Fishing

You'll find some of the best river fishing in Oregon along the Umpqua, with smallmouth bass, shad, steelhead, salmon (coho, chinook, and sockeye), and sturgeon—the biggest reaching 10 feet in length—among the most prized catches. In addition to the Steamboat Inn, several outfitters in the region provide full guide services, which typically include all gear, boats, and expert leaders. There's good fishing in this region year-round, with sturgeon and steelhead at their best during the colder months, chinook and coho salmon thriving in the fall, and most other species prolific in spring and summer.

Big K Guest Ranch. Set along a 10-mile span of the upper Umpqua River near Elkton (about 35 miles north of Roseburg), Big K is a 2,500-acre guest ranch. Accommodations are geared primarily to groups and corporate retreats, but the ranch offers individual eight-hour fishing trips starting at $400 for one or two anglers, and two-day/three-night fishing and lodging packages (meals included) for around $900 per person. Adventures include fly-fishing for smallmouth bass and summer steelhead, as well as spin-casting and drift-boat fishing. 20029 Hwy. 138 W, Elkton, Oregon, 97436. 541/584–2295; 800/390–2445; www.big-k.com.

Oregon Angler. One of the state's most respected and knowledgeable guides, Todd Hannah, specializes in jet-boat and drift-boat fishing excursions along the famed "Umpqua Loop," an 18-mile span of river that's long been lauded for exceptional fishing. Full-day trips start at $200 per person. 1037 Maupin Rd., Elkton, Oregon, 97436. 800/428–8585; www.theoregonangler.com.