I spent the last two days camped in the Ochocos helping local ODFW biologists sample a remote river about two hours from Bend. This is the second trip I’ve done this year doing this in different areas. I previously had not spent any time exploring the Ochocos. Access is limited and pretty rough in spots. It’s not a premier fishing destination but it is beautiful and it is great to see that trout can survive at some level in small, heavily degraded rivers and streams. Cows, water diversions, and drought have certainly made an impact on what were once better aquatic environments.

Most of the trout we netted were small but there were some bigger fish, up to 14″. I was surprised there were any that big as I did not see much aquatic insect activity and found few nymphs after turning over many rocks. But, they are eating something. It think it would be fun to fish with a two or three weight rod if I could ever find these spots again and took a high clearance 4WD vehicle.

If you ever wonder what ODFW does, this is a small part of their work but it’s important. It gives them data to make comments on various proposals such as water right and transfer applications as well as timber harvests that might impact these waterways. Of course, their comments are routinely ignored but at least they try.