Random Casts

By the way, I was up at Lost Lake with Tom Philiben on June 25th for a few hours and had a great time. It took a little time to figure out the "secret" but, when I did, it was worth the time it took. Tom saw the 17" Rainbow I got on a black caddis. If you want to know what the secret is I'll pass it on at the July meeting.

On a much more important side is some sketchy information I've been receiving regarding the Crooked River and a heavy Trout death loss there. One of the comments made was that someone saw the people from the Prineville ODF&W office electroshocking to kill off the whitefish. WRONG!!! The whitefish are a native gamefish and it would almost require an "act of Congress" to allow their removal.

In talking to Brett Hodgson at the Prineville office I learned that there was a survey done on 5/31, 6/8 and 6/12. In that survey series they worked the river from Poison Butte to Cobble Rock to get a more up to date count. The last one was done in '96 and the changes in the harvest regulations called for the update. Six drifts were done and each of the fish caught was marked to prevent recounting on subsequent drifts. The count was done to determine the number of Trout only.

In the electroshock process there is a low mortality rate, but many see numerous fish floating belly up in the downstream flow. Brett said that the majority does recover from the shock but people viewing the process don't see the recovery. Brett also said that the whitefish are much more sensitive to the shock than the trout and, if you happen to hit a large school of whitefish, it can look much worse than it actually is. There is a 5% to 10% mortality rate on the survey.

As soon as all of the survey results are tabulated Brett will get us the figures on the trout count for the Crooked River. In the meantime please try to stop the rumor that they were "getting rid of the whitefish" because they weren't.

See you at the July meeting and the July Outing.
Phil @ COF

Upstream Events

July

Thursday, 7/5

COF Board Meeting 7 PM at the Environmental Center in Bend

Saturday, 7/7

High Lakes Fish Stocking With Llamas - Odell and Blow Lakes. Contact Tommie Speik, 385-0445

Monday, 7/9, 16, 23, 30 and all day 8/6

Bend Parks and Rec. Fly Casting Classes. Contact Gordon Chandler, COF Instructor 541-383-2999

Wednesday, 7/18

COF Monthly Meeting 7 PM - Steve Light of Central Oregon Outdoors Will present a program about the local waters and the flies to use

Monday through Friday 7/16-7/20

Malheur River Basin/Lake Fish Inventory Camping at Rock Springs - FULL

Monday through Friday 7/23-27

Middle Fork John Day Bull Trout Inventory, Camping at Deerhorn Contact Wayne Bowers 541-573-6582 or Tommie Speik 541-385-0445

August

Monday through Friday 8/6-10

Indian Creek Exotic Fish Removal Camping Project in the Trout Creek Mountains. Contact Wayne Bowers 541-573-6582 or Tommie Speik at 541-385-0445

New COF Members!

See you there.

July COF Program

COF Meeting Date and Location

The Monthly gatherings start at 6:30 PM and the program begins at 7:00PM.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Invite a neighbor or friend to join us at the next meeting.

A. E. vs K. K.

The Kokanee Karnival offers a wide range of education on fish, their habitat, ecological and environmental needs and learning more about the life of the fish itself. At the Kid's Angling Clinic the students receive about an hour and a half of what Angler's Education covers.

The Kokanee Karnival is targeted at a specific group of students in schools that have been chosen to take part in the program. These classes are aimed at education for 4th and 5th grade students and can be applied to different parts of their required education credits. Many of the various parts of the KK cover more than one area of education need. (I.E. Eggs to Fry involves Math, Science and Biology)

Angler's Education is a 10 hour session that focuses on topics that are directly related to fishing, but is not focused on any given age group. It is also, unlike the KK programs, "open to the public".

The A.E. topics include Rules and Regulations, Ethics, Water Safety, learning about the different types of equipment, learning how to cast and, when possible, time actually spent fishing.

On Rules and Regulations, the students are required to learn how to use them to fish properly and prevent the reception of citations and fines.

Ethics teaches the students of the proper practices to follow when fishing and why to follow those guidelines.

Water safety covers both wading and floatation safety.

Equipment covers bait, spin and flyfishing so the student can better grasp the various aspects in fishing.

In casting, some classes may wish to learn more about flycasting, but it is based on spin bait fishing with closed face reels. The intent behind this class is to make them aware of the pleasure of fishing. Those wishing to learn more about flyfishing can request a class on that subject.

The time spent actually fishing is usually done with closed face spin casting reels and bait, with other methods available if they want to try them out.

Is there a conflict between the 2 areas? No there is not. The one, KK, is aimed specifically at tomorrow's stewards through classes aimed at educating them to the needs of the fish and the fisheries. The A. E. classes are aimed at anyone wishing to learn more about using those fisheries and catching, and, hopefully releasing, the fish.

Outings

The lake has a good population of Kokanee and some folks expect that the new record brown may be taken from Miller. Dream on..... We will scout out the area prior to July 30th and it is possible we may have to select other waters should Miller be a problem. So, while the specific location may change, the date will not.....Monday July 30th. We hope to see lots of you there. Please contact Hank Sailor at 318-0046 if you plan to attend so that sufficient food can be prepared. We'll confirm the details at our monthly meeting on July 18th.

Conservation Column

As of the June Meeting, I will have sign-up sheets available for the events scheduled for the latter part of June and the first two ODFW campout projects of the year (one of these is already full). Other ODFW projects will be on a large printed sheet available for all to see so that the Members can decide if they might be interested in volunteering. If they are interested in a project they will be able to obtain further information by contacting Tommie Speik at 541-385-0445 or e-mail to rspeik@coinetcom. They could also find more information from the EO STEP URL at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/odfwhtml/eostep/projects/. Each monthly Meeting there will be another 2 or 3 signup sheets and the large printed sheet will again be posted for all to see.

The last two weeks of September, another major part of the Kokanee Karnival will take place streamside along the Metolius and Browns Creek with many schools participating. We do not want our Members to be "burned out" as volunteers on other projects by that time. This is a very important part of Central Oregon Flyfishers and we must be able to count on having a large number of volunteers for this event. Please let us know if you can help.

I want to take this opportunity to tell all of you who were involved how impressed I was with the entire program. The days ran as smooth as clockwork - from the moment the bus arrived to the rotations between stations to the time spent at the pond with a rod in hand. This can only happen with well-timed organization and clear expectations. Congratulations Mark, Adrianne, and Art, co-coordinators of the event.

Each individual person I observed had their "job" down to a tee - whether it was preparing hot dogs and other lunch materials, teaching lessons at the stations or in your role as fishing coaches. And, the best observation of all was the fact that everyone had FUN - from the kids in their garbage bag raincoats to the volunteers hunkered there beside them as they reeled in their first fish with a smile as bright as heaven. When I think of the diversity of backgrounds you all hail from, I am astonished at what incredible teachers you are, and these students' classroom teachers echo that thought.

It was a sincere pleasure for me to greet old friends and make new ones in the volunteer corps of this noteworthy program. Many thanks and deep appreciation to all of you for the hours you generously provide to make this adventure a highlight of the year for our Central Oregon school children.

I am so very proud of all of you - you've made a very special dream come true for these kids - and for me. Thank you and I'll look forward to seeing you again soon as Kokanee Karnival enters its sixth year. Have a wonderful summer.

Patty Bowers

JULY 16 - 20, 2001

Plans are underway for an interesting week of fish sampling on several tributaries of the Malheur River and Malheur Lake basins. Crews will electrofish selected streams to inventory redband trout and other fish species. The existing information is more than ten years old. New data will help biologists assess fish population health and evaluate the potential for habitat improvement projects.

Volunteers from the Central Oregon area and other parts of the state are part of a large cooperative effort with ODFW, the Malheur National Forest and the Burns Paiute Tribe. Team members will set block nets in streams, dip fish, measure fish, record both biological and habitat data, carry buckets and other gear, help prepare meals, and other duties.

The base camp is located at Rock Springs Campground, approximately 35 miles north of Burns. Rock Springs Campground is a Forest Service campground without power or hookups, but ADA accessible pit toilets and potable water are available. There are no day use or overnight fees. There's lots of room for tenting or smaller recreational vehicles.

Rock Springs Campground is located within a few miles of BLM's new Poison Creek Reservoir. The fingerlings that were stocked in May probably aren't legal-sized yet, but a trip later in the year or next year may be worth considering.

Summary by Jason Seals, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, John Day

The Eastern Oregon Salmon-Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) provided Camp management. Representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Transportation, STEP volunteers from the Central Oregon Fly Fishers, and other individuals gathered at Deerhorn Campground on the Middle Fork to contribute the time and effort necessary to pull together this project.

Bull trout presence in some of these streams was initially documented by anecdotal reports from anglers, loggers, and others from times when bull trout were in greater abundance. Tributaries that retain the combination of suitable habitat and water temperatures possess fair numbers of bull trout. Historical ranges are areas where bull trout populations once existed, but over past decades disappeared. Many factors could have contributed to their disappearance including poor land use practices, loss of habitat and unstable water temperatures. The five historical range tributaries designated for assessment include Vinegar, Davis, Butte, Indian, and Big Boulder Creeks. The streams were prioritized in order of most likely to find a bull trout by available habitat and suitable water temperatures.

The study followed a presence/absence protocol created by researchers from the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. After reviewing the protocol the number of samples required for efficiency to determine presence or absence of bull trout were estimated in a specific tributary. Habitat factors such as mean depth, gradient, and amount of large woody debris were used to estimate sample size.

Using Maptech, a topographical mapping program, lengths of fish bearing water were estimated by using data from aquatic inventory studies. Total lengths of water for each tributary were divided into 50-meter segments and random sample sites were selected by computer generation. Each site was given a GPS coordinate produced by the program.

Vinegar Creek received the highest sampling priority and was the only creek completely sampled in 2000. Running from north to south, Vinegar Creek has over 15 kilometers of fish-bearing water from its confluence with the Middle Fork to a natural waterfall.

Preliminary estimates of high gradient, low large wood count, low mean depth and width resulted in an initial sample size of 20 sites. This number provided for a probability of bull trout detection with an 80% degree of statistical confidence. If large woody debris counts proved to be higher than estimated, an additional 9 sample sites would be needed for the desired sampling efficiency.

Four 4-person electrofishing crews conducted the sampling process. Block seines were placed at the lower and upper ends of each sample site, and 3 upstream passes completed a sample. The initial 20 sites were sampled by the end of day 2. More deadfalls and logs were found than anticipated in the upper sections of Vinegar Creek, reducing the sampling efficiency. To increase the confidence level to approximately 80%, nine additional sample sites were randomly added in the targeted area. By the end of day 3, 28 of 29 samples had been conducted with no trace of a bull trout. On the 4th and final day, a healthy 235-millimeter bull trout was found in a riffle just below the mouth of Blue Gulch, a tributary to Vinegar Creek.

Following the protocol resulted in finding a bull trout, which was the ultimate goal. We now know the protocol works as designed. The question still remains as to whether current habitat and water temperatures could support a yearlong population in Vinegar Creek. Proper management of the watershed and increased numbers of bull trout in the Middle Fork could result in the re-establishment of a population in Vinegar.

Bull trout habitat is typically in remote often-steep areas with lots of large downed trees that make human access challenging work. Most sample sites are within a mile of a road, but some will require "bushwacking" through difficult terrain, while others may offer easier access. Potential volunteers should be physically fit and have the ability to walk in and along SLIPPERY, rocky streams in areas like those previously described.

Volunteers will help carry gear and set block nets, dip stunned fish, assist with identification of bull trout and other species, and record biological data. Some volunteers may also help with cooking and camp duties.

If you are interested in helping please contact:

• Tommie Speik (541-385-0445), or by e-mail rspeik@coinet.com
• Patty Bowers (541-573-6582), or e-mail to Patty.A.Bowers@state.or.us
• or Tim Unterwegner (541-575-1167), or e-mail to odfwjd@oregonvos.net.

Typical campsite with water wagon, food tent, dining tables.
Shower area not shown.

Back to top

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A known eye moose

4 SIMPLE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Tell a reliable person where you are going, what you're going to do, and when you will return. Search and Rescue would also need to know where you plan to park your rig, it's description and license number, what gear you have, the names of people in your group and the experience level of your group.
The reliable person must accept the responsibility to call the Deschutes County Sheriff's Search and Rescue at 911 with the above information if you don't check in by an agreed upon time. Experience has shown that the reliable person may not understand the importance of this responsibility.

2.Carry a daypack and enough extra clothing, water and food for an emergency stop of several hours or overnight. The gear is seasonal and should focus on keeping you hydrated and dry. Experienced mountaineers carry the "Ten Essentials. " If you become lost, mark your location with colored tape and stay still or move around only in the marked area to stay warm. Do not try to find your way until you are wet and exhausted. Wait for rescuers.

3.Carry a map of the area, a compass corrected for 17º declination, and an optional GPS. No you cannot use a GPS alone. You need a map, adjusted compass and the skills to use them.

4. Carry a cell phone. Optional, but consider the alternatives. Experience shows that it is best to carry a cell phone, shut off, in your pack, and always ready to turn on.

THE TEN ESSENTIALS

1. Extra gear such as an insulated sit pad and extra clothing to stay warm until help arrives. The pooling of individual gear may save a life.
2. The essential map of the area and the declination adjusted compass and the skills to use them. Add a whistle to the lanyard.
3. A small flashlight. Many have returned home in the dark.
4. Polaroid Sun glasses and sunscreen.
5. A small sharp knife.
6. An adjustable flame propane cigarette lighter is more reliable than matches.
7. A small individual first-aid kit, several can be pooled.
8. Extra food that is easy to digest, quick acting, high in carbohydrates and low in fat. Good choices might be fig newtons or jelly filled breakfast bars. The one essential fuel that must be replaced during a hike or an unexpected cold wet situation is glycogen (sugar or starch). Everyone carries extra fat!
9. Carry extra water or the means to obtain it such as a filter
10. Extra clothing is essential. Mountain weather can change quickly, leaving people shivering and vulnerable to rain, sweat, and wind induced hypothermia. Hiking fast may maintain your body heat only until you run out of gas (glycogen), have to hike slow with others, go slow to find your way, or have to stop to tend an injured companion. Use layers of polypropylene to wick body moisture, pile to insulate, and Gortex to cut off wind and rain. Remember, layers must be "peeled" to avoid sweat soaked clothes.

BULLETIN BOARD is:
http://members2.boardhost.com/coflyfishers

E-MAIL is:
coflyfishers@hotmail.com

• 7.5 long hulls
• 49 lbs.
• Aluminum/cedar frame with s/s fastenings
• 7 ft. oars
• Anchor and flippers

Call Rex Harrison 541-388-5085

BEND:

• Deschutes River Outfitters, 61115 S. Hwy 97, 388-8191
• The Fly Box, 1293 NE 3rd St., 388-3330
• The Patient Angler, 55 NW Wall St., 389-6208
• Fly & Field Outfitters, 143 SW Century Dr, Suite A, 318-1616
• G.I. Joe’s, 63455 N. Hwy 97, 388-3773

CAMP SHERMAN:

• Camp Sherman Store, Camp Sherman, 595-6711

REDMOND:

• Cent Wise Sporting Goods, 498 SW 6th Street, 548-4422
• Central Oregon Outdoors, 1502 SW Odem, 504-0372

SISTERS:

• The Fly Fisher’s Place, 151 W. Main, 549-3474

SUNRIVER:

• The Hook Fly Shop, Sunriver Village Mall, Bldg. 21, 593-2358
• Sunriver Fly Shop, 56805 Venture Lane, 593-8814

MADRAS:

• Numb-Butt Fly Co., 380 N. Hwy 26, Madras, OR 97741, 325-5515

2001 COF Officers & Board Members

Officers

PRESIDENT - PHIL HAGER
VICE PRESIDENT - HANK SAILOR
TREASURER - MARK REISINGER
SECRETARY - TOMMIE SPEIK

Board Members

ART McELDOWNEY
KEN STRINGER
BILL LUNDY
TOM PHILIBEN
HARRY HARBIN
GARY HILL
PAUL WILSON
PHIL HAGER
HANK SAILOR
MARK REISINGER
TOMMIE SPEIK

COF Committees

AMBASSADORS - Doyle Goolsby
ANNUAL PICNIC - Bob Griffin
AWARDS - Rex Harrison, Don Johnston
BANQUET - Mark Reisinger/Ken Stringer, Tom Philiben/Dennis McMahon
CONSERVATION - Tommie Speik/Bob Speik
ENTOMOLOGY - John Anderson
FLY TYING EXPO - Bill Lundy/Dan Driskill
HISTORIAN - Rex Harrison
NSTRUCTION - Gordon Chandler
KOKANEE KARNIVAL YOUTH ED - Art McEldowney
LEGISLATIVE ACTIION - John Anderson
LIBRARIAN - Gordon Chandler
MEMBERSHIP - Phil Hager
NATIONAL FISHING DAY - John Weber
NEWSLETTER EDITOR - Tommie Speik
NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER - Tommie Speik
OREGON COUNCIL FFF - Dick Mayer
OUTINGS - Hank Sailor
PROGRAMS - Dave McNall/Gene McMullen
PUBLIC RELATIONS - Phil Hager/Harry Harbin
RAFFLES - Ken Stringer
WEBSITE - Gordon Chandler
WELCOME - Hank Sailor