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Seems like just last week we were preparing for the Guides Wives Dinner and Auction. A very special evening shared with fellow guides, friends, family and newest honorary member to MRGA, Hall of Fame Baseball player the great Bobby Doerr. Bobby was so nice for attending the dinner and it was very special for us to meet such a gracious person. Thank you Bobby for all you’ve done to help fishing in Oregon. Special thanks to Koffler Boats, Oregon Paddle Sports, Cabela’s, Sotar and all the others that helped make our auction a success.

The 3rd annual McKenzie River Boat Rodeo was another success this year. The weather was fantastic! A great turnout with almost 40 boats inspected by Officer Marc Boyd. McKenzie Fire and Rescue have always been a huge help with this event and this year provided whitewater rescue demonstrations and plenty of river safety information. It is with the help of McKenzie Fire and Rescue that the “Free-Life-Jacket” program is a success.

Many thanks to the cooks that prepared delicious meals for this event. Once again Jon Payne and Billy Pruitt stared each other straight in the eye for the 4th Annual Cook-Off. This year Billy Pruitt takes home the trophy for best cook. His “special” chili and hot corn bread w/ butter & honey narrowly beat Jon’s Sage/Basil Chicken w/ saffron rice. Look for Jon going after the trophy next year. George Recker prepared his famous Fried Chicken and Alice Burke baked a 19” Dutch Oven Biscuits! Fantastic! Thanks to McKenzie Feed and Tackle and McKenzie Fire and Rescue for providing the judges. Someone heard Jon say, “Billy must pay them more than I do”. Also, congratulations to Dana Burwell for winning a new Steelhead Drifting Rod in the raffle!

The 7th Annual McKenzie River Wooden Boat Festival enjoyed more good weather and a great turnout. It’s neat to see how the current McKenzie Driftboat has evolved over the years. The most beautifulboats to have ever graced the McKenzie River on display. Many thanks go to Randy Dersham and Debbie for holding the event at The Eagle Rock Lodge. MRGA members Steve and Debbie Schaefers, Sherill Helfrich, Don Wouda, Dave Schaefers, Gary Williams kept the Burgers and Hotdogs coming through the event. Many thanks to Bob Jensen and The Wild Duck for his contribution.

As April turns into May, let’s celebrate the 200 years since Donald MacKenzie’s discovery of the McKenzie River. Be safe and enjoy the river we love.

Congratulations to Billy Pruitt for taking down the 2012 Mckenzie River Guides Cook-Off.

A very close race between JP and Billy.
Thanks to George and Alice for the Fried Chicken and Dutch Oven Biscuits!
Marc Boyd performed almost 40 boat inspections!
McKenzie Fire and Rescue did some impressive swiftwater rescue demontrations!
Dana B is the proud owner of a new Steelhead Rod & Reel won in the Raffle!
See ya Next Year!

Saturday April, 21st, 2012
Hendrick’s Bridge Park
9:00am-3:00pm

The McKenzie River Boat Rodeo is a public service event to support the “Free Life Jacket” program and bring awareness and ensure safe boating on Oregon Rivers. The award winning “Free Life Jacket” program provides free life jackets to visitors along the McKenzie River available at participating vendors along the McKenzie corridor.

· Oregon State Police will be conducting annual boat inspections. This is a great opportunity to get your boat inspected before opening day of fishing season. Officer Marc Boyd completed 17 inspections in 2010, 39 in 2012 and is hoping to achieve even more at this year’s event.

· McKenzie Fire and Rescue will be demonstrating swift water rescue on the McKenzie River at Hendrick’s Bridge Park.

· McKenzie River Guides will be holding the 4th annual Outdoor Cook-Off. McKenzie River Guides will be demonstrating Dutch oven cooking techniques, Grilling Fresh Food, Frying Chicken and providing other outdoor food delicacies. Final judging at 1:00pm.

· All proceeds from the Cook-Off and Raffle support the “Free Life Jacket” program.

· Lane County Parks is waiving Park fees during the event.

Contact Jon Payne, 541-579-3474 for more details

Guides and Judges at 2011 Boat Rodeo and Cook-Off

Happy boating and be safe

WARNING! ATTENTION ALL MCKENZIE RIVER BOATMEN!
A large tree has fallen 100 yards below the McKenzie Bridge Boat Launch. Boat passage is completely blocked.
SCOUT THE RIVER BEFORE LAUNCHING
February 6, 2012
McKenzie River Ranger District
(541) 822-3381

spawning steelhead

LOSS OF RIVER COMPLEXITY CONTRIBUTES TO FLOODING, BUT FISH SHOULD SURVIVE

1-20-12

CORVALLIS, Ore. – In the space of a few days, many rivers in western Oregon have gone from near-record low levels to flood stage, jeopardizing riverside homes, causing flooding and challenging Chinook salmon, steelhead and other native fishes.

The reason for the high water is mostly evident – heavy rainfall from a strong “pineapple express” storm from the southwest has pounded western Oregon and melted the snowpack, adding to the flood peak. But decades of human alterations to Oregon’s river systems has also contributed to worsening the situation, according to hydrologists.

What once were complex, braided rivers, with multiple channels that spread the impact of flooding, have been transformed into single channels that act like pipelines, according to Oregon State University ecologist Stan Gregory.

“Historical river systems were much more complex and their multiple channels spread the impact of the flooding, and slowed the currents,” said Gregory, a professor of fisheries and wildlife at OSU. “It also created holding places for migrating and resident fish. But dams, development, and the transition from natural forests to housing tracts and pastures have eliminated complexity from many river systems.”

Gregory says salmon, steelhead and native fish should be able to survive the floods. After all, they have had thousands of years to adapt to flooding. There can be short-term damage, however, he pointed out. Recently deposited eggs and young fry can be washed downriver. However, steelhead typically migrate from Thanksgiving through March – or longer – in many rivers, so single flooding events rarely result in catastrophe for all fish.

The impact of a single flood event on steelhead is hard to gauge, Gregory says, because the juvenile fish live in streams from one to three years and then go out to the ocean where most spend one or two years. A flood can affect a part of the overall steelhead population, while other individuals are in the ocean phase of their life.

“Adult steelhead are large, strong fish and can navigate most rivers even at flood stage,” Gregory said. “And flooding is actually beneficial in many cases. It can improve habitat by scouring out river bottoms, creating new pools and cleaning out silt.

“We have found populations of cutthroat trout in streams in the Cascade Mountains to be highest in the summers following the largest floods,” he added, “while winters with low flooding are followed by low populations.”

Smaller native fish also have proven adept at surviving floods – and using what humans have provided for them. In 2009, OSU ecologist Guillermo Giannico and his colleagues published a study that found farmers’ fields that are inundated with floodwater play a role in creating a sanctuary for native fish, where they may find both food and temporary shelter from fast waters and introduced fish species.

“Floods have always been a dynamic part of the system, much the same way that snow is for elk in Yellowstone,” said Giannico, also a faculty member in OSU’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. “Over time, animals will adapt to get the most out of their habitat.

“We have found that native fish have adjusted their behavior to use these floodplains, mostly in agricultural lands, to great benefit,” Giannico said.

The McKenzie Masters Invitational was held this past week and through its
Foundation, the group made a $1,000 donation to the McKenzie River
Guides Association to help fund the lifejacket lending program and the
neighborhood watch program for boat landing security. During this 20th
annual event, the Masters also made a donation to EWEB to be used for
amenities at the new Goodpasture boat landing at Leaburg Lake. Through
its’ 20 year history, the MMI group has made numerous donations for
projects along the McKenzie which include wild fish population studies,
landing maintenance and signage, college scholarships, etc.