The Long Tom Watershed Council will be hosting their first annual Carp Festival at West Kirk Park near Fern Ridge Dam on Saturday, June 1, from 8:30am-3:30pm.
It is free fishing weekend so no angling licenses are needed, and ODFW will be there with loaner rods and gear for targeting common carp as well as the other species. There are a variety of options for fishing in close proximity to the park: Kirk Pond, the Long Tom River, and Fern Ridge Lake. Other species available include the native cutthroat trout, largemouth bass, crappie, and bullhead catfish.
We just found a local father and son duo that targets carp on the fly in these water bodies and they will be on-hand throughout the day to discuss the flies and gear they use to catch carp. There will be food and drinks available for purchase (proceeds support LTWC!) and Bruce Koike, of Little Pond Nature Prints, will be there throughout the day to help people make Gyotaku fish prints. There will also be talks about the ecology of the Long Tom Watershed and other conservation issues. Come help us celebrate the unheralded waters and fish of the Long Tom Watershed!
For more info contact: Jed Kaul Fish Biologist & Aquatic Program Manager | Long Tom Watershed Council 11 East 27th Avenue | Eugene, OR 97405-3613 Office: 541-654-8965, ext. 102
