Lower McKenzie River Trout Census Training tomorrow!
As part of the 2010 trout stocking plan for the McKenzie, ODFW will open up an additional five miles of river to native fish management on the Lower McKenzie River. The McKenzie Flyfishers spearheaded a population study of the wild fish in that section to see how the natives bounce back now that stocking is removed. The project was funded by our Trout Unlimited Chapter through a $5,000 grant from the Flyfishers Club of Oregon.
The wild trout population study will involve catching and tagging (or recording data on previously tagged fish) in the lower river between Hendricks and Bellinger. To kick this off on a solid footing, we are asking all participants to take part in a training session which will cover tagging procedures, data recording and study logistics. The sessions will be held at the ODFW Springfield Field Office at 3150 E. Main Street, Springfield, OR 97478 (the phone # is (541) 726-3515.
Yesterday’s session had around 20 participants and the next one is tomorrow, Thursday, March 4th at 6:00 PM.
As there may be fisherman who wish to participate, but cannot make either session, let me know and if we have enough interest, we will schedule another session. Alternatively, buddy up with someone who has been through the training session and fish with them.
We will have participants from several clubs, so that we hope to make a big dent in the target tagging during the month of March. Please feel free to contact Dave Thomas regarding any questions you might have.
Dave Thomas
McKenzie Fly Fishers
Email: dthomas@sierraware.net
Phone: (541) 505-7213
McKenzie River Native Trout Coalition Postcard lunch party tomorrow!
Trout Unlimited, The Caddis Fly Shop, The Native Fish Society and a host of volunteers and concerned anglers sent out postcards, asking influential Oregonians to reach out to ODFW in favor of wild fish management on the McKenzie River two weeks ago. We’re hosting another postcard signing party this week, Thursday March 4th at 12:00pm. If you haven’t’ filled out postcards yet, please come down to the Caddis Fly Shop Thursday. Midtown Cafe has provided us with a giant party sub and we will have some other refreshments as well, for people who take their lunch break to defend wild fish. See you at the Caddis Fly Shop on Thurs. See video from our previous postcard signing party:
Meeting reminder 3/10/10: Speaker Ethan Nickel on spring trout tactics
Veteran fly fishing guide Ethan Nickel will be speaking at the Trout Unlimited meeting next week, presenting on spring fishing tactics for trout. The meeting starts at 7pm and is free and open to the public. The meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at the Eagles Aerie, 1375 Irving Rd, Eugene.
Donate to the FCO Fly Box Auction!
Trout Unlimited McKenzie-Upper Willamette chapter secured $5,000 to fund a five-year population study of the newly non-stocked section of McKenzie River. The study will begin next month, and will be administered by ODFW and the McKenzie Fly Fishers. The funds came from our Portland supporters and benefactors, the Flyfisher’s Club of Oregon.
You can show your gratitude for this amazing funding by helping us fill a fly box for the FCO auction in May. TU’s Cris Abbot is currently staining a wooden box, with a steelhead fly etched on the glass cover by our friend Kathy McCartney. If you’d like to help fill this fly box for the FCO’s auction, please drop them off at the Caddis Fly with an envelop labeled “FCO auction fly box”.
McKenzie Watershed Council meeting with Jeff Ziller
Join the McKenzie Watershed Council on Thursday, March 11, 5:30 p.m. in the Training Room, Eugene Water & Electric Board, 500 E. Fourth Avenue for ODFW district biologist Jeff Ziller’s presentation on McKenzie River trout management options. Ziller will present a short history on trout management in the McKenzie River, a review of what is known about the status of the three native species, and summarize results of recent creel and preference surveys conducted by ODFW. He will also describe the public planning processes used by ODFW to assist in the management of fish species and fisheries. Public comment is accepted at each meeting, and public attendance and participation are encouraged.
-MS
See you there…