Public Land your Playground

"Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land." Aldo Leopold

Public lands are my play ground and if you hunt or fish in the west, it’s probably your playground too. 

If you have an adventurous spirit; at your fingertips you can walk for miles in solitude and grace, finding rocks unturned and spectacular views. 

Places wild and free, without judgment.  

It's up to us to give this land the highest standard deserved for fish and wildlife.

It's up to us to protect these special places so our kids can experience wild places like we do.

Cedar on high ground

Find the chukar!

Get involved to protect your Public Lands! 

Why Fishpond Founder supports Land and Water Conservation Funding

As an angler and bird hunter, I cherish opportunities to explore wide open spaces and float Oregon’s beautiful rivers. Sometimes these places are hard to access. I am constantly looking at maps, using my GPS to navigate the polygons of private and public ownership,  this is also the fun of exploring my backyard. Some places, wouldn't be accessible without Land and Water Conservation Funding. Until a couple years ago, I didn't know what LWCF was and why it was so important to fish and wildlife and public access. This critical fund is due to expire.  Read on, to find out more and why Fishpond Founder, Johnny Le Coq supports LWCF.   

A Brief History on LWCF:

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was established in 1965 as a bipartisan commitment to a simple idea: Invest a small portion of federal offshore drilling fees towards protecting important land, water, and recreation areas for all Americans to support the outdoor economy.   Since its inception, the fund has been used to invest over $16 billion in conservation and outdoor recreation, including the establishment of new public fishing areas, new corridors into previously inaccessible public lands, conservation easements and the acquisition of new public land parcels for the benefit of fish, wildlife, and the sporting public.  

Find out about projects funding in your state here.

This fund is due to expire and without reauthorization from Congress by September 30, 2015, we lose critical conservation dollars.

 This July, I attended IFTD for TRCP to build business support for LWCF.  At the show, I met  Johnny Le Coq, founder and CEO of Fishpond and Lilypond, brands designed and manufactured for the fishing and outdoor enthusiast. They created the company with the philosophy and inspiration, that innovation, design, and a responsibility towards the environment is critical to their success.  

Johnny knows why LWCF's is so important and why Congress needs to fully fund it.  This is what he had to say at the North American Wildlife Conference last year.

"The economics behind LWCF demands that we get the full funding appropriated for our natural resources. It is critical to my own business that depends on our watersheds, and just as important to every individual that values our open space, and public access for so many forms of recreation and enjoyment. The public access component of LWCF is crucial for the future of our hunting and fishing industry." 

     

The shared vision we need to foster for the next 50 years of the LWCF, which is teetering on a tight rope at the moment, is one of collaboration.  No longer can Washington or our State governments pave the necessary path for a sustainable future.  We need to create private/public partnerships that leverage the strengths of each.  From businesses like Fishpond, to private landowners who are willing to place their farmland or ranchland into conservation easements, we need to find the valuable synergies to help educate and tell the story of how our land, rivers and public places are the link to a vital economic future and a quality of life. The Outdoor Recreation Industry, a vast group of thousands of companies, must equally participate in raising the additional and critically important funds to augment the current conservation funding by the Federal and State governments. The Outdoor Recreation Industry must help lead the push for the full funding of LWCF, but they can’t stop there.  It is the responsibility of these American businesses to use the power of their consumer reach to raise additional funds to augment the shortfall of the hundreds of millions of dollars in conservation needs.  Government and taxes alone will not be enough to get us through our environmental challenges, and it will be important for companies like Fishpond to creatively join forces with government and non-profit groups to collaboratively reach our goals." 

We need your support to request that Congress fully and permanently reauthorize the LWCF to protect hunting and fishing and the recreational industry for years to come.  Tell your congressmen to fully fund LWCF by clicking on this link.  

Washed Ashore - What you can make out of Plastic

Spey Nations, Catskills and East Coast Flavor

Tight Lines Fly Shop and "Spey"

Amidst a busy summer with Marty running bass trips in 105 heat and low water and me working for TRCP, I dropped Tegan off at my sisters on Whidbey Island, Washington and flew to Newark, New Jersey for a quick tour starting at Tight Lines FlyShop and ending my trip on the Salmon River in Altmar, New York for SpeyNations. My mother was born and raised in New York. Despite still having relatives out East, I haven’t visited since I was a kid.  What I remember was the lights of the big city.  This time I would land in Newark, by pass New York City and head North to where the Catskills meet the Adirondacks.   My uncle told me that this is where my mother fell in love with the outdoors and I see why.

My flight arrives in Newark midnight, E.T. .  Nancy and Andrew Moy from Tight Lines ( a full service shop with a fantastic tying selection, spey rods and “Spey” the shop dog.  Half hour from New York, this is the place to go if you need material and equipment. )  arranged a shuttle to pick me up. I’m greeted by Mike, born and raised in New Jersey; he’s full of questions about the West coast. He speaks with pride about being an East coaster, we compare the cost of living and he tells me his from central New Jersey.  

If you’re from South Jersey, you don’t ever want anyone to ask if you’re from North Jersey, which you think is basically New York. If you’re from North Jersey, you don’t ever want anyone to ask if you live in South Jersey, which you think is basically Philadelphia, or worse, Delaware. If you’re from Central Jersey, doesn’t ever ask if Central Jersey really exist. It does.

Catskills Museum

The next morning I meet the Moy’s, full of energy and fun, this is going to be a great week! Heading north we stop at the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum that is working to protect and promote fly -fishing. Engulfed by a history that dates back to the early mid 1800’s with bamboo rods on display by H.L Leonard to a collection of art by Lee and Joan Wolf and more. I discover this is where fly-fishing in the U.S. really got its start and is the birth of the “Catskills Style.”  

In 1890, sporting magazine columnist Theodore Gordon wrote to the renowned English fly fishing author, Fredrick Halford, complaining of the selective nature of the brown trout's feeding habits, and soliciting suggestions on fly selection for Gordon's Catskill waters. Halford sent back a cache of flies that were productive on the placid English chalk streams of Kent (on display at the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum, in Livingston Manor, NY today). Gordon recognized the flies needed to change to  imitate the local hatches, so he tweaked the design of Halford's flies to created the high-floating Quill Gordon dry fly, the first of the iconic "Catskill style" of dry fly.   

Andrew and Collin on the Beaverkill

After an hour in the museum and becoming members, Andrew and I continue our journey to the Beaverkill River, a tributary to the East Branch Delaware.  At the Moy cabin we wader up for an evening fish.  Swinging isonychia nymphs  and drifting isonychia dries, trout smack our flies under a gray sky against the lush green “tropical” forest.  As dusk approaches, the sky lights up with Fireflies.  I’m as giddy as a child remembering catching fireflies as a kid in Tennessee. Nancy and I chase the flies trying to catch one, she manages to seize one and I let it crawl on me, watching it illuminate green, it flies away.    

Patrick shares his secret flies 

The next day we meet our sports to hone in their spey casting skills and fish the evening hatch. PJ and I miss the evening fish and head to Altmar.  She’s from Canada and new to the sport, is on a sole mission to  submerge herself in the Spey culture and what a better way than a full day lesson and off to Spey Nations for the weekend.

Malinda - Malinda's Fly Shop

Hand Crafted Fly Box by Adelcio Chavez

Get your Dunkin Donuts at the Simms Booth

We arrive at  Tailwater Lodge on the Salmon River.  Greeted with laughter’s and hugs by Patrick Ross and his friends as well as West coast locals Travis Johnston and James Shaughnessy, we’re happy to be there and eat  crab fitters and best burgers I've had hands down!  Patrick’s , a  long time angler who owns the Anglers Lodge where the first Spey Nations took place,  he has been hosting West Coasters since.  It's great to have local knowledge and a down to earth host.  Saturday morning arrives and PJ and I head to the Spey Nations location on the Salmon River. 

Spey Nations started as a format to share the passion for Atlantic Salmon, raise awareness for a fishery that people love and the two handed culture.  With coffee in hand we are greeted with hand shacks and hospitality.  The lot is lined with industry booths and people hustling to say hi to old friends and make new ones. The vibe is about having a good time and sharing the fervor we all have for preserving the fish we love and promoting the sport we are nuts about.   The evening ends with beers, BBQ and laughs and preparing for a class the next day with a group of awesome women that are avid anglers and the token guy (just kidding Ron).

Sunday’s class is a blast teaching single speys and snake rolls and working on casting with the non dominant hand up. We laugh, talk about fishing and flies.  I’ve made new friends and this is what our sport is about! 

Spey Army

After the class Patrick, Travis , Captin Jamie and I  head out for  a Northern Pike mission near Lake Ontario. This is my first time seeing Lake Ontario and I feel like I’m standing in the Kodiak harbor. Seagulls fly over head and sport boats line the docks.  What feels like a sea breeze chills the air. We launch “Team Water Spyder” and shoot up an estuary. Rods are rigged and 30 pound mono is tied on. We cast towards grassy banks and strip.  Patrick’s fly lands, a head turns and the speed of the Pike leaves a boil the size of Old Faithful.   We fish till we can’t see any more missing some great takes and landing a couple juveniles.  What a great way to end an East Coast trip.

Caption Jamie leads the way! 

Little but strong !

Lily's on the water

Rushing back to the West coast to pick up Tegan and hightail it back to Maupin for work and preparing for a session with Ron Wyden on the Oregon Economy and Recreation. I’m thrown back to the hustle of our life and grateful to have the opportunity to visit the East Coast and make new friends!  Thanks to all the good folks that made my trip possible and all the new friends I made, too many to list. Thank you Geoff and the Spey Nations Crew, Patrick Ross, Andrew and Nanacy Moy, Tailwater Lodge, Melinda’s Fly and Tackle Shop, Jamie Perry, Travis Johnston, Joe and Delores Saracione, Simms Fishing, Rajeffs Sports and  Costa Del Mar.  . An extra big thanks to my sister and brother in law for watching Tegan!!

Frank Moore Wild Steelhead Sanctuary

Big Bend Pool - Steamboat Creek photo by Mia

Frank Moore's footprint in the state of Oregon and in the fly-fishing community is enormous.  For starters, in 1957 he and his wife Jeanne started the renowned Steamboat Inn so anglers could rest after a day of fishing the North Umpqua. He and a core group of anglers started the Steamboaters to help preserve the natural resource of the Umpqua River in 1966.  He also had influence on the North Umpqua becoming a fly only regulation. He is also a renowned steelhead angler that prefers a waked fly over a wet one and still fishes with his single hand rod today. 

In the 1960s, Frank became concerned about logging's negative effects on watersheds. He collaborated with two friends, Hal Riney and Dick Snyder, to make the landmark film "Pass Creek." Then, flew his own plane all over the country to show it to the Forest Service, BLM, Congress, timber people, and conservation groups. The film had such an impact that major changes to logging practices were enacted.

Frank Moore's passion and dedication to wild steelhead and conservation is a model for all. In the few conversations I've had with him he's become a mentor and a friend. 

We applauded SenatorsRon Wyden and Jeff Merkley for introducing legislation, S.1448 , The "Frank Moore Wild Steelhead Sanctuary."  The bill will designate approximately 104,000 acres of Forest Service land as a steelhead sanctuary.  The Oregon senators named their legislation in honor of Frank Moore because of his outstanding accomplishments starting in World War II and then continuing for nearly two decades of conservation efforts along the North Umpqua River. 

Throughout his life, Moore has shared his passion for fishing, the river, and the outdoors with visitors from all over the world. 

The area identified is the North Umpqua River around Steamboat Creek. As a steelheader, I consider this place sacred, its one of the most important tributaries for North Umpqua steelhead.  There's a reason that Frank Moore and steelheaders such as Lee Spencer, Dan Callaghan and many more have dedicated their lives to the preservation of this watershed.  

Let your senators know you support the "Frank Moore Wild Steelhead Sanctuary" by signing the TU petition here. 

Track the bill here.  

The Steamboaters

Bend Pool By Rob Elam

Marty and I first fished the Umqua River together in 2004, it was my first time on the Umpqua and I fell in love with the solitude and beauty of the river.  In 2006 after getting hitched on the Deschutes, we drove to the Umpqua for our honeymoon at the Steamboat Inn. 

Ironically, Marty had booked a guide trip for us with Bob Burruss.  Bob was a retired high school football coach that had the enthusiasm and fire or a football coach. We met him early in the morning to secure our first run. As we waited for dawn, we drank coffee and talked fishing. When it was time to rig the rods he noticed I had a double hand and asked, wouldn't you rather cast a single hand. I declined saying "I was much better at casting a two handed rod." Bob was filled with information about exactly where to stand and on what rock. He was also full Umpqua stories and rapid-fire advice to help build confidence and that's what you need to catch an Umpqua River summer steelhead.  

At the end of that first fishless day, Bob suggested a good place for us to start the next morning and wished us well. This is just one of the many great experience we have had over the years fishing the Umpqua. The river produces passionate souls that have a profound commitment to preserving the culture of the fly-water and the wild steelhead. 

Mark swings a fly by Marty Sheppard

If you've fished the North Umpqua then you should know about the Steamboaters. 

"The Steamboaters, organized in 1966. Don Haines suggested the idea for a group "to preserve the natural resources of the North Umpqua" to Colonel Jim Hayden as they traveled together to the Federation of Fly Fishers meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Knouses and Andersons seconded the idea at a gathering the next day and Stan Knouse suggested the name Steamboaters "because of its association with the inn where many of its members stay and because of the significance of Steamboat Creek, which enters the North Umpqua at the Station Hole." 

Clarence Gordon was made an honorary member of the Steamboaters, as was Roderick Haig-Brown, the eminent writer from Campbell River, British Columbia. Although he fished the river only once, Haig-Brown later wrote:

“The North Umpqua remains one of the best and most beautiful of summer steelhead streams, and it has the tremendous asset of several miles of water restricted to 'fly only.' The strong flow of bright water is broken up by ledge rock outcrops,the pools are deep and long and hold fish well, and the fish themselves are usually responsive and in excellent shape.”

The Steamboaters are pleased to announce their annual winter social on Saturday April 4, 2015. 

I'm honored to be the guest speaker, presenting on  “Community, Conservation and the Next Generation.”  Educating the next generation of fly anglers and conservationists through mentor ship and community involvement. 

The event will be held, once again, at the Southern Oregon Wine Institute on the campus of Umpqua Community College. The doors will open at 5:00 with appetizers and a wine and beer cash bar, dinner will start at 6:30, and the program will begin at 7:30. Find out more here. 

Restoring Juvenile Habitat

The Middle Fork of the John Day River is critical habitat for Chinook salmon, steelhead and bull trout. Dredge mining severely channelized the riverbed in the 1940s leading to a straightened channel and disconnected floodplain. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs teamed up with the Bureau of Reclamation and a variety of other partners to restore two miles of river. Wonderful to see people working to gether to bring back a river. 

The Watery Rave

Click it

Help Prevent the Collapse of Olympic Peninsula Steelhead

The Olympic Peninsula is home to the last great native populations of winter steelhead in Washington State. The fish are unique because of their large size, with some individuals exceeding the rarified 30lb mark.  Although the populations were considered "healthy" by the State of Washington when they were last reviewed, they have experienced a long-term decline in abundance. Declines have occurred despite these populations occupying watersheds containing the most intact habitat on the coast of California, Oregon and Washington.  The populations may be resilient, but their declines necessitate proactive and precautionary changes to management to avoid further declines and listing under the Endangered Species Act.   

The Olympic Peninsula is one of three regions left not listed under the Endangered Species Act but with the current downward trends, it could be listed soon. 

Do your part as an angler and Sign the Petition. 

We ask that the Statewide Steelhead Management Plan that was adopted by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in 2008 be enacted this year.  Some specific examples might include:

•MSH escapement goals were developed in the 1980’s and included several assumptions that we now know are false—a reevaluation of escapement goals and Olympic Peninsula steelhead population dynamics is needed.

•MSH escapement targets should incorporate uncertainty in run sizes and harvest rates to ensure a high probability of goals being met despite poor monitoring data

•Efforts should be made to test assumptions in measuring escapements and harvest rates to ensure fisheries management reflects actual population biology and is not systematically inaccurate.

•Although MSH is the court-ordered co-management objective, the state is free to do what it wishes with its portion of the catch—Washington should be managing its portion of the catch with conservation as its first objective as is mandated by the mission statement of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

•Mandatory catch and release of wild steelhead in sport fisheries would preserve fishing opportunity while ensuring better conservation of declining wild stocks.

•More widespread use of Selective Gear Rules for both commercial and sport particularly in times and places where few hatchery fish are present, or in where large numbers of resident rainbows and juveniles steelhead are handled, would better protect wild steelhead by increasing the survival of released fish.

•Increased monitoring and enforcement for sport and commercial (tribal) fisheries would ensure compliance with existing regulations and accurate data for fisheries management

•In-season management would allow fisheries to be proactively shut down or effort reduced if in-season creel data from sport of tribal commercial fisheries suggested escapement goals were unlikely to be met

•Wild steelhead gene banks need to be established in multiple watersheds—preferably in the largest and healthiest watersheds which have the highest probability of supporting self-sustaining, abundant, and productive steelhead populations into the future.

*Forming public work groups with a diverse group of stakeholders to identify Wild Steelhead Management Zones

*Accountability for gill net by-catch drop out and mortality of kelts and ripe fish.  Must be part of commercial catch quota .

•Establish limited entry or a quota of "fishing from a boat rod days" in certain sections of river for guides and non-guided anglers. ( tag systems in sensitive holding areas)

*Require a special endorsement for guides to limit the extent of guiding on the Olympic Peninsula rivers. 

If we make some changes and sacrifices we can prevent the collapse of the Olympic Peninsula steelhead.  If we don't we can expect further listings under the Endangered Species Act and further loss of fishing opportunity and hard economic hit to rural communities. 

It is essential that the State, the ONP, and the Tribal co-managers work together to come up with a recovery plan that puts the health of these fish populations first. If we all take care of wild fish, wild fish will take care of us.

A River Between Us

The first time I met Jason Atkinson, he was holding a fly rod in one hand and a cold Tecate in the other, resting it on his abdomen.” Minutes earlier he had lodged a rooster fly in his side not due to lack of skill, he will point out it was howling cross winds that afternoon.

“This isn't as bad as the bullet I took to my leg a couple years back.”  He belts with confidence.  Jason has 14 years of Oregon senate experiance and doesn't fit the stereotype.  Currently he is taking a sabbatical from politics to rid the guilt of his grandmother’s request, to restore the Klamath River.     I'm honored to know a former politician that has the guts to put everything on the line to bring diverse stakeholders together to save a river and bring back Salmon.  Check out this video. "A River Between Us"

Wild Reverence

September 28th in Portland OregonHollywood Theater at 6:30

Last Chance to tell the EPA to Protect Bristol Bay

Your voice counts! - click here to take action.

Photo courtesy of Maeva and Allison - Bristol Bay Fisherman

Look Snazzy

For a limited time, Simms will contribute 50% of all Ebbtide LS Shirt sales to the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, an organization devoted to guaranteeing Americans quality places to hunt and fish bu influencing federal policy. 

Purchase Here

Swing the Fly 2.1

Swing the Fly

Little Fish, Big Deal

The return of smelt to the Sandy River over the last few weeks brings back memories of my childhood; dip netting for the herring sized fish with ease with my family in the late 70's.. It also reminds me of the rich and diverse ocean food web that is so crucial to steelhead survival. Salmon and steelhead spend 3 or 4 years feeding in the ocean and rely on an abundance of oily, protein-rich forage fish like smelt to survive their long journey back to their spawning grounds.

A healthy ocean ecosystem is important to anyone who fishes the many salmon bearing streams and rivers in Oregon. Unfortunately, we are not always aware of what’s happening outside of the river system. Forage fish are dynamic species and many factors affect their abundance including water temperature, fishing pressure, and shoreside development.

The smelt have been noticeably absent over the past few years and were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 2010. It’s not uncommon for these fish to disappear for years and then return in huge numbers. This year’s run looks to be at least 20-miles-long containing millions of smelt. Many anglers are reporting partially digested smelt in the stomachs of spring Chinook and Marty witnessed  sturgeon in the Sandy mowing down on the smelt buffet this week  as well as bald eagles and other birds of prey. It is one of the most incredible sights to see.





It’s ironic to witness this considering we just signed a petition last week to protect these small bait fish.

The Pew Charitable Trusts works with the Pacific Fishery Management Council to protect forage species in the ocean to help ensure that they are accounted for as an important part of the ecosystem and a critical food source for predatory fish such as salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and tuna. The Council will be looking at how to manage these critical species at their meeting in Vancouver, Washington on April 10th and they need to hear from anglers like you. To learn more about their work and take action to protect this vital food source for our steelhead, click here. 

By Mia Sheppard and Tara Brock - contact Tara- Campaign Associate for Forage Fish for additional info 503-221-7922 x 224

Victory For Bristol Bay

You’ve probably seen today’s hot conservation news about Bristol Bay already but if not here it is: the Environmental Protection Agency announced this morning the initiation of action under the EPA’s Clean Water Act Section 404(c) authorities.

"Far from an immediate death blow to the mining project, the good news is that today’s actions unquestionably raise the bar far higher for the mine developers and will drive more scrutiny of the monstrosity that could be the Pebble Mine." Mark Mcglothlin

There are several steps in the Clean Water Act Section 404(c) review process, and public involvement opportunities are part of the process.

 To read the news release, the letter initiating EPA’s review or to learn more about Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act, please visit our website: www2.epa.gov/bristolbay. You can also contact the project team at: R10BristolBay@epa.gov.

Good Work to ALL involved!

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.

Tia, The Swampscott Dory on a Columbia River Journey

Scott Sadil is a an English teacher in Hood River, accomplished writer and a passionate fly fishermen that has started a new journey, a voyage from the mouth of the Columbia to Lewiston, Idaho in a stitch-and-glue Swampscott dory he built last spring. 

Sadil hopes his journey will increase awareness of the health of both the Columbia and Snake rivers and their dwindling runs of native anadromous fish. He just completed the initial 170-mile leg of his journey. Here's some insight into his journey, read on if you are ready to be inspired. 

About the journey?  I built Tia last year and for the first time in my life fell in love with boats and all they offer in terms of exploring new water.  I didn't know how to sail.  I didn't know how to row.  All I knew was that a wooden boat was a beautiful thing, a delight to build and have has a companion on the water.

Last August, I made an experimental trip from Astoria to Prescott Beach, between Ranier and St. Helens (The story of this maiden voyage will appear in two parts in the Small Craft Advisor, a magazine for small boat adventurers published in Port Townsend.) Inspired by the possibilities of this sort of river travel, I decided I wanted to experience the river all the way to Lewiston, following it upstream like the adult anadromous salmonids.

I had no idea if it was really possible.  Robin Cody, whose book Voyage of a Summer Sun, chronicles his 82-day journey down the length of the Columbia in a canoe, passed through Hood River this spring and told me I was nuts:  

"You intend to go against the current?"  Nevertheless, I've made it to Hood River, a little more fit, a little more confident in Tia and my sailing and boat handling skills.

But there's a long way to go.  I launch again Thursday morning, July 11.  I have a list of locals who I'm calling on to help shuttle me around the dams, both literally and symbolically the biggest obstacles for getting upriver.  On the Snake I think I'll be able to go through the locks.  I wonder if it's that easy for the fish.

Anyway, besides the sort adventure that people approaching the seventh decade of their lives really should embrace while they can, I hope this trip is also a little something to give back to the rivers and fish that have enriched so much of my life.

Soul River Chronicles- Conservation

Tonight in Portland check out the film Conservation "Conscious Runs Deep."  A film intended to educate and entertain by depicting the urban lifestyle experience juxtaposed with the serenity of nature. The short story film follows a young man’s journey into conscious responsibility of understanding how his urban life ultimately impacts the outdoor environment. Inspired from the sport of fly fishing and guided by the rivers.