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April 2009 Featured Articles

The North Umpqua Chronicles - April 7th & 8th
Fishbum - April 13, 2009

The North Umpqua Chronicles – April 7, 2009

For interminable days on end, the river flows so high that the base of the Green Bridge Rock can’t be seen and Fly fishermen and guides all up and down the river report that the fishing is as poor as they’ve ever seen it for this time of year.

It is depressing. Fortunately an article in the Roseburg News-Review reports that a 44 inch buck being caught, a friend releases a big, thick bright 38 inch buck and these thoughts of it buoys my spirits for days.

 And of course, even the unluckiest of us get the occasional hook up…a hard grab and the reel screaming and the big winter hen twisting high in the air and smacking back down on the river...yes a good winter fish will keep you happy for a while.

But ultimately the barren river begins to get to you again, doubts resurface about the run, maybe they aren’t coming this year, maybe the dead zones got ‘em, maybe ODF &W is lying about the counts.  Who the hell knows, but things ain’t good.

This morning when I drive past the Green Bridge Rock, I can see its base…the river has dropped overnight!

I fish my way up river as far as the “42” without touching a thing.  Crap!

The Apple Creek spawning bar is just upstream and around the corner and it is a useful place to take the pulse of the run.  If fish are in the river, there should some be present here.   As always, I leave my rod on top of the car and hop down the trail to peer in.  Nothing’s there and that is depressing.

On my way back down river in the gloaming, I see that the Famous is open and for some reason, I decide to fish it, even though I haven’t touched a thing here yet this year.

 I have extended my line to nearly midstream when another fisherman appears on the far bank.  Not a problem, plenty of room.  Shortly after, I notice a couple of disturbances on the smooth surface of the pool.  Then out of the corner of my eye, I see another disturbance just fifteen feet or so upstream and seconds later, “wham” there is strong pull and I have a powerful fish on and I hear the shout of the man on the other side. 

 The fish is heavy, obviously a big powerful buck and tries to head downstream back to the falls and of course that’s the last thing I want to happen.  The result is predictable. The 13 pound leader tip pops and the excitement is over.

Wow, that’ll hold me for a while!

 The North Umpqua Chronicles – April 8, 2009 

 When I get out of bed this morning, the Famous is on my mind.  Becky and I must drive up to Portland today, but certainly there is time for me to give it the quick once over.   She agrees.  Yes!

 No one is there when I get onto the stand and almost immediately I see a fish roll on the other side as if it has just come into the pool and moments later another one follows suit.  Then there are disturbances all over the pool as if they are exploring.  I continue casting, but it proves to be fruitless.

But I’ll tell you what; it has the feel of fish finally entering the fly water.