Umatilla River Oregon Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone
Species
Steelhead
Chinook Salmon (Spring & Fall)
Coho
Rainbow trout
Bull Trout
Whitefish
Size
Small to Large
Location
Northeastern Oregon
Nearest Towns
Cayuse
Pendleton
Umatilla
Season
Varies by species. See current
regulations.
Access:
Limited but good in certain areas
Non-Resident License
State of Oregon
Weather
National Weather Service
USGS Stream Flow Data:
Near Umatilla
Season:
The fishing season is species specific. Be sure to check the current regulations
Spring:
Steelhead are in the river until May but the season closes in mid-April. The spring season for Chinook varies depending on the returns. Late spring starts the
rainbow trout season.
Summer:
Summertime is the best time for the upper section’s rainbow trout. Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon enter
the river in August.
Fall:
Steelhead enter the Umatilla River in late September. September. October is a prime month for them. Early
Fall is good for rainbow trout. Chinook and Coho are in the river until December. October is a prime month.
Winter:
Steelhead are in the river throughout the winter months.November is a prime month for the Chinook and
Coho and they are in the river until December.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
For Steelhead and Salmon
Fly Line:
7, 8 , 9 or 10 weight for appropriate typerod, sinking, sinking tip and floating
Leaders:
10#, 12# in 9 to 15 feet lengths
Tippets:
10# and 12#
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly 7, 8, 9 and 10 ft. single hand rods
Fly Reels:
For 7 to 10 weight lines
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
KISS Strike Indicators, Lanyards, etc.
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Umatilla River Oregon
The Umatilla River is a tributary of the Columbia River that’s appr oximately 89 miles long. It is located in northeastern Oregon. The major tributaries of the Umatilla River are the North and South Forks of the Umatilla River. The river increases in size along its way from the water of many tributaries before reaching the Columbia.
The headwaters of the Umatilla River are in the Blue Mountains at the confluence of its north and south forks in the Umatilla National Forest. Lick Creek and Bear Creek join it above Bingham Springs. It is joined by Rock Creek as well as Bobsled, Augur, and Ryan creeks before it enters the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Squaw, Buckaroo, Coonskin, Moonshine, Cottonwood and Mission Creeks enter the river downstream of Cayuse.
The Umatilla leaves the Indian reservation and reaches the city of Pendleton where Wildhorse and Patawa Creeks enter it. It flows under I-84 twice, picking up more water from McKay, Birch, and Butter Creeks above Hermiston. It then passes under I-82 before entering the Columbia River at the city of Umatilla. The river joins the Columbia at Lake Umatilla, a reservoir formed by the John Day Dam on the Columbia.
In its lower reaches, the Umatilla River offers steelhead and coho and fall Chinook salmon fishing opportunities. The season on spring Chinook varies from year to year. For many years, salmon were not present in the Umatilla River. The water was used for Irrigation and the river’s habitat was damaged. Thanks to tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservations, salmon are once again returning to the river, although there are still problems with the return numbers of the spring run. The tribes have jurisdiction over about half of the river.
The upper river has a very decent population of rainbow trout. There’s also lots of whitefish and a few bull trout. Several of the tributary streams have a population of rainbows
Flies:
We have a complete line of flies for steelhead and salmon. We have selected them as the most popular flies from thousands of patterns that have been developed over the years. We have some of our own Perfect Fly steelhead and salmon patterns. They imitate the hexigenia mayfly nymph, certain caddisfly nymphs, stonefly nymphs and fish roe or eggs that are found in the river throughout the year. We also have a full line of popular wet flies, egg flies, Spey flies that are very popular. We hope you will give our flies a try. We have customers who have used our flies on the John Day River with success and hope that you will give them an opportunity to perform for you.
Trout Flies:
We definitely recommend our “Perfect Fly” trout flies. They are by far the best flies for the Umatilla River because they are the most realistic flies you can purchase. We have imitations of every insect and other trout food that is present in this stream and in all stages of life that is applicable. If you haven’t done so already, we ask you to give them a try. We know you will not be disappointed.