Category Outdoors

I want to again share my experience with what was likely a waterborne bacterium I encountered last summer during a river trip in Idaho. We launched during an extended heatwave, which resulted in the river being warm. I developed an infection in my ears that…

The river has been my livelihood since the early 1980s, primarily as a river guide and outfitter, but also as a retailer and manager of a whitewater specialty shop. In addition to equipment, they offered advanced riverboat training, certified swiftwater rescue classes, and sponsored several…

Adult emerald ash borers (EAB) began emerging in Oregon last month, with the majority appearing in July. About the size of a penny, adults are often difficult to spot and primarily found in traps. The Oregon Department of Forestry urges anyone who thinks they’ve seen…

There is no doubt that the invasive nature of smallmouth bass and their rapid spread have been at the root of liberalized regulations over their catch and retention. For 2025, when fishing in rivers and streams, there are no size limits and no bag limits,…

With the arrival of the Summer Solstice on June 20 and the long, warm days that follow, Oregon offers a wealth of fishing opportunities characteristic of its extended summer days.  According to the National Weather Service, “Oregon experienced near or above-average precipitation last winter, with…

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…

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…

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. …

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…