Draft - Trout and Warm Water Fish Running Waters

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Publish Date: March 16, 1993

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Cedric Cooney

Job Position: Natural Resources Data and Systems Manager

Telephone: 503-947-6094

E-Mail Address: Cedric.X.Cooney@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: Running Waters: Running waters include the main Rogue, Applegate, and Illinois rivers, and all associated tributary streams in the Rogue River basin. Historical information on trout in the Rogue River basin was summarized by Cole M. Rivers (in press) prior to 1962. Cutthroat and downstream migrating steelhead were abundant and easily caught from streams all through the settled portions of the basin. There was no need to take a trip away from home to fish for trout. Angling for trout was not thought of as a recreational pastime until the 1930s. The headwaters of the Applegate and Illinois rivers, and Jumpoff Joe and Grave creeks were preferred for trout fishing because of the easy access provided by mining roads. The California-Oregon Power Company provided access to trout fishing waters in the Prospect region as early as 1912. The completion of the Crater Lake and Diamond Lake highways in 1927 allowed access to the upper Rogue River and its tributaries. Access to other parts of the basin was provided when foot and wagon trails were made into roads by crews of the Civil Conservation Corps in the 1930's. Most natural lakes were devoid of fish life until they were stocked by miners or cattlemen who wanted a supply of trout close to their camps. Fish Lake was one of the first impoundments preferred for sport fishing because of good cattle trails leading from the Bear creek Valley into the area. Anglers were packed in by cattlemen after the dam was built in 1898. Other impoundments providing good trout fishing in the 1920s included Emigrant Lake which received heavy pressure. Many lakes were barren of fish life until rainbow, eastern brook, or cutthroat were packed in by private parties, the Forest Service, or the Oregon Game Commission in the 1920s. Prospectors and early settlers stocked some of the lakes earlier with fish that had been collected or salvaged from creeks that were drying up. There are no records of the unofficial introductions, and those of the Game Commission burned in a fire in 1936. Table 1 lists the liberations of trout recorded by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries from 1907 to 1940.

Purpose:

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Geographic Extent: Rogue, Applegate, and Illinois rivers

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF file

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Data Information

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Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? No