Thursday, November 27, 2008

Fly Fishing events coming to Eugene, TU fundraiser

Monday December 8: Fly fishing movie Drift
The local chapter of Trout Unlimited will be showing the new fly fishing movie Drift at the David Minor Theater in Eugene, 5:30-7:30pm. One of the featured anglers in the movie, and editor of the new fly fishing magazine Catch, Oregon’s own Brian O’Keefe will be at the showing to talk about the film and his fly fishing travels. The cost is $10 and the proceeds from the event will go to the McKenzie Upper Willamette Chapter of Trout Unlmited. Tickets are pre-sale only and are available at The Caddis Fly shop in Eugene. Call 541-342-7005 for details.

Thursday December 11: Fly fishing for salmon seminar

Fisheries biologist and fly fishing fanatic Jay Nicholas will be giving a seminar on fly fishing for salmon in Oregon at The Caddis Fly Shop on Thursday evening, 6-9pm. Jay is a 30-year veteran of ODFW and is an expert on Oregon’s coastal rivers. Jay’s seminar will cover how to fly fish for salmon, fly tying demonstrations and gear selection. The class costs $20, call the shop for more details: 541-342-7005.

Monday, September 08, 2008

TU Cascades High Lakes outing this week

Attention current, lapsed, and/or wanna-be Trout Unlimited members! Your local chapter (TU 678) is again traveling into the mountains for high lakes fishing adventures. You may have missed our previous outings this summer but there is still one more opportunity. These trips have been very popular and are a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors.

This month we plan to visit the Benson Lakes complex located in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. The trip will take place on September 13th-14th. To get there head up the McKenzie Hwy 126 and take the Hwy 242 scenic bypass. Take the turnoff to the left for Scott’s lake and follow the signs to the Benson Lake trail head. The hike into the lake (our base camp) is about 1.5 miles and we will be hiking out from there to reach the other lakes in the area. Waders and float tubes will greatly improve your catching opportunities. A 3 to 5wt fly rod is recommended although light weight spin cast and bait cast setups can also be effective. Fly selections should include wooly buggers, chironomids, pheasant tails, and mayfly patterns. These are overnight trips so please bring a backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and food. The mosquitoes have been worse than usual this year so come prepared. If you have any questions please contact Todd Mullen at 935-2189 before Friday. We hope to see you there.

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Time to sign up for the McKenzie River Two-fly tournament

The first annual McKenzie River Two-Fly Tournament will take place October 3-4, 2008 on the McKenzie River. Organized by The Caddis Fly Angling Shop and Trout Unlimited Chapter 678 (McKenzie River, Upper Willamette Chapter), proceeds from this inaugural event will fund restoration projects on the McKenzie River.

TU McKenzie Two-Fly Flyer

The tournament organizers have partnered with the Eugene based McKenzie River Trust to allocate funds toward native salmonid habitat enhancement. The Trust is a local grassroots organization working to protect special lands in Lane and Douglas county Oregon for their fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and scenic values. The Trust has been recognized by its partners for being creative with its projects, professional in its work with landowners, and committed to the community. “The McKenzie River Trust welcomes the continued loyal support of anglers,” said Joe Moll, Executive Director.

The tournament will take place October 3-4, 2008. Festivities begin Friday evening with a pre-tournament reception and raffle; the competition begins the following morning. The entry fee is $300 per person, two anglers per boat. Entry fee includes one day guided float trip on the McKenzie River, festivities, and door prizes.

“This tournament is a great way for anglers to give back to the resource that gives them so much,” said Karl Mueller, Conservation Officer for TU Chapter 678. “We can’t control ocean conditions but we can do everything in our power to ensure that salmon have the in-stream habitat necessary to thrive in the McKenzie River, which is one of the last strongholds for Willamette River spring Chinook salmon.”

Mckenzie River Two-Fly Tournament rules
1. Contestants will participate in teams of two, single entrants can be paired up with another angler and make a new fishing partner.
2. The winning team will be determined by total length of the three largest fish landed. Length will be determined by a standard method (either measure net or modified PVC pipe w/ measuring tape, TBD). Digital photos of fish and measurement required.
3. The morning of the tournament, contestants will select two flies to use through the day. The can be fished singly or in tandem. If the two flies are lost the contestant may continue to fish, but the angler’s fish no longer count toward the team’s total length.
4. Leader, fly tackle, and fly fishing methods are all at the discretion of the angler.
5. The guide is the judge in the boat and enforcer of the rules.

McKenzie River Two-Fly Tournament Prizes
1. First prize team wins Winston BiiX rod and Ross Reel combos — ($1800 value).
2. Second prize team wins 2 nights stay for four at a luxury cabin on the Upper McKenzie River, $50 gift certificate to Holiday Farm ($750 value).
3. Third prize team wins two Scientific Angler Sharkskin lines ($200 value).

Monday, April 21, 2008

Cold snap doesn't stop TU's Spring McKenzie River outing!

TU Chapter 678 members Todd Mullen, Karl Mueller, Matt Stansberry and Brent Ross (aka the New Recruit)braved crappy weather to bring you this video. We hope you enjoy.



Despite the coldest late April weather in 50 years, we did manage to catch some nice fish on the lower McKenzie River last weekend. Karl put up more pics and a report at the Oregon Fly Fishing Blog.

Keep your ear to the ground for the next event, or sign up for our Yahoo Groups email list.

Friday, April 18, 2008

TU Oregon Council launches new blog site

Trout Unlimited's Oregon Council has launched a new blog to help keep the state's multiple chapters informed on fisheries issues. Oregon State Council Chair Tom Wolf has a post on TU's legislative agenda for the coming year, plus new chapter news -- Chetco River baby! Winter road trip, anyone?

Monday, March 10, 2008

TU meeting this week; New listserv

Hey there TU members. We're back on schedule at EWEB this Wed at 7:00pm. Please show up at this meeting if you're interested in shaping the calendar for trips or restoration projects in 2008. We'll be publishing a calendar of events in the near future. Also, TU member Matt Stansberry will present the National Wildlife Federation's slideshow on global warming in Oregon.

Also, if you used the RiseUp.Net listserv for TU, that is going away. If you'd like to stay in touch with our projects, please sign up on our new Yahoo Groups listserv. It's easy and free.

TU tables at NW Fly Tyers and Fly Fishing show

Last weekend TU volunteers manned a booth at the Federation of Fly Fishers NW Fly Tyers and Fly Fishing expo.

Fly tying show

Oregon Fly Tying expo

Fly tying show

Friday, February 29, 2008

New Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

TU volunteers Karl and Matt teamed up with The Caddis Fly Shop to launch a new Oregon Fly Fishing Blog. Check it out and let us know what you think. The site offers Oregon fishing reports, gear reviews, conservation news and more.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Trout Unlimited pitches in with Eugene Stream Team

Last summer, TU Chapter 678 and Metro Planning adopted a section of stream bank along the Willamette River in Alton Baker park. It was an ugly job, but members managed to reclaim almost 200 feet of nasty blackberry infested riparian area by hand. Last weekend, TU and Metro Planning members collaborated with the larger Stream Team Whilamut Natural Area project to replant the new growth to offer shade, buffer surface pollutants, and stop erosion of the banks.

TU members managed to get some airtime on KVAL as well.

Trout Unlimited Tree Planting

Trout Unlimited Tree Planting

Trout Unlimited Tree Planting

Trout Unlimited Tree Planting

Trout Unlimited Tree Planting

Trout Unlimited Tree Planting

Trout Unlimited Tree Planting

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Oregon Coastal Coho protected again

Karl reports: Today NOAA fisheries announced its decision to restore federal Endangered Species Act protection as a “threatened species” for Oregon Coastal coho salmon. The agency, charged with salmon and steelhead conservation, had been under a court order to reconsider its 2006 decision not to list the Oregon Coastal coho. Trout Unlimited was among a group of fishing and conservation groups that sued to force a relisting.

Smith River

Monday, January 28, 2008

Oregon Trout Unlimited State of the Union

Trout Unlimited Chapter 678 sent representatives to the Oregon State Council meeting last weekend in Portland. Conservation Officer Karl Mueller wrote up the proceedings in a recent blog post.

Highlights include:
  • An update on the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) Carmen-Smith relicensing. Carmen-Smith is a hydropower project on the upper Mckenzie that blocks upstream passage for ESA listed Chinook and Bull trout.
  • Excitement over the TU-spearheaded Copper-Salmon Wilderness.
  • A look at the potential settlement of the Klamath Pacificorp relicensing issue.

    Check out the post for the full report.
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