View Post

Speak up for North Umpqua wild steelhead

In Oregon by Dean Finnerty

North Umpqua wild summer steelhead numbers have been in serious decline for decades. Considering the major decline in returns of wild steelhead to the basin, ODFW is reviewing its management policies, including the North Umpqua hatchery summer steelhead program.

View Post

Coquille Bass Blitz – Revisited

In Oregon by Dean Finnerty

Wild Steelhead Initiative Manager, Dean Finnerty, and his son recently assisted ODFW with electro-fishing on the Coquille River, one of Oregon’s finest salmon and steelhead waters. ODFW’s electro-fishing efforts help remove non-native species that adversely affect native fish.

View Post

Uncharted Territory

In Columbia River, Snake River by Dean Finnerty

The Northwest is experiencing the worst summer steelhead returns on record. Steelhead stocks from British Columbia to southern Oregon and as far inland as the Snake River basin are doing poorly. Sadly, we are likely to see greater variability in run sizes, with smaller peaks and deeper troughs.

View Post

For the First Time in My Life

In Oregon by Dean Finnerty

For the first time in my life, I won’t be skating flies over glassy tailouts for summer steelhead this year on my beloved North Umpqua River. That’s because the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has closed this legendary fishery until December due to extreme low flows and dangerously high water temps.

View Post

Rogue-South Coast Management Plan: Public Comment

In Oregon by Dean Finnerty

After more than two years of development, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) recently released its Rogue-South Coast Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan (RSP) for public comment. We have the scoop on what’s in it and how you you can speak up on behalf of wild steelhead.

View Post

Dean of the Umpqua

In Oregon by Dean Finnerty

The steelhead community is filled with amazingly humble and generous people. We are lucky to have many of those people working here at Wild Steelheaders United. Our fearless leader Dean Finnerty is certainly one of them. Read about our own Sam Davidson’s recent adventure with him on the famous North Umpqua.