Wild trout increasing

Wild trout study wrap-up & '13 kickoff

Mark your calendars for 6 p.m. on April 30th, to attend the kickoff of the 2013 Lower McKenzie River Wild Trout Population Study. Dave Thomas will be presenting the 2012 end-of-season report, with maps and preliminary population estimates for the first three years of the study. Arlen Thomason and Scott Kinney will discuss the progress and ongoing findings from the Radio Telemetry Study.

The 2013 Mark/Recapture (Floy-tagging) study season will begin on May 1st and continue through the end of June. For those of you who haven’t fished the study section lately, there have been dramatic improvements in the fishing since the first season. In 2010, the average was about 3 wild trout per trip; in 2011, about 6; and in 2012, almost ten wild trout were landed per trip. This spring is shaping up to be the best fishing in years, with low water, warm temperatures, good hatches, and limited snowpack. Whether you can spend one day or twenty on the water, your help would be appreciated.

All volunteers for the 2013 season will need to have completed the ODFW Floy-tagging training. ODFW staff will be offering a Floy-tagging training after the meeting for new volunteers and previous participants who want a refresher course. If you attended a training meeting in 2010, 2011, or 2012, attendance is not required.

In addition, prizes will be awarded for 2012, along with new prizes for 2013 at the Oregon Department of Forestry Conference Room, 3150 Main St. in Springfield. For more info contact: Dave Thomas, 541-736-6637, [email protected]

McKenzie River Reflections