As expected, yesterday the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife announced the closure of the Deschutes River to steelhead and salmon fishing beginning August 15. Read the press release for the details. While steelhead are my favorite target species, and am disappointed that the returns are so poor the fishery must be closed, I welcome ODFW doing what they can to protect these fish. My only complaint is that they should close the river to all fishing.

I love fishing the Deschutes for trout but I have caught plenty of steelhead on trout gear and keeping the river open for non-anadromous fish makes enforcement of the closure impossible. In the decades I have fished the Lower Deschutes I can’t recall seeing an Oregon State Police officer on the river where I fish and have no idea how they could tell if I was fishing for trout or steelhead. I avoid using two handed rods or other traditional steelhead gear even when fishing for steelhead. It takes more skill, but there is nothing better than landing a steelhead using a single hand rod and small flies. As a bonus, you also catch more trout this way which keeps things interesting.

If ODFW really cares about protecting anadromous fish the Deschutes should be closed to all fishing, as much as that would pain me personally. Our primary concern should be the survival of the fish.