Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 29, 1966)
To Catch A Steelhead rurt I of II IrU Br MILT CUTMON Oryon Stat Cam CommUslon llnln. ' KjualU, wind and mirnrtliiu-n niw and cold her nld I he winter nionllm along tho Ori'k'im com1. Anl once Again tt'a uteelheiid fUhlriR time, the time of ynr these great gnme fish come In from the on their annual spawn liH' migrations, Many steelhrad will be mark ed by tho abnence of one or more fins Indicating hutr-liery origin. If anglers should catch one of these marked fUh. the tame commission would like to near about It If It U povilhle for the angler to make such a report. Hatchery plants have been mude In almost all const at streams and mnny Inland rivers, and these (lull will be returning this winter as tackle busting adults. Kt'ixirt Indicate good runs of steelhead are already In the Wilson. Alsea, Nestueca, Nehal erne, SlleU and many other couNtal streams. Karther Inland, steelhead have invaded the San dy ss far upxtrcam as Marmot Dam. From the numtwr of fish In the stream at this early date, It appears It could be a banner year on this fine river. Anglers shouldn't overlook the many small coastal streams and creeks, as well as Colum bia tributaries. Many of these have abut been stocked with stet-lhead and . anglers can ex pert good return of adults this winter. Some of these In clude Cnnt Creek, Rcappoosc Creek, Milton Creek and other. The Lewis A Clark should In? a Rood bet this winter along with the Nccanlcum. Along the central const the Sluslaw Is expected to produce many steelhead. Here again, many hatchery steelheud should be returning this winter. Klne rivers along the south coast will Include the popular Kogue and Umpqua, and the Mllllcu mn. Sixes. Klk and Chetco. Knrh winter we receive many Inquiries on how to catch steelhead. To explain this to the novice Is about as difficult as trying to teach a person to handle a shotgun with accur acy, or perhaps make him an expert fly fisherman In one vany lesson. Nevertheless, wc will try to pass along a few principles of winter steelhead infl In an effort to start the novice off In the rU:ht direc tion. The angler should remember that you lust don't i;o out and catch steelhead. It's touch, rug ced fishing under the Ix'M con ditions. Kven the expert return empty handed on numerous oc casions. However, n knowledge of steelhead luiblts Is Invalua ble toward a successful trip. In addition, water conditions more often than not Influence success or failure so It behoove the agler to keep Informed on winter stream levels and tur bidity, then do his fishing when the rivers are "rluht." General ly, the iHtit steelheadlng takes place following storms or fresh ets during the time the rivers are dropping and clearing. The plunker has few prob lem to contend with other than determining the proper place to fish. All he has to do Is cast out, anchor hi lure or bait on the Itottom, then sit and wait. Ills main objective Is to place his offering smack In the mid die of a steelhead travel route and wnlt for the fish to come along. Generally, these plunking arena ore the large, deep holes in the river. The most product ive portion will be from about mid-point In the hole on down stream to where the hole shal lows and breaks Into rapids below. Steelhead travel up stream through these rapids. and upon reaching the slick or apron will shear off to one side or the other Into the quieter water. Usually, they rest a bit here before continuing: their Journey upstream. Plunker rec oRnlao this characteristic of steelhead and attempt to anc hor their bait Just to ono aide of the heavy water. The plunker can also fish un der more ndverse water condit ion than can the drift fisher man. In fact, most plonkers pre fer water that Is a bit off col or. The best steelhead action for the plunker usually takes place Immediately following a heavy storm when the river 1 still up and no clearer than a deep preen. A the water continue to drop and clear the big Iron heads move from the deeper holes Into the faster flowing portion, plunking action usuaf ly slow down from then on through the clear water period. The drift fisherman ha a few more problems to consider. Klrst, Hteelhcad have definite travel routes that they use con sistently on their Journey up stream. These routes will vary depending on water singes, and If the angler Is to be success ful he must !e able to recog nize these routes at nil water levels. Once he learns to recog nize "steelhead runs" he can be pretty sure he will be easting halt or lure Into and through these travel lanes. Second, steelhead will not re main long In the deeper hole, nor will you find them often In the eddy or quiet pools. These IIk fish prefer a strong, even flow of water and will follow such flows throughout the rlv-ere. intra, water depths are ex- treniely Important for the plunk er as well as the drift fisher man. In thl respect, slilhcad prefer to travel and hold In wa ter depth ranging from about four to around eight or nine feet. IVep hole and riffles arc preferred only when water tem perature Is high or oxvgen con tent lower than normal. And the fourth point Is that steelhead will hold at certain locations along these travel lanes These "slots" may be Im mediately ahead of of behind a sunken boulder, below a slight drop-off, near the tall of a pool lust ahead of the apron, In n slight bend of the river where a change In water vel ocity occurs, alongside an un derwater ledge or channel cut bank, and other locutions of. similar nature. Recognizing steelhead slots Is an art In It self, but once learned the ang ler can return to the name spot time after time and be reas onably sure Mr. Ironhead will be there. And with this we have a starter to successful steelhead fishing the recognition of stcelhcnd water, ideally, a steelhead run would consist of a stretch of river perhaps 50 to 100 feet or more In length, with a strong, even flow of water from head to apron, and water depths within the boundaries described. Although steelhead may be found throughout such an area, usually one or more hot spots or "sluts" will 1)0 present where steelhead will consistently move Into and rest. Some expert ang lers are strictly slot fishermen, casting only to these areas, then moving on. Other expert ang lers may fish the entire run hit ting the slots as well ns any other possible holding water within the travel lanes. Next week we will talk a bit about steelhead tackle, and some of the techniques used to find and entice Mr. Steelhead to hit. Livestock Men Meet to Program Weed Controls Br EUGENE WINTERS Morrow County Agent Thirteen Heppner district live stock operator! met Monday af ternoon, December 12, In the court house to organize a con trol program for branching knapweed in tho Upper Willow Creek, Balm Fork, tipper Rhea Creek and Hlnton Creek water sheds. The meeting wa arranged by Gall McCarty, county extension agent, In cooperation with the Morrow County Livestock Grow ers Association and the Morrow County Court. Meeting chairman, Judge Paul Jones, opened the meeting with the observation that rancher working together can usually solve their problems. He said the high cost of weed control was the concern of everyone In the county and that the reduc ed forage production from weed Infested rango affects the econ omy of the county. McCarty pointed out that for the past 18 months a number of livestock operators had voic ed their concern with the amount of this number one range weed In Morrow county. He explained that previously cost sharing under the Agricul ture Conservation Program weed practice for the control of banchlng knapweed was not possible. The new ACP weed practice offer some promise for the inclusion of thl jiest. The possiblltl'-s of having the area Infested placed under a special weed control district was also suggested for review. Joe Balfe. assistant district attorney, reviewed the Oregon statutes relative to compulsory weed control In counties and Seclal weed control districts. A special weed control district can be established for the eradica tion or control of certain spec ified weeds by petition to the county court, ihe attorney said. Several ranchers reported on the extent of the problem with branching knapweed which Is now Invading the vigorous per ennial bunch grass stands. Terry Thompson, Heppner, ob served that much of the weed source was In the steep canyon areas which would require spray application bv helicopter. Branching knapweed seed has been spread by motor vehicles, birds, wind, water, livestock and game animals, Dick Wilkinson, Willow Creek rancher said. One rancher felt that many ranch peoplo weren't aware of the spread onto their land. Don Bennett, Hlnton Creek, said In his area there were small patch- HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES, Thursday, December 29, 1966 5 e now that would be solid stands In a few years. Luke Blbby, Balm Fork, said that this weed had been In the county for quite a few years and that he had sprayed patch es on hi and neighbor lands more than 10 years ago. The high cost of chemical control on rangeland was given by Ken Cutsforth, Upper Willow Crock, for the lack of control In the area. He cited the chem ical and airplane application costs at about $3.50 per acre. David McLeod, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation County office manager, reported the 1967 ACP Handbook had been submitted to the State Committee for approval. Branch ing Knapweed had been includ ed a recommended by the ACP Planning and Development Group in October. He said this practice I applicable only in areas where weed control meas ures will be carried out on an organized basis which will min imize relnrestatlons. McLeod suggested Interested growers as semble pertinent Information about the area to be control led and the control plan for consideration by the County ASCS Committee. Gene Winters, county agent, reported that an extensive re search screening trial in Mor row County during 1962 by Dr. Arnold Appleby, then at the Pendleton Experiment Station, had showed good control with two pounds 2.4 D ester applied when the first buds show. A second application may be nec. essary for seedling control in those years with summer show or. Winters said other materials than the 19 tested in 1962 will be tried next spring in the county. Interested growers are meet In? Friday to assess the area Infested and prepare a control program for the ASCS office. The County extension office sent meeting notices and re minder cards to over 60 land owners thought to have branch Ing knapweed problems in Mor row county. I E. Bisbe was host to his son and daughter over the Christmas holidays. Son Orrin Bisbee. San Francisco, came De comber 24', and will leave Fri day. Miss Kay Bisbee came from Waldport for Christmas and will return on Friday also. Mr. Bisbee will go with his dau ghter to Waldport and plans to make a visit of about three months. . t North 4-H Clubs Receive Awards For Achievement (Held over from last week) Br DONNA EPPENBACH IRRIGON Thursday night December 8, the 4-H clubs held their annual achievement party at the A. C. Houghton caietor ium. The Drogram consisted of the Pledge to the Flags, U. S. and 4-H, "My Oregon" led by Mrs. Flovd Hobbs. eroim singing of Christmas carols, "What I liked about 4-H summer camp" mtro duced bv Lvnda Early, a report on summer school at Corvallls by Leon Wilson, two numbers bv the Boardman 4-H club, ana instrumental trio by Frances McDonald, Ricky Snyder. Presentation of by Gall McCarty Wilcoxen, county and Tammy Awards was and Marjorie agents. RE WARD For information leading to the arrest of those responsible for entering our cabin on Jug creek (Offer Stands Anytime) -PETE HAMS --JIM BARNETT Mrs Don Lelzhton Is being treated at the Portland Ortho pedic clinic for back injuries, due to a fall at a store In early September. Mr. and Mrs. Warren McCoy went to Portland lor the week end. While there they attended the ice Follies. The Assembly of God church held a SDeclal service Wednes day night with the guest speak er being Evangelist ana Mrs. John Nichol of Osooyos, B. C Canada. They also presented a musical program. The A. C. Houghton school held a Christmas party and dance for the 7th and 8th grades Friday evening. Mrs. Mary Adams returned Monday to Portland, for furth er treatment on her eyes. Mrs. Ellen Reeder is in Port land visiting her son and daughter-in-law and family, Mr. and Mrs. Duane Reeder. Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Willi ams had visits from their sons, Wan-en, an aviation structual mechanic in the Navy Air Force, and Butch, a sophomore at EOC over the Christmas holidays. Mrs. A. E. Loyd of La Grande was in Heppner from Saturday until Monday for a Christmas visit with her son and family, the Jack Loyds. ' one cpu 1 Mrs. L. D. Nelll ha returned from a stay over tho Christmas holidays with her daughter, Mrs. Ncal Knlghten and family in Kcnncwlck. Mrs. Knlghten re turned with Mrs. Neill on Monday, Start The NEW YEAR RIGHT Open A Savings Account Where Your Money Earns A big 4V2 OPEN AN ACCOUNT TODAY Accounts Now Insured to $15,000 FIRST FEDERAL SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE Ll 1TAMPW 14X1 Triple T New Year's Special reading Stamps Not one. Not two. BUT TRIPLE Trading Stamps Will be Given on Shell Heating Oil Deliveries Paid For by the 15th of the Month Fol lowing Date of Purchase. mniiiiiiiMiiiiniiir Ml H-'" h Paul Pettyjohn Heppner 676-9406 Serving Lexington lone 422-7254 LEARN TOl I Or Improve J- fl Your Skiing V I SPOUT SPRINGS J I SKI SCHOOL ilf 18th Year M I Pete Eyraud, Director 'h a fj I Ski School lUtil mil i III ! $1 5.001 Puj 1 I I 1 I I I Junior Youngsters 8 through 18 years Either Saturdays or Sundays $10,001 Beginning Saturday, Jan. 7th, or Sunday, Jan. 8th Mid Week Ski School For Adults Men or Women 3 Lessons Either Wednesdays or Thursdays . Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 4th, or Thursday, Jan. 5th Register on application below and maill with check or money order to: Spout I springs Lodge, Route 1, Weston, Oregon! REGISTRATION - SPOUT SPRINGS SKI SCHOOL 1967 1. NAME ; i 2. ADDRESS 3. PHONE NUMBER : 4. AGE . 5. D BOY GIEL 6. Signature of Parent or Guardian if Under 18 7. Signature ot Applicant (Adults: Disregard 4, 5, & 6) Check the group in which you want to enroll: Beginning Class Advanced Beginner Class Intermediate Class Advanced Class Racing Class Rent Skis Own Skis IMPORTANT: PLACE ME IN A: SAT SUN. WED. THURS. 10 A.M. Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 ($10.00) JR. SKI SCHOOL. 1 P.M. Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, ($10.00) JR. SKI SCHOOL. 10:30 A.M. Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25, Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 ($15.00) ADULTS. 10:30 A.M..-Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26, Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23. Application must be mailed complete with fees by January 3, 1966, to: PETE EYRAUD SKI SCHOOL DIRECTOR I I I I I I I I I I I I I SPOUT SPRINGS LODGLInc Rt. 1, Weston, Ore. 978-86 Ph. 503-566-2015 1 cunn -rue cacv uav nv Ki A 1 1 SHOP THE SAVINGS A LOAN ASSOCIATION BOX B48 PENDLETON OREBNI OREGN STAMPS 5" m GREEN V; stamppK: ORGCN w S18TAMPP ::i . ORE EN : STAMPS
