Umpqua River, starting from the first rock spar jetty and the long pier on the east side of the channel. The north spit has small breakers when a swell is running and gets rougher toward the north jetty. The north spit is very dangerous because large breakers may come into this area from the middle ground. The north spit meets the middle ground at the outer end of the training jetty. The middle ground area extends from the north jetty about 1,000 yards seaward. This area is dangerous because a little swell can create large breakers that may capsize a vessel. Boaters should not linger near the mouth of the river during ebb tide, because if their power fails, their boats could be carried out to sea before an anchor would be effective or oars could be put to work.

The North and south jetty: The areas north of the north jetty and south of the south jetty can be very dangerous. Whenever breakers are observed, boaters should avoid this area.

The Training jetty: On the ebb tide, the current will pull boats into the jetty. Refraction waves are often encountered in this area, creating extremely choppy conditions.

Buoy 6A, old Coast Guard docks: Current on ebb or flood will often set boats into this area.

Range Marker:  The range markers consists of a red rectangular shape with a black vertical stripe mounted on a skeleton tower. By steering a course that keeps the two range markers in line, boaters will remain within the channel. In hazardous conditions, boaters should stay close to the training jetty rather than on the range line until well clear of the surf zone.

  The Umpqua River is Oregon's second longest coastal river and is dominated for extended periods by freshwater runoff from seasonal rains and/or snowmelt originating in the Cascades.

  The tidal reach of the Umpqua and the Smith Rivers extend upriver for 27.09 and 23.98 miles respectively.  Public access to the riverbanks in the tidewater reach of the Umpqua River is limited by private property.  Public access to the riverbanks in the tidewater reach of the Smith River is more accessible than the Umpqua River.     

  The Smith River is a large coastal river that flows into Umpqua River Estuary 11.49 miles above the jetty jaws and was named after the legendary Mountain Man, Jedediah Smith. Jedediah was the first white man to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains into California and to walk from California the Columbia River.  Jedediah was one of eighteen trappers camped at the confluence of the Smith and Umpqua Rivers.  Jedediah and two other trappers were away from camp when Kelawatset Indians attacked the trapper’s camp killing all but one of the trappers.

Chinook Salmon return to the Umpqua River in the spring and fall and to the Smith River in the fall.  Feeder Chinook salmon often enter Umpqua River Estuary in July and are caught between Winchester Bay and buoy 19.  The largest Chinook salmon ever landed in Oregon weighed 83.0 pounds and was caught in the Umpqua River in 1910.  Spring Chinook salmon in the Umpqua River offer anglers one of the best opportunities to set a new state record. 

CDAO Board member, Bill Morris (RIP) caught this Spring Chinook April 2011 trolling a plug cut herring just west of the Hwy 101 Bridge over the UmpquaRiver.

Early in the run concentrate fishing in lower Winchester Bay.  Most anglers fish between the East Basin and buoy 12 trolling a plug cut herring with the incoming tide in the channel that parallels the east shore along the south jetty to buoy 12 or in the deepwater channel that parallels the west shore from buoy 12 in a straight line to buoy 15 then to buoy 17 on east shore.  As the number of returning fish increase troll a plug cut herring or rainbow colored spinners from buoy 17 to the International Paper Co.  Chinook salmon often hold the deepwater between buoy 19 and buoy 21.  Anchor and fish with bait wrapped Flatfish lures or with wobblers.  Fish for Chinook salmon holding underneath the Highway 101 Bridge at Reedsport or in the deeper holes at confluence of the Smith and Umpqua Rives by trolling a plug cut herring or rainbow colored spinners.   

  To fish the tidal reach of the Umpqua River above the Smith River, launch a boat at the Umpqua Wayside State Park or at Scottsburg.  Trolling a plug cut herring with the high incoming tide is the most productive method used to catch Chinook salmon followed by trolling a bait-wrapped Flatfish lure, spinners or a spinner bait combination.  Back bounce, back troll or troll with the outgoing tide using a plug cut herring, bait wrapped Flatfish lures, spinners, a spinner bait combinations, wobblers or with a walnut sized gob of salmon eggs topped with a sand shrimp. Anchor up current above the deeper holes above Scottsburg and bobber fish with salmon eggs and sand shrimp or fish on the bottom using salmon eggs topped with sand shrimp, bait sweetened  Spin–N–Glos or wobblers. 

  Fall Chinook salmon return to the Smith River in October.  The run usually peaks in late October, and the age class of the returning Chinook is usually comprised of 4 and 5 year old fish.

In early October fish for Smith River fall Chinook in lower Winchester Bay using the same methods used to fish for fall Umpqua River Chinook.  Fish in the lower tidal reach of the Smith River from the confluence with the Umpqua River to the South Side Bridge trolling a plug cut herring, bait wrapped Flatfish lures or spinners with the incoming tide.  Back bounce or Back troll with the outgoing tide using a plug cut herring, a walnut sized gob of salmon eggs topped with sand shrimp, bait wrapped Flatfish lures or spinners.  To fish the upper tidal reach of the Smith River launch at the Noel Ranch launch or the Riverside boat launch.  Drift with the tidal current using a free sliding bobber to fish a walnut sized gob of salmon eggs topped with a sand shrimp just off of the bottom.  During the outgoing tide anchor up current above the deeper holes and fish with bait wrapped Flatfish lures, bait sweetened Spin–N–Glos, wobblers, a walnut size gob of salmon eggs or bobber fish with salmon eggs and sand shrimp.

Coho salmon return from September peaking in October and running into early November.  Fish for coho salmon early in the run trolling plug cut herring, chartreuse hoochies or streamer flies with the incoming tide in the lower bay from the south jetty to buoy 12.  Troll these baits behind a diver or wire spreader in the upper half of the water column.  Be sure to troll a plug cut herring with a tight spin and at speeds between 3 and 5 knots.  Fly fishing and/or trolling or casting spinners in the tidal flats associated with the City of Gardiner and the site of the former International Paper Mill is a favorite of local anglers.  The water in the Umpqua River is often stained or murky with sediment.  Fish with rainbow or dark colored spinners with brass or copper blades in stained water and light colored spinners with silver accents in clear water.  Pink or chartreuse colored spinners are very effective when fishing for coho in the tidal flats.  Umpqua Bay boast the highest catch rate of coho salmon for any of Oregon's coastal bays.     

Striped bass enter the Umpqua River Estuary from middle of March before spawning in the Smith and Umpqua Rivers in June, but they only spawn successfully in the Smith River.  The larger mature striped bass enter the estuary followed by schools of smaller striped bass feeding heavily on spawning herring from middle of March into early April.  The striped bass move upriver to the Scottsburg reach feeding on smelt and shad during their respective runs.  After spawning in June the stripers move down river feeding heavily before returning to the ocean in the middle of September.  Oregon's largest striped bass at 68.0 pounds was caught in the Umpqua River.

Fish for striped bass upstream from lower Umpqua River Estuary from the south jetty to the confluence of the Smith River using the methods detailed in the section describing striped bass.  Concentrate fishing around the islands upstream to the confluence of the Smith River and in Scholfield Creek.  Fish in the structure associated with the bridges and railroad trestles that cross the Smith and Umpqua Rivers.  Fish in the main stem Umpqua River from the confluence with the Smith River to the head of tidewater above Scottsburg.  Launch above tidewater at Sawyer’s Rapids and drift to Scottsburg Park.  Fishing from Scottsburg to Sawyer Rapids can be exceptional anytime from the middle of March as the stripers feed heavily on smelt.  Shad return the Umpqua River during May and June.  Back bounce using whole smelt or strip bait cut from shad from Sawyer’s Rapids to Scottsburg during their respective runs during March–April and May–June.  Fish striped bass in the tidal reach of the Smith River from Hudson Slough or Otter Slough to the head of tidewater.  Most anglers fishing in the Smith River concentrate fishing for stripers in the Noel Ranch area from the middle of March to June.

Black rockfish and blue rockfish fishing is poor during heavy freshwater runoff from November through February.  Fishing is usually good from late spring through October except for periods of heavy runoff from snowmelt in the Cascades.  The best fishing occurs after sunset on an incoming tide in the channel along the jetties or in the harbor.  Remember if you’re going to fish in the jetty channel at night do so only on an incoming tide and when the ocean is clam.  

Pileperch, striped seaperch, walleye surfperch, redtail surfperch and white seaperch enter Winchester Bay in spring.  Schools of perch move onto the tidal flats feeding heavily on intertidal animals.  Perch are caught upriver as far as Double Cove Pt on the east shore and Buoy 17 on the west shore.  Fish between Buoy 12 and 15, ODFW reference.  Striped perch are the predominant perch species caught in the bay except during the years when redtail surfperch enter the bay.  The greatest numbers of striped perch are caught at the triangle while redtail perch and pileperch are taken further inside the bay to buoy 15 and along the east shore of the East Basin.  The fishing ranges from fair to excellent late spring through fall depending on the tides, weather and snowmelt runoff.

Kelp greenling, whitespotted greenling and rock greenling enter Winchester Bay with the tide from late spring through the summer months.  The best fishing occurs along the rocky structure associated with the triangle followed by the jetties and occasionally the structure associated with the boat basins.    

Lingcod spawn along the rocky structure of the jetties from late January throughout March.  Fishing is excellent during the spawning period along either ocean side or the bayside of the triangle and the south jetty.  Historically the fishing for lingcod rates behind Yaquina Bay in productivity. 

Cabezon are year–round residents. February through March is the most productive time of the year along the south jetty at the triangle.  Fishing is slow the rest of the year.

Pacific herring enter the bay to spawn from February into April.  Live herring are available at the Umpqua Bait Co. in the East Basin of Winchester Bay.

Starry Flounder fishing is fair during spring and poor for the rest of the year.  Drift from the East Basin seaward using sand shrimp, blood worms or pile worms for bait. 

White sturgeon enter the bay for most of the year.  The sturgeon fishery ranks second behind sturgeon fishery of Tillamook Bay.  The best fishing occurs from January through June but declines sharply from the middle of July before picking up again in December.  Mud and/or sand shrimp are the most productive bait throughout the year followed by smelt, shad and herring.

Big Bend is the transition area between the lower and upper bay and is the most popular location to fish for sturgeon.  Fish in the deeper holes associated with the channels and tidal flats around the islands in Big Bend.  Fish in the deeper holes upstream from Buoy 12 to Buoy 21.  Fish from Buoy 12 to Buoy 15 in water that is 15’ to 20’ deep.  Fish from Buoy 17 to Buoy 19 in the deepwater channel along the outside of Big Bend.  The “Wall Hole” which is nearly 50 feet deep at buoy 19 in Big Bend is the most productive location to catch sturgeon in the lower bay. 

Fish upriver from the Wall Hole to the paper mill and in the holes associated with the islands at the confluence of the Smith and Umpqua Rivers. 

Fish the deeper holes in the Umpqua River from the confluence with the Smith River to the Deans Creek elk viewing area or from Deans Creek to Scottsburg using smelt or shad for bait.  Fishing in the holes associated with the power lines or below the confluence with Mill Creek is very productive.  The smelt run anytime from January through March.  Fresh smelt or shad is the most productive bait during their respective spawning seasons.  Fish for sturgeon from May through June using shad caught at Sawyer Rapids for bait.  The Umpqua River boast one of the best shad runs on the Pacific Coast.

Sand Sole enter the bay in small numbers from April through August. 

Bank fishing: Fish for perch, greenling, bass, lingcod and salmon from the jetties and triangle breakwater in the lower bay.  Fish for striped bass from the shore at half moon located just above the south jetty.  Fish for pile and stripped perch along the east shore north of the Coast Guard Station in the East Basin.  Fish for salmon and perch from shore at end of Osprey Point located between the West and East Basins.  My friend and avid fly fisherman, Steve caught this Jack Chinook salmon on his hand tied red ant fly at the deadline at Winchester Creek.

Fish for Chinook salmon in the East Basin just below the Bridge over Winchester Creek.  Fish at night for bass on an incoming tide from the south jetty.  Park at the turnout on the west side of Highway 101 located at mile mark 210.0 and fish for sturgeon and striped bass on the downstream side of the railroad trestle.  Fish for sturgeon upriver on the Umpqua River at the confluence with Mill Creek.  Fish for striped bass and salmon along the guardrail section of the Smith River Road above East Gardiner.  Fish for striped bass at night during an incoming tide using frozen sardines rigged with a sliding sinker.  Patience is required, because it may take hours for a school of stripers to appear. 

The Coast Guard fishing pier is located between Half Moon Bay and Salmon Harbor just before the south jetty off of Salmon Harbor Drive.  The fishing and crabbing are good and allowed 24/7 from early summer through early fall depending on the amount of freshwater from the Cascades.

Umpqua Bay Jetties – The north jetty extends 1100 yards seaward and is productive for bass and lingcod.  The north jetty is only accessible by a 4–wheel drive vehicle via Sparrow Park Road but vehicle traffic is only allowed on Clam Bed Road.  The south jetty extends 1200 yards seaward.  The channel along the south jetty is deeper and more productive for salmon.  The south jetty is reached through the community of Winchester Bay by taking the Salmon Harbor Recreational Area Exit west from Highway 101.  Follow Salmon Harbor Drive to the south jetty.

Umpqua Bay boat launches in the lower bay are located at Winchester Bay's Salmon Harbor West or Salmon Harbor East.  The boat launches in the upper bay are located on the south shore at the Discovery Plaza located in Old Town Reedsport.  The north shore boat launches are located in the community of Gardiner but is usable only at high tide and on Bolon Island.  The Bolon Island boat launch is located between the Umpqua and Smith Rivers.  Turn east onto the Smith River Road from Highway and left again into the launch area.  

There are two boat launches located in the upper tidal reach of the Umpqua River, the Umpqua Wayside State Park and Scottsburg Park and two boat launches located above tidewater at Scott Creek and Sawyer Rapids.  The Scott Creek boat launch is located approximately 5 miles above Scottsburg.  The boat launch at Sawyer Rapids is a primitive launch operated by the ODFW.  To access the Sawyer Rapids boat launch drive to Elkton.  Drive across the river and turn right on Henderer Road to Hooker Road to the boat launch.

There are two boat launches located on the tidewater reach of the Smith River at 8 and 10 miles on the Smith River Road.  They are Noel ranch and the Riverside boat launch.

215.7 Ziolkouski Beach Park is located south of Umpqua Bay and is reached through the community of Winchester Bay by taking the Salmon Harbor Recreational Area Exit west from Highway 101.  Follow the signs along county road 251 to the three beach parking areas.  Parking is free at the first parking area.  A parking permit is required at the second and third parking areas.  A wheelchair access area is available at the second parking area.  The third parking area offers ATV access to the sand dunes only from the south jetty to Spinreel Campground.  The fishing on this section of the beach is excellent for redtail surfperch and striped bass.