The Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby Celebrates 25 Years!

The Derby Committee for the Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby is planning a grand celebration for the 25th year of this great community event! The dates for the upcoming Derby are February 1-4, 2017.

As always, we kick off the Derby on Wednesday (February 1) with “Student Day: Project Fish” when we take 15-20 high school students to Rock Creek Fish Hatchery for the day to work with ODFW Staff spawning fish and other activities around the hatchery and then spend the afternoon with a forester. Thursday (February 2) is “Kid’s Day” where we take 5th graders from Eastwood Elementary to Cooper Creek Reservoir. They each receive a Cabela’s life jacket to take home, watch as ODFW stocks the lake with fish, go out fishing with Derby Professional Fishing Guides, take a jet boat ride, have lunch and then head back to school. Thursday evening is the Crab Feed for the Teams and Derby Guides only. The Steelhead Catch-and-Release Fishing Derby takes place Friday and Saturday (February 3 and 4) on the North, South and Main Stem Umpqua rivers.

Friday evening, February 3rd is the Derby Banquet and Auction. This year’s Banquet will take place in Douglas Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. The Derby Committee hopes you will join us on February 3rd for a special evening in celebration of 25 years of this great community event! Thanks to the amazing support of our many sponsors, donors and participants, the Derby has raised more than $1.3 million over the past 24 years for fishery enhancement, restoration and educational projects in the Umpqua Basin! Since the money contributed to projects by the Derby are matching funds, this equates to a very significant investment in our fishery in the Umpqua Basin.

For information about the Derby or to make reservations for the Banquet/Auction, please contact Audrey at 541-672-0757 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.