Summer Steelhead

Now Booking Summer Steelhead! Deschutes Grand Ronde John Day Our all inclusively camp trips for Fall Steelhead are very limited and this is your opportunity to get in on one of these amazing multi day adventures for Steelhead. Come see what you have been missing! Groups of 2-4 anglers for 3 to 5 days fully guided on these Wild and Scenic Rivers. Spoil yourself! Deschutes River August 22-24 September 1-3 Grande Ronde River October 22-25 John Day River November 3-7 These trips are truly awesome. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.  Book your trip today!  guides@littlecreekoutfitters.net   www.oregonsteelhead.com

Little Creek Outfitters, PO BOX 343, Maupin, OR 97037

Deschutes under attack.

Let's fight back!

From the Deschutes River Alliance:

The Urgent Issue

On Friday, September 4, the ODFW Commissioners will be voting on a large package of angling rule changes created to “simplify” the Oregon fishing regulations.

One of the rule changes calls for opening up kill on redband trout in the lower Deschutes River.  Presently, there is a “slot limit” that only allows the take of 2 redband trout between 10 and 13 inches of length per day.  The new rule would allow the taking of any 2 redband trout over 8 inches per day.

Our position at the DRA is that if the Commission wishes to simplify the angling rules, the easiest thing would be to do away with any kill of redband trout on the lower Deschutes by making it a catch and release fishery with the required use of barbless hooks.  Now that would be simple!  Easy to understand, no measuring of fish would be necessary, and it would be easily enforceable.  Anything short of this deserves a deferral on decision-making to allow the public to provide input on rule changes.

[see more at Deschutes River Alliance]
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A Statement of Political Position, From The Fly Fishing Shop:

Dear Deschutes River Allies,
Unfortunately, the rumor is true. A proposal has been made to provide harvest options for larger trout on the lower 100-miles of the Deschutes River. The slot-limit (2-trout between 10”-13”), which has been in place since 1979 is proposed to be replaced with a 2-trout limit (minimum size of 8”). I believe the slot-limit has provided the finest public fishery in Oregon and should be retained.
As of this writing,there is nothing about this proposal on the ODFW web site.
I had to search the ODFW Commission site to find this proposal (which I understand has also been removed). This smacks of a cover-up.
The lower Deschutes is one of the few fisheries that is managed to sustain itself indefinitely. And it supports tremendous fishing pressure, which pours cubic bucks into the communities around it. 

Depleting the numbers of larger trout in this proud fishery can benefit no one.
I seriously believe that one of the reasons why Oregon’s State Fishery agency is always broke, is that it sells our resources too cheap.
We don’t need more harvest to make money.We need better fisheries to bring people from other states.The Deschutes River is the best sports fishery money mill we have.
ODFW’s mandate is to protect wild fish and to provide fishing opportunity. The problem is that ODFW Staff has interpreted the word opportunity to mean harvest. They seem to never realize that once a fish is harvested, the opportunity is gone. The slot-limit bridges this gap. The Commission might consider that they may already be doing the best job that can be done here. But, if they need easier rules for dummies to understand, make it strictly catch and release.
The meeting where the decision will be made is on September 4 in of all places Seaside, Oregon (on Labor Day week). The page that just went missing also states that no one will be allowed to testify unless they register 24-hours in advance.
I think that this lack of disclosure and the decisions being made in Seaside is a plan to railroad these proposed changes away from the ease of public participation.
It is an old Bureaucratic trick to push through rules that the majority of their constituents would not agree with.
Doubtful that this bunch of Staff and Commissioners would have the fortitude to hold this same meeting in Maupin, Madras, Bend, Portland, or Welches.
As a matter of fact, I think that these cats have already made the decision.
All that is left is the ratification at a public meeting.
However, I am also a believer that democracy works as long as the citizens are willing to make their government govern by the will of the people.
Whatever the road blocks, we simply have to overcome them, and be a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
We can’t let these perpetrators steel all the hard work that has been put into the Deschutes fishery.

If the proposed regulation is allowed to go through, they’ve got it for a year, by that time they will probably do ten year’s-worth of damage for someone to repair.
And who but the professionals to better do the repair?
I can feel some bastard writing an order for funding, as I am writing this.
My suspicions may be a little intense, but I feel they are well thought out.
The decision to remove the slot-limit is a bad move biologically, and it is even worse since it has been done with a limited amount of public disclosure (which may be illegal as well).
This whole approach is wrong for the Deschutes, which is beyond a doubt the best fishery in Oregon. The best part of the slot-limit is it was done by the will of the people, and by nearly unanimous consent of those people (I know, because I was involved).
I just talked to an ODFW insider, and that person basically told me that some of the staff is strongly opposed to this regulation change, but they were told to shut up in fear of retaliation.
I think it is imperative that we get mobilized to meet these issues head on.
In this case our government has apparently run totally amuck, and we must initiate a public investigation.
Ad your thoughts and pass this on to your own circle of power.
Thank you for your support in this matter.
Fish long & prosper,
Mark Bachmann
CEO
The Fly Fishing Shop, Inc.
Phone: 1-800-266-3971
Cell: 503-781-6468
mark@flyfishusa.com
www.flyfishusa.com

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From Craigslist:

Dear ODFW,

Deschutes trout is your latest victim.  You have to be kidding me. Right? The absurdity that I even have to write this letter just drives me nuts. Correct me where I have missed something here? You would like to make the rules more simple and therefore think a blanket regulation on waters would simplify things? I think it would be simple to cut your staff to zero and get a competent agency to take your place. 

I guess you felt left out in the piling on that agencies have contributed to in their bad management decisions around here. I mean the dam has the tower they are trying to kill fish, bugs, and small town economy with the excuse to save salmon. The tribes have their man given right to kill half the salmon and, oops, most all the steelhead accidently, with their traditional harvests methods using motorboats and modern gill nets. The BLM wants to charge you to float and has limited the “entry”lock down so the local kids, tourist, guides, and even you can’t even go out on the river without at least wasting your precious midnight sleep, getting denied by a machine, to get a segment 4 boaters pass. 

So, That’s cool. Lets change the rules to kill wild Deschutes trout. KILL THEM ALL! Why don’t we just nuke them? It would at least be faster. The local communities would move away or die too. Seems like the BLM would be interested in collaborating. Dam too! Brilliant. The more I think about it, the more I see the light: we, the people who care, are the enemy. We want clean cold water, healthy fish, happy people visiting our towns, and rules with regulation put in place to recreate and achieve this. So far, the BLM, Tribes, Dam regulators, and now ODFW are positioning itself on the other side of that fence. It’s embarrassing and absurd. 

From the Rant and Rave department.
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From Amy Hazel:

My letter to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife - don't ruin the Deschutes!

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE

Salem, OR 97302

August 26, 2015

Dear ODFW Commission on Proposed Fishing Regulation Changes, 

My name is Amy Hazel and I live on the Deschutes River in Maupin, Oregon. Not only do I live on the Deschutes, my entire livelihood depends on the health of the Deschutes and the health of the fish that live in the Deschutes. My husband and I own Deschutes Angler Fly Shop and John Hazel & Company guide service. I have dedicated the past 17 years of my life to sharing this river and the wonderful trout and steelhead fishery with anglers from around the world. Your proposed regulation changes for the Deschutes River threaten to degrade and possibly destroy this wonderful gem of a resource.

In the 12 years that I have interacted with anglers on a daily basis in my fly fishing shop and in the 17 years I have spent on the Deschutes guiding anglers, I can honestly say that I have never heard anyone complain about not being able to kill large trout on the Deschutes. Even with a slot limit in place, one rarely ever sees anglers harvesting trout – the Deschutes is, in the minds of most anglers, a catch and release trout river. 

This river is a 100% wild native trout fishery. The trout are not supplemented by any of your hatchery programs, and they have been successfully thriving for decades. In recent years the changes in the management of the water releases from PGE’s Pelton Round Butte project have been negatively impacting water quality and insect populations on the Deschutes. The trout are struggling to adjust to these changes. Allowing additional harvest does not make sense in the Deschutes. 

Allowing anglers to kill any 2 trout over 8” in length will negatively impact the trout fishery as well as the steelhead fishery. Allowing anglers to harvest 8-9” steelhead smolts as well as 16” Deschutes native wild trout is irresponsible – especially since ODFW has not conducted any in-depth study on the health of Deschutes trout since the Schroeder study in 1989. 

EITHER KEEP THE CURRENT REGULATIONS OR MAKE THE LOWER DESCHUTES RIVER 100% CATCH AND RELEASE FOR ALL TROUT. IT IS SOSIMPLE.

It seems to me that you are removing regulations that were put in place to protect native spawning fish – trout and steelhead in particular. In the case of the Deschutes, opening the river year-round would put many spawning redds at risk of being trampled by anglers and the fish themselves at risk of being harassed by anglers during a sensitive spawning time. 

PLEASE CONSIDER KEEPING THE DESCHUTES (SOUTH OF THE BORDER OF THE WARM SPRINGS INDIAN RESERVATION BOUNDARY) CLOSED TO ANGLING JANUARY 1-APRIL 25.

There are very few rivers in the world that can boast a native trout population as healthy as that on the Deschutes River. Why not make the Deschutes trout fishery a catch and release fishery? A beautiful Deschutes wild rainbow trout is far too valuable to be enjoyed by just one person.

Sincerely, 

Amy Hazel

Deschutes Angler Fly Shop

Maupin, OR

Amy@deschutesangler.com

www.deschutesangler.com

541-395-0995

Oh My!

photo by Dave McCoy-Poem by Mike McCoy

We've all been here before. 

Deschutes Water Temperature

This has been a hot topic. One that takes some serious research to figure what is going on with the changes in the Deschutes River and why. What is in the future of how water temperatures are managed? Is there a balance of having a successful reintroduction of anadromous fish above Lake Billy Chinook and a healthy river below? Here, we have chronologically linked related articles. With the overwhelming theme being healthy fish/river VS healthy fish/river. Confusing? Yes. We are hoping that all groups and agencies will, in short time, find the balance that is ideal for the fish passage, trout/bug health, angling opportunities, and a healthy river.


Links in the news:

July 22, 2010. "Recently, there has been considerable concern regarding the warm water temperatures on the Deschutes River. Our friend Matt, recently received information from Don Ratliff, senior fish biologists at the Pelton Round Butte Project, regarding the temperature change of the river."

http://oregonsteelhead.blogspot.com/2010/07/deschutes-river-water-temputures.html

July 29 2011. "The selective water withdrawal facility is now in its second year of operation, and we’re getting questions about how we’re managing water temperatures in the Lower Deschutes. Here are some answers for you:"

http://www.deschutespassage.com/news/?p=80

August 18, 2011. "This article explores keeping releases within state temperature guidelines, The difference noticed by fishermen on the lower 100 miles of the river, and its dramatically changing temperatures with fish behavior:"

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/08/pge_cools_water_flows_in_deschutes_river_below_lake_bill_chinook.html

July 13, 2012."Many anglers know that temperatures on the Deschutes below the Pelton Round Butte Project are now being managed to reflect what they would be if the dams were not here. That is still the case:"
http://www.deschutespassage.com/news/?p=87

July 23, 2013. "After three years of complaints that a $130 million mixing tower in Round Butte Reservoir is raising water temperatures in and changing the nature of the lower Deschutes River, Portland General Electric is starting two studies to help determine if there is any scientific basis for the fears:" 
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/07/in_the_hot_deschutes_river_por.html


August 12, 2013. "Dams hurt rivers. They block a river’s flow and harm water quality, fish and wildlife, and recreational opportunities. In some cases where a dam is outdated, unsafe, or has outlived its usefulness, American Rivers advocates for dam removal. But in many cases, keeping a working hydropower dam in place makes sense. And with some upgrades to the dam and its operations, we can make hydropower safer for rivers." - See more at: 
http://www.americanrivers.org/blog/improving-hydropower-dams-benefits-rivers/#sthash.K8WzU2Ad.dpuf

The current water temperature can be read by visiting the USGS link.

Carp, Friend or Foe

Did you know ---- a typical female carp produces over a million eggs in a single spawn, and some have produced up to three million eggs!!

To some, carp are a superb game fish to target but to others it is a detrimental, invasive aquatic species. In one such place, the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Southeasten Oregon it is destroying vegetation for migrating birds and competing with the native redband trout.  The refuge was established on August 18, 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt as the Lake Malheur Reservation. Roosevelt set aside unclaimed lands encompassed by Malheur, Mud and Harney Lakes “as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds.” 

What's really special about the refuge is over 320 species of birds and 58 mammal species have been observed on the refuge. It is also in the Pacific Flyway and it's abundant water and food resources provide a wayside for many resident and migratory birds. 

In 1950 the Common Carp was introduced at the refuge as a desirable sustenance fish and has since

established in Malheur National Wildlife Refuge waters. Since then, carp have severely depleted migratory bird food resources and diminished water quality. With over 7,2 million pounds of carp currently in refuge waters, bird productions numbers have dramatically declined and will continue to do so unless the carp invasion is controlled. 

Refuge staff have been conducting carp control treatments since 1955. Since then, ongoing efforts to improve aquatic health on Malheur National Wildlife Refuge have included the use of chemicals, fishscreens, 

traps and barriers, and water draw downs. While all of these treatments have been effective, carp populations rebound within a few years without a basin-wide solution. In order for carp control to be a success, continuing studies on carp populations and their effect on aquatic food supplies will need to be 

completed. Complete eradication of common carp will not be possible in all waterways, but huge strides can be made in control. 

Fish for Carp during Aquatic Awareness Week
August 16-25, 2013

As part of ongoing research into the impacts of invasive common carp (Cyprinus carpio) on aquatic ecosystems and wildlife, Malheur Refuge is encouraging public participation in data gathering efforts. Between August 16th and 25th a portion of the Blitzen River near Refuge Headquarters will be open to bank fish for carp.  Information gathered from carp caught in this portion of the refuge will augment data gathered in other portions of the refuge.

Participants in the data gathering exercise will also have the opportunity to learn about a variety of aquatic health research projects and carp control efforts at the Refuge and elsewhere in the Harney Basin. The Refuge is working to restore the basin’s aquatic health in order to fulfill its mission of providing feeding, nesting and rearing habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Registration is required to fish for carp in the designated area. Registration will be held in the Visitor Center at Refuge Headquarters beginning at 8:00 am. An Oregon State fishing license is required for participants 14 years and older.

Bring your family, friends and lucky fishing pole to bank fish for carp by angling and fly fishing from Sodhouse Lane to the bridge on the Boat Landing Road along the Blitzen River at Refuge Headquarters. For more information contact the Refuge at (541) 493-2612.

High Pressure Fishing Alternative

Chukar Hunting

 It's really all about the exercise and dogs for us. It certainly isn't about how many birds we shoot. In a way, this is the similar relationship to steelheading. Just showing up and being in the field is the reward. Every hunt we've done this fall/winter I have had many shots. Not yet have we downed a bird. Damn these wild Chukar are tough! It's not to much unlike self torture.

 Our Pudelpointer Cedar has turned into such a great upland pointing dog. His nose is unreal. As he has aged he has slowed down and instead of smelling the roses he finds birds with tons of true confidence. If only his owners where as good at slinging lead as they are at flinging polyurethane.

Nelly, the german shorthair has the power of a locomotive, and the speed of Nascar, she only knows one tempo and that's full speed, needless to say she ends up with a lot of stitches.  She is also very loyal and honors all of Cedars points, with age and more field time she will be dynamite. The two together are a fantastic team.

photos by mia
As long as we keep getting the shots, our determination to hunt chukar will grow. With chukar hunting it's all about vengeance after the first hundred misses, Damn those birds.

Winter Steelhead Time!

Booking now!

Allow us to take you to some of the most wild an scenic rivers in Oregon,situated just a short distance from Portland. These rivers have wonderfull opportunities for you to fish for steelhead. Our goal is to provide you with the tools necessary to acheive the secrets of winter steelhead fishing. We will work hard to provide this to you!

Join us for another Winter on the Sandy or Clackamas Rivers.

Our forcast:

• Late December will have (already does!) fresh chrome fish spread out in both rivers. These ones are hot!
• January will see more fish push in with some larger wild fish arriving late.
• February is big fish season on the Sandy! Your chance at one of those big beasts.
• March will see longer days, a bulk of the hatchery run, and milder weather.
• April has winter/spring fish. The Clackamas will be great! The Sandy will fish well too.
• May is the time if you love the nice weather and want a shot at the building summer run with a chance of a spring chinook! Don't forget the Sandy River Spey Clave.

photo by Miguel Morejohn

The feeling of holding such a wonderful creature is an emotion of elation and delight!

Sharing moments with family and friends is immeasurable!

Free Casting/Fishing clinics this winter!

Join Mia and Marty Sheppard with Brian Silvey

Jaunuary 9, 2011

February 6, 2011

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Oxbow Park Boat Ramp

photo by Ken Anderson

We look forward to fulfilling your fishing desires!

A big thank you to all of you who made last year a smashing success!

Bass Fishing on the John Day!

Juniper on the John Day

Bass are fun to catch!

The Eckland clan.