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Early History of Great Lakes Steelhead

In Science Friday, Steelhead Files by Kyle Smith

Time for another Science Friday. As followers of these posts know, we like to bring you interesting and useful knowledge about steelhead from a variety of sources. This week,we have a guest author: Brian Morrison. Brian is a scientist and angler who lives in Ontario, Canada, and he was kind enough to drop some knowledge about steelhead in the Great …

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Senator Ron Wyden’s Office Receives More Than 15,000 Nominations for Wild and Scenic Rivers in Oregon

In Oregon by Kyle Smith

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he has received more than 15,000 nominations for more than 4,000 miles of rivers and streams in Oregon that enthusiasts believe deserve to be added to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers designation list. TU and Wild Steelheaders United have strongly supported Senator Wyden’s leadership on this legislative effort. Wild and Scenic River designation …

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Of chukar and steelhead in the Snake River country

In Idaho, Oregon, Snake River, Steelhead Files, Washington by Kyle Smith

By Michael Gibson Nothing clears the mind like a good chukar hike. So, when the boss called for a work/chukar retreat in lower Snake River Country, I got excited. Late-season chukar in some of the best, and most rugged, chukar country the planet has to offer. About now, you are probably wondering, what’s this got to do with fish?    We’ll get to that.  Our new North Idaho …

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WDFW grants permission to Cooke Aquaculture to raise triploid trout in Puget Sound

In Steelhead Files, Washington by Kyle Smith

By John McMillan, Wild Steelhead Science Director Conserving and restoring our wild steelhead runs requires a blend of habitat work, adjustments in management and angling policy, and advocacy from the angling community. As anyone who follows us here at Wild Steelheaders United knows, one of the issues we look at frequently is the impact of captive-hatched or reared fish on …

Commission denies petition to prohibit wild steelhead harvest in SW Oregon

In Oregon, Steelhead Files by Kyle Smith

By Kyle Smith, Oregon Field Coordinator Over 50 wild steelhead advocates turned out last Friday for a meeting of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in support of a petition that would have enacted emergency rules to prohibit harvest of wild steelhead in the southwest corner of the state. After almost five hours of public testimony, with the majority in …

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Science Friday- What Have We Lost?

In Columbia River, Oregon, Science Friday, Steelhead Files by Kyle Smith

Imagine going back in time 100 years to the Columbia River. What do you think the steelhead looked like then? How long were they? How much did they weigh?   In the early 1900s scientists working with the federal Bureau of Fisheries visited the Columbia River, which was considered the center of steelhead abundance for the Lower 48 – and frankly, …

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Carving a path through the debate over upper Willamette steelhead

In Oregon by steelheaders

  Carving a path through the debate over upper Willamette steelhead   There are no easy decisions in the world of steelhead conservation and management, but some issues are more difficult than others, such as hatcheries.   Although the science on hatcheries is solid and critical to guiding management of wild steelhead, there is a role for hatcheries, as long as …

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Science Friday: What happens when you cram the big’uns in with the small’ins?

In Science Friday by steelheaders

We sure do love this beautiful weather! It’s almost the first day of June. Summer is officially within sight.   This week’s Science Friday goes back in time over 20-years to 1997.  We review a study conducted by Brett Harvey and Rodney Nakamoto. We have reviewed some of their work previously, which focused on habitat usage by adult steelhead.  Today …

Throwback Thursday- Voluntary Beatdown Part I

In Alaska, Oregon, Steelhead Files, Washington by steelheaders

This post is part of our Throwback Thursday series and originally appeared on the now deceased blog “Voluntary Beatdown.”  Author Jason Koertge can be found on Instagram at @bacon_to_fry.  Thanks to Jason for letting WSU revive your epic work as one of the best fishing experience writers we’ve had the pleasure of reading. RIP VB.       take any …

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Businesses We Love: Royal Treatment Fly Fishing

In Oregon, Steelhead Files by steelheaders

Located just outside Portland and a stone’s throw from the Willamette River in West Linn, OR, Royal Treatment Fly Shop offers a comprehensive inventory of fly fishing equipment from top brands, and serves as a community center for conservation-minded anglers from across the Portland metro area. Named after a steelhead fly that owner Joel La Follette dreamed up on the …