One angler’s thoughts on smallie fishing on Oregon’s Umpqua river system and their effect on salmonoid populations.
North Umpqua River closes for summer steelhead fishing
Oregon’s North Umpqua River is legendary for its summer steelhead fishery, and for the special fishing regulations that have helped sustain the unique character and history of this water. Now, for only the second time since Oregon began to regulate fishing on the North Umpqua, the summer steelhead fishery will be closed in 2023 due to poor returns of adult fish.
Legislative Summary: Oregon’s 2023 Legislative Session
The Oregon Legislature recently completed its 2023 legislative session. Wild Steelheaders United is pleased to report on several positive bills for steelhead and rivers.
Steelhead and Salmon Recovery Must be Built on Ambitious, Achievable Goals Instead of Bare Minimums
The communities and ecosystem of the Columbia River Basin need healthy and harvestable salmon and steelhead populations.
Science Friday: What’s up with these kelts?
Another Science Friday looking at the fate and migratory oceanic patterns of steelhead kelts from Alaska’s Situk River.
Washington State Legislative Update
The 2023 Washington legislative session wrapped up on the evening of Sunday, April 23 and looking at the session from Wild Steelheaders United and Trout Unlimited’s perspective, it was a very productive year.
Legislative Update: Two Policy Achievements in Oregon!
Last week, the Oregon legislature passed two bills that are good for wild steelhead
Science Friday (PART TWO): Disappearing Steelhead – The Fate of Summer Steelhead Seeking Coldwater in the Columbia and Snake Rivers
fish traveling downstream through the hydro system, and discussion of possible management changes to help improve steelhead survival.
Science Friday (PART ONE): Disappearing Steelhead – The Fate of Summer Steelhead Seeking Coldwater in the Columbia and Snake Rivers
In the Columbia and Snake rivers hydropower systems, many migrating summer steelhead overshoot their spawning streams, passing dams multiple times and increasing mortality rates, trying to find cold water refuge. We look at the ramifications on steelhead management for not properly accounting for these overshoot steelhead.
Meet the team: Haley Ohms
This week we’re highlighting the newest addition to the Wild Steelheaders United team, Haley Ohms. Haley is a Salmon Biologist with Trout Unlimited’s Science Team.

