In the Portland area, I fished the Clackamas and the Salmon Rivers briefly. Portland is not a bad spot for the city-bound angler. Situated at the junction of the Willamette and the mighty Columbia, there is no shortage of flowing water.

Elizabeth Dubovsky, a Portland-based TU staffer working on the Pacific Salmon Program, took me to the Salmon River after a day in the office. Yes, residents of Portland can easily make it to the river for a little post-work angling.

As Elizabeth tied on an elk hair caddis, we watched a 10 or so pound salmonid swim by. In the late evening light we couldn’t determine if it was a salmon or a steelhead, but I opted to swing a steelhead fly either way. Elizabeth caught rainbows on her dry while I got skunked with my big purple leech.

The next day, I checked out the Clackamas. The Clack is another favorite haunt for Portland area residents. In fact, the Portland-area TU chapter chose to name their group after this river. One of the more active chapters in the state, the Clackamas River Chapter also works in the Metolius River Watershed, improving conditions for bull trout.

I met Matt Stansberry of the new McKenzie- Upper Willamette Chapter (Eugene, OR) on the Metolius after visiting the Deschutes (Click HERE if you haven’t already read about my experience on the Deschutes). The Metolius is a major tributary to the Deschutes. It is an interesting river that is fed by large, ice-cold springs. The surrounding ponderosa pine park country resembles Central Colorado… except for the looming volcanic cone of Mt Jefferson that is.

The water is crystal clear and the trout are tough! Much of the river is deep and the parts that aren’t deep are fast. The trout definitely have the advantage and they demand proficiency on the part of the angler.

Matt and I decided to chase bull trout with large streamers. The Metolius is one of the nation’s top bull trout fisheries. Bull trout thrive in the clean, 40 degree spring water. We waited out the hot part of the afternoon and hit the water at the same time as the shadows. We tossed heavy, gaudy streamers towards likely lies, including one pool known as the “dolly hole” (bull trout are often referred to as dolly varden, a similar char).
Unfortunately, the resident trout were not impressed.

The McKenzie-Upper Willamette Chapter is not the only new TU group in the state. TUers in Bend have started their own chapter on the Deschutes. Unfortunately, I was not able to coordinate schedules with the new Bend TUers, probably because all of us were too busy fishing! There is a lifetime of angling options in the area.

After meeting with Mike Cooley of the Middle Rogue Steelheaders (click HERE to read more), I journeyed to Medford, where Mike Beagle serves as TU’s Oregon and Washington Field Coordinator. Beagle spends much of his time raising awareness and interest amongst sports-men and -women about the importance of roadless and wilderness areas.

One current proposal is the Copper Salmon Wilderness, 12,000 acres of steep country above the Elk River. The Elk is home to salmon and steelhead runs and protecting the headwaters can only help these sensitive species.

Elsewhere in the state, the proposed Mt. Hood Wilderness would protect fish and game habitat in Portland's backyard. In Southern Oregon, a grazing buyout bill would establish a 23,000 acre wildlands area within the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.

Before joining TU’s staff, Beagle taught history and coached baseball at Oregon high schools. While he remains a baseball fanatic, he enjoys his new post with TU.

“I work for my kids every day,” Beagle told me. By protecting hunting and fishing grounds today we can ensure the next generation will have a place to enjoy these pastimes.

I’m pleased to report that TU is “going to bat” for future hunters and anglers from coast-to-coast. Contact your local chapter to find out how you can help.

TU's "Chapter Search" page

Click HERE to learn more about our nation's last roadless areas

Click HERE to read a .pdf about roadless areas in Oregon