August 19, 2025 4:10 a.m. 

Fishing for Chinook salmon, both hatchery and wild, has closed on the Umpqua, Smith and North Fork Smith rivers because the quota of 500 wild fall Chinook has been reached.

An update from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said with forecasted low returns of wild fall Chinook salmon in the rivers, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted this limited fishery at their June meeting.

Umpqua District Fish Biologist Evan Leonetti said the Chinook fishery began slowly with just 30 percent of the quota harvested in July.

Leonetti said, “We typically see low catch rates in July as fall Chinook are beginning to move into the bay. Angler harvest increased in August, and the quota was met on August 16. Although limited, we were pleased to be able to provide some opportunity for harvest this year”.

The update said many wild fall Chinook spawn in the South Umpqua River and a large portion spawn in the Smith, North Fork Smith rivers and other tributaries. Low returns in the Umpqua Basin in 2024 was a catalyst for the Commission to adopt a cautious, quota-based approach to this season’s wild fall Chinook fishery. ODFW will be closely monitoring this year’s return to the spawning grounds to ensure healthy future runs and sustainable fisheries.