Oregon hosts three Free Fishing Weekends annually, set for mid-February, early June, and Thanksgiving. While the winter and fall weekends can be unreliable, the June Free Fishing Weekend —  this year, June 7 and 8 — stands out as the most popular because this event occurs when nearly every fish[Read More…]

When it comes to trout fishing, my old friend and colleague, Don Hill, a former local riverboat builder, always had something to say. Don was a robust individual with a big smile, an infectious laugh, and a sharp wit. He was among the best riverboat operators and all-around fishermen I[Read More…]

I came across Michael Sowder’s poem Fishing for His Birthday several years ago, and it speaks to me.  It reminds me of my early days as a young angler, stepping into the river with a fishing pole in hand and wading away from the bank.  My well-worn “hand-me-down” fishing vest,[Read More…]

The big picture … The weather has been a ruckus. Strong winds and heavy rain caused what is now adding up to millions of dollars in property damage—some of that damage occurring within The Chronicle’s coverage area. Not to overlook the human tragedy, the flooding rains also damaged boat landings[Read More…]

I wandered around the variety of drift boats displayed at a recent sporting exposition and was initially shocked by the prices. However, I was also impressed by the quality of the boats and their available options, such as a “food warmer/pizza oven.” While larger drift boats are available, those measuring[Read More…]

Leaburg Hatchery continues to make fish news as it faces environmental issues caused by an overheated water discharge from the facility.  The water then flows directly into the McKenzie River, just below Leaburg Dam, where summer season water discharges exceed the 60-degree threshold.  The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife[Read More…]

It was the lead story on every televised newscast leading up to the Christmas holiday.  A dead pond Koi had been spotted in the McKenzie River at Armitage Park. The fish was bright orange, a bit tattered, and weighed about 3-4 pounds.  Of course, the fish stood out like a[Read More…]

Winter steelhead appeared in a handful of streams on the far north portion of the Oregon coast a few days before Thanksgiving.  Gnat Creek and the Klaskanine River are both lower Columbia River tributaries.  Also, the Necanicum River and the North Fork Nehalem, which drain directly into the Pacific, all[Read More…]

The final Free Fishing Days of the year are the weekend of Nov. 29-30. On these days, folks do not need a fishing license or harvest tags to retain salmon, steelhead, or shellfish. This is an excellent opportunity to introduce family and friends to the sport.  If, by chance, you[Read More…]