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 In my efforts to understand the notion of having over 400 members in our Chapter of Trout Unlimited, I thought it might be time to figure out what the history of our group has been, and how far back it goes. To date I haven't found more information online than I have discovered from talking to people in the community, but suffice it to say that there is a storied and controversial past.
From members and community members who have been here their entire lives, to recent developments of support from our National Trout Unlimited Staff, and reference points in newspapers and media for nearly 40 years - The Deschutes Chapter of Trout Unlimited is here to stay and seeks to expand on the fine traditions it has supported for this entire time.
Here are a few excerpts from some searching online with links to the articles and short introductions to them:
Bend Bulletin - June 29, 1971 - "The local Chapter is over a year old and has around 60 Central Oregon Members. Its primary purpose is to work for better watershed management of the Deschutes." On a side note, I could not help but feel some happiness to see comic strips from that time period such as Li'l Abner, Dick Tracy, and Andy Capp.
Bend Bulletin - Apr 17, 1973 - "About 50 people, including Trout Unlimited, Jim Griggs, a Game Commission fish biologist, Ann Evensen and her Oda Keema Campfire group, and who knows who else joined in last Saturday to fall logs and gather sticks to toss into Fall River." I love this river up in the Sunriver area. This habitat has some of the best sight-fishing opportunities in the area due to its crystal clear spring fed waters. However, it is my opinion we should look closer at the spawning gravel in this area and make some attempts soon to address the silt build-up that seems to be occurring.
Bend Bulletin - May 5, 1986 - "A very special thanks from the Deschutes River Chapter of Trout Unlimited to the following businesses and individuals for their generous contributions of auction and raffle items for the 1986 Trout Unlimited Banquet. They support our fishing - please support them." What more can you say about a list of sponsors, members, and businesses that has over a 120 participants for this banquet? There are names in there we still all recognize to this day from the local area like: Bob Mullong (die hard educator AKA "Bob the Fish Guy" or "Captain Caddis" who has been educating our youth for DECADES), Brian O'Keefe (local legend and creator of Catch Magazine), Central Oregon Flyfishers (a staple that continues to be a great source of fishing our area), Inn of the Seventh Mountain, Brooks Resources, John Judy, Metolius River Lodges, Sunnyside Sports, The Flyfishers Place, The Orvis Company, The Patient Angler, the list goes on and on.... Oh, and don't think I didn't notice that wonderful logo in the upper left side of the ad. I have a feeling that might just make a comeback soon!
Bend Bulletin - Jun 5, 1987 - "The Deschutes Chapter of Trout Unlimited is looking for volunteers to help with a river bank enhancement project on the John Day River June 13." This is a great article showing that the reach of our Chapter hasn't always been the Deschutes River itself, and people from all over have looked to us for assistance because of the good work of people like Bob Barss who recently has come back to help us and give us help with our D.R.O.P. program as a volunteer. A personal thanks to Bob for all the groundwork you have laid out for us here in the Deschutes.
Bend Bulletin - Feb 1, 1990 - "The members of the Deschutes River chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Bend chapter of the Oregon Hunter's Association who showed up at Central Oregon Community College for a round-table discussion on poaching brought along plenty of anger and frustration, even though they had left their guns and rods at home." This article is another example of the passion our area produces when it comes to protecting and advocating for our fish and wildlife. The incidents where 2 people were caught gillnetting 117 spawning brown trout gets people upset even to this day because of the short jail term they were sentenced to.
Bend Bulletin - Aug 15, 1990 - "Recognizing the damage done to the stream's fish habitat, the Deschutes River Chapter of Trout Unlimited used grants from the Forest Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Deschutes County, state of Oregon and other sources to put together a $25,000 rehabilitation project." Close to home and a beautiful area to explore, this section was heavily damaged by the Bridge Creek forest fire which occurred in 1979. Eric Schultz is quoted as saying he considered this stream as something of an adopted child. Again, passion for our community and its fish is the theme and I would be the first to jump in to say I feel the same about the Deschutes Basin as a whole.
There are plenty of other sources, but this article is getting a little long even for me. There are still questions I have about our Chapter of Trout Unlimited though, as I am sure you all have as well:
- Where are we going as a Chapter, and where is our focus?
- What issues do we face as a group moving into the future?
- How will we make the changes we wish to see in our community, our fisheries, and the ecosystems that support them?
- Who will help us with these issues and who in our community will step forward to help us lead the way?
- When are we going to see the results our community needs to better support our efforts?
Some of these questions can be answered simply, and others are more complex than we ever anticipated. Whether you are a life-member or a newbie to the Chapter, it is my opinion that the core values of who and what we are as Trout Unlimited Members must remain focused on looking to the future and working hard to do the conservation/restoration work, educating the public, teaching our children, protecting our natural resources, and taking a stand to advocate for the things we care about most. There is only a handful of reasons we all love this area, the people, the natural wonders, and the lifestyle that comes from being living in this diverse and beautiful area of Central Oregon. I for one am thankful for the opportunity to help in what little way I can to make the history we are creating every day.
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