A recent article in the Oregonian stated, "Winchester Bay Chinook fishing
remains excellent offshore, good in the lower river (Umpqua)."
September
One sign of fish in the area is the presence of fisherman, and when they
are not readily seen then their cars and trucks parked alongside the road is a
strong indicator. Some of the land spots are not the easiest to navigate. The
bank area in Winchester Bay is best for those not quite so nimble of foot. The
jetties can be quite slippery and the tide can make a safe area less safe.
Please be careful.
Land Based Fishing
Winchester Creek flows into the inner harbor at Winchester Bay. There
is no fishing on the South side of the bridge and the bridge is just three
blocks from Highway 101 on Salmon Harbor Drive.
before the bridge (on Salmon Harbor Drive) crosses over the creek there
are some parking spaces and a S.T.E.P. sign. A trench runs parallel to the
road and many fish are pulled from these pools.
just before the bridge there is a right hand turn called Beach
Boulevard. Travel down to the first left called Coho Point and go to the end.
This is the shortest distance across this part of the harbor and a solid
fishing spot.
on the North side of Pizza Ray’s restaurant is another trench and from
Beach Boulevard to the end of Coho Point there is quality fishing.
go back to Beach Boulevard and travel north about 1/16th of a mile to
Bay Front Loop. On the South side of Kitty’s Kitchen is another series of
pools and people will sit eating their pie and watching you bring in the
catch.
go back to Salmon Harbor Drive, turn right, and cross over the bridge.
Look to the right as you are crossing over and you will see fisherman strung
out along the bank. The best fishing is closest to the bridge but the trench
on this side runs all the way from the bridge up to just opposite Coho Point.
on Salmon Harbor Drive take the second right after the bridge (Marina
Way) and go to the end of the street (about 1/4 of a mile) where it ends in a
parking lot. The best fishing is on the West side of the point at the very tip
(locals call this Osprey Point).
on Salmon Harbor Drive about a half mile down the road from the bridge
is a left hand turn onto Lighthouse Road. Do not take the turn but find a
parking space on Salmon Harbor Drive and cross over to the embankment area.
There can be rough water here and at low tide and some exposed rocks to get
you off the embankment and into the bay.
Quite a few other spots exist all within this mile-long stretch of the
road from Salmon Harbor to Lighthouse Road: West of the Old Coast Guard dock;
the west side of the Winchester Bay RV Resort jetty. Vehicles with four wheel
drive can get you out further toward an area called the triangle and the north
side of the South jetty closer to the bar.
Boat Launching
Douglas County and the city of Reedsport have free boat ramps along with
parking for the trailers along the Umpqua. Driving down Route 38 from Scottsburg
to Reedsport there are several parks which are easy to find when the fish are up
river. In Reedsport, in the area of the Discovery Center, there are two access
points within 200 yards. One east of the Discovery Center and one west. Parking
of trailers is available adjacent to the East ramp but you have to travel around
the dike wall. You will see other trailers parked there. Traveling up Highway
101 about half a mile north of the junction of Highways 38 and 101 is Bolan
Island which has an access point on the Smith River which flows into the Umpqua
within 300 yards.
Winchester Bay’s ramps are controlled by Salmon Harbor Management and
there is a fee associated with their use. One area is adjacent to the Coast
Guard Station at the north end of Beach Boulevard and the other is near the end
of the West spit or Ork Rock Road near Umpqua Aquaculture Oyster Farm.
River Fishing
the Umpqua is a long river and as fresh water enters the river the fish
move upstream from the mouth. Where to fish depends upon whether the fish have
entered the river and if they are moving upstream. The local bait and tackle
shops should be able to tell you the best areas.
just East of the Scottsburg bridge hugging the North bank there is a
turn in the river. It is usually well populated with boats.
the wide area east of the railroad bridge near Highway 101 and the
Umpqua Discovery Center and continuing west for about three miles is a favored
section. Here the Smith and the Umpqua join for the first time and it is a
good resource.
just West of the Highway 101 bridge is another favorite section early
in the Fall.
beyond the bar at times can be a holding tank for fish: how far out,
how deep and exactly where depends on the temperature of the water, the
currents and the like. This involves crossing the bar and should be done with
care and with lifejackets on. Watch the weather as it can change quickly and
only use a vessel that is in good repair and large enough for ocean waves.
other favorite spots are Half Moon Bay, the area off of the South spit,
as well as areas around the islands near Gardiner. While just a short drive
from Winchester Bay to Reedsport, the river is three times as long and has
many spots favored by the local fishermen.
Have some great fishing.
Joe Coyne
Fishing at
Winchester Bay/Salmon Harbor, Oregon
Tim Hendricks from Portland, Oregon with a pair of 25# Chinook.
Both were caught on the Umpqua River bar during the 2004 run. Dandy Catch!
(Photo courtesy of
River's End Guide Service)
Captain Scott Howard and crewman Robert
Strassmeir with the 62-inch/ 115-pound halibut caught in May of 2004 out
of Winchester Bay/Salmon Harbor. Photo courtesy of
Strike Zone
Charters.
Did you know that Winchester Bay fishing charters offer
the ultimate in deep sea fishing including participating in the Pacific
Halibut spring season. There is also a strong Summer Pacific Halibut
season combined with Albacore Tuna fishing. They call it this Oregon Grand
Slam.
These are long range trips of twenty five miles to the Heceta Banks. It
takes about three hours to journey to these rich fishing grounds that
rival anywhere in the world. There you can find not only halibut but also
rockfish, lingcod and occasionally salmon. Along the way passengers can
often see migrating orcas and whales.
This year vessels caught quality fish for their passengers. The last week
of the spring halibut season saw catches rivaling those caught in Alaska.
Passengers took home halibut to 100 lbs.
If you are thinking of Pacific Halibut fishing in Oregon, please consider
charter offices in Winchester Bay. Strike Zone Charters provides the
finest in service and equipment to chase Pacific Halibut or wild Oregon
Salmon.
A great day of salmon fishing - Strike Zone Captain Scott
Howard.
Our Office is located in the Oregon Dunes NRA Building at the junction of
Highways 101 & 38
855 Highway Avenue
Reedsport, Oregon
Visitor Center hours are
Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
From
May 15th through September 15th
we are also open Saturdays and Sundays
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Our foyer is open 24 hours and is stocked with brochures, information and
maps.
Contact the Webmaster about this
website.
