Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby

Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby UFED is an annual steelhead fishing derby donating all proceeds to restoration & education projects.

The Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby has become one of the premier events of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. All money raised goes toward fishery enhancement/restoration projects and fishery educational opportunities in the Umpqua Basin. The Derby has contributed more than $1.9 million in matching funds toward hundreds of projects over the past thirty years. The 2022 Derby alone raised more th

an $100,000 to invest in the Umpqua. The Derby began as a two-day Fishing Derby with about 75 people attending a dinner and auction in a small motel conference room and raised $7000 for projects. Over the past 30 years UFED has grown into a popular four-day event with hundreds of sponsors and donors from all around the state joining us in support of Umpqua Basin fish populations and angling opportunities. The UFED Dinner/Auction and Derby Fishing Teams are sold-out early, with more sponsors always welcome. UFED is proud of the gracious funding-support dedicated to the hundreds of projects that have been completed in the Umpqua River basin and are excited to reach the 2 million dollar goal of donated funds since 1993 to continue these enhancement and education activities. Each year our Derby event runs from Wednesday through Saturday the last week of January/first week of February. The event begins with "Student Day: Project Fish" on Wednesday where 25-30 high school students spend a day on a Rock Creek watershed tour led by local natural resources specialists. "Kids Day" is on Thursday where 50-60 local fifth grade students from a local elementary school are treated to a morning of fishing on Cooper Creek Reservoir with our Derby Guides, North River jet boat rides, and lunch as recognition for their work with their hatchery program on their school campus and year-round lessons about fish. The catch-and-release steelhead fishing take place on Friday and Saturday on the North, South, and Main Umpqua rivers. The Derby draws fishermen from throughout Oregon and the best fishing guides in Southern Oregon. Thursday evening is a crab feed and raffle for the Derby Guides and fishermen. Our annual Banquet and Auction takes place on Friday evening. This has become one of the most popular events in Douglas County with attendance of over 600 people. This a the major fund-raising event for our projects and offers the attendees many opportunities to bid on several oral and silent auction items, raffle prices, and always enjoy a fun gathering with great food and drinks. If you have questions about the Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby, please feel free to contact Tina Roy by emailing [email protected] or call (541) 672-0757

Contact Tina: 541-672-0757 or tina@dougtimber.org** Photos and Sizing in the Comments **Pick up location: 3000 NW Stewar...
09/02/2026

Contact Tina: 541-672-0757 or [email protected]
** Photos and Sizing in the Comments **

Pick up location: 3000 NW Stewart Parkway, Suite 104, Rsbg

The Derby is honored to be a partner with Fly Fishing Veterans
08/23/2026

The Derby is honored to be a partner with Fly Fishing Veterans

The official total 2026 Winter Steelhead Count for the North Umpqua River was just posted by ODFW as 8,099 fish. The act...
08/20/2026

The official total 2026 Winter Steelhead Count for the North Umpqua River was just posted by ODFW as 8,099 fish. The actual fish count by the Derby’s trained volunteers is 11,336. The statistical estimate by ODFW is over 3,200 or 40% below the number of steelhead that were observed via the live video camera that recorded every second of fish passage at Wi******er dam. The Derby started this project in 2022 with donations from our supporters that wanted the counts to be accurate and updated on a timely basis.

08/10/2026

🎣 SAVE THE DATE! 🎣

The 2027 Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby is coming!
Mark your calendars and get ready for another great weekend celebrating the Umpqua Basin, fishing, and our community!

📅 January 27–30, 2027

🎓 January 27 — Student Day
A special day connecting local High School students with the river, fisheries, and conservation.

🎣 January 28 — Kids Day & Crab Feed
Fun for the kids during the day at Cooper Creek Reservoir, followed by our always-popular Crab Feed!

🐟 January 29 — Fishing Derby Begins & Friday Night Auction
The fishing begins! And don't miss our Friday Night Auction.

🏆 January 30 — Fishing Derby Concludes
One last day on the water and the excitement of the Derby comes to a close!

More details coming soon. We can't wait to see you there! 🎣🌊

08/10/2026

NORTH UMPQUA RIVER CLOSED TO SUMMER STEELHEAD FISHING

08/03/2026

The Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby has granted $2 Million donated funds to over 460 Umpqua Basin projects since 1993. Recent years' grant awards have provided matching funds to 17 Habitat Enhancement Projects; 20 Hatchery Fish Rearing Projects; 19 Education/Research Projects; and 2 Public Anglers Access Sites. All Derby proceeds go to funding applications for fish-related projects requesting support to complete their projects each year. The Derby is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that collaborates with our partners and sponsors to improve our fisheries in the Umpqua River basin. Thank you all for your continued support.

07/31/2026

UMPQUA FISHERY ENHANCEMENT DERBY
2026 GRANT AWARDS

We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2026 Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby Grant Program! Thanks to the continued support of our sponsors, partners, volunteers, and participants, the Derby is proud to award $30,020 to support fisheries enhancement, habitat restoration, research, and educational opportunities throughout the Umpqua River Basin.

This year’s funding will support six important projects that help protect and enhance our fisheries for future generations:

🐟 Gardner-Reedsport-Wi******er Bay Volunteer Hatchery – Improving Fall Chinook egg monitoring and incubation.

🎣 From Our Lakes and Rivers to the Sea Program – Expanding access to recreational fishing opportunities.

🌲 Rock Creek Streamside Restoration Project – Restoring more than nine miles of stream impacted by the Archie Creek Fire through invasive species removal and planting 40,000+ native trees.

🐟 Fish Donation and Broodstock Operations – Supporting improved fish handling practices.

🔬 Diamond Lake Isotope Study – Providing valuable research to guide future fisheries management.

🌊 Upper Honey Creek Restoration Project – Enhancing stream habitat for native fish populations.

We are grateful to the organizations and individuals who continue to dedicate their time and resources to improving fisheries throughout the Umpqua River Basin. Together, we are making a lasting impact for fish, wildlife, and our communities.

07/17/2026

The Wild summer steelhead count is well below 1,000 and the wild-fish only organizations are still fishing in "their" flyfishing only section of the North Umpqua and causing delays, injuries, and mortality to this population.

Address

3000 NW Stewart Parkway, Suite 104
Roseburg, OR
97471

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15416720757

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby:

Shortcuts

Share