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
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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
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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