MY LETTER TO ODFW COMMISSION ON REGULATION CHANGES ON THE DESCHUTES RIVER

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Re:  Proposed Changes to Regulations on the Size of Fish that can be kept on the Lower Deschutes River

My name is Brian Silvey and I have been a professional guide and outfitter on the Deschutes River for 30+ years.  I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed changes in ‘catch and keep’ Regulations. 

The Lower Deschutes river trout population below Shears Falls has improved over the years due to protection of the slot limit of 10-13 inch and stream work. Promoting the harvest of 8 inch minimum length will drain already stressed resources, including the unintentional killing of juvenile steelhead that are also about that size as they head to the ocean in the spring and intentionally destroy generations of preservation and enhancement efforts.  We need to keep protecting these fish and improve the regulations in a way to ensure they survive for many generations to come. The Deschutes is one of the best trout fisheries we have in the state of Oregon, we should be protecting these fish, not harvesting them. 

In my professional and personal opinion the Deschutes River should be a CATCH and RELEASE river, which would simplify the Regulations and promote a stronger Steelhead and Trout fishery, thus increase revenue for the ODFW and the State. One of Oregon’s top license sellers for trout and steelhead fishing during the summer, if you want more License Sales protect the Lower Deschutes by making it CATCH AND RELEASE.

People travel from all over the world to experience the unique Wild Trout and Steelhead fisheries on the Deschutes River.  We should be protecting this incredible resource, not intentionally destroying it.

THANK YOU

BRIAN SILVEY

IF you love the Deschutes like I do please write to ODFW Commisson and tell them to protect the Deschutes.

Send email to : odfw.commission@state.or.us

2014 DESCHUTES STEELHEAD SEASON

Thanks to everyone that fished with us this year, it was another great season!

Next stop John Day River with LCO.

2013 FAVORITE PHOTOS

 Thanks to everyone that fished with us this year!

Bring on the New Year!

Catch And Release!

MONDAY

WEDNESDAY

Well it has been a busy trout season and I have had no time to post much, but this is a great story from last week.
On Monday we were floating the Lower Deschutes and having a good day!
Late in the Day the fish were taking dries very well and we were having good luck.
Working up a riffle I fish everyday I see this nice fish come off the bank and eat a Caddis.
I tell my client where he is rising and he shows himself again, and we both see its a very nice fish.
We have a size #18 Tan Elk Hair on, so we thought we would try that first.
Finally we get a cast close to the grass and the fish comes full speed to eat our dry,the fight is on.
The fish heads for the middle of the river and heads about 25yds into the backing,we finally get it back to us and land this big Redside.
So it gets interesting when I am out on Wednesday, late afternoon get to the riffle were on Monday we landed the nice Redside.
I figure there is no way he is around since I was there on Tuesday and did not see any fish over 12 inches.
We are working our way up catching a few fish and about 5 ft up from us I see a big rise, I thought  no way thats the same big fish from Monday.
If it is he will be a bit wiser now since he has been hooked before, but we decide to throw at him.
We have a size #18 Tan Elk Hair on, my client gets a cast just above him ,it floats down the fish just crushes the fly.
Here we go again BAM! about 20-30yds into the backing, what a great fight.
We get it back and once I get close I tell my client that I have seen this fish before, that we caught him on Monday.
You got to love it when big fish eats your fly one day then a few days later you catch him again!
I tell my clients every year that you catch some of these fish 2 or 3 times in a season, they become your pet fish.
Great way to end my trout season and get ready for steelhead season.

DESCHUTES STEELHEAD SEASON 2012

These are some of my favorite photos I took of the Deschutes River 2012 Steelhead Season.
With only a few trips left in my season on the Deschutes it is great to look back at all the photos I took.

Thanks to everyone that fished with us this year!
Looking forward to the 2013 season.

DESCHUTES RIVER REPORT

White River Photo Taken on Oct 17th, 2012  8:30am

Well its been a while again since my last post, been busy guiding everyday
Fishing has been tough some days and good the next.
Now that White River is blown out big it might be a while until my next trip!
The river also came up with the White River to almost 7,000 cfs
I would guess it will be tough fishing until Halloween or first of November.

DESCHUTES RIVER REPORT

Well here we are its June already and the Stonefly Hatch has come and gone in the Maupin area.
There has been some crazy windy and wet weather the last few weeks but fishing has been good.
There has been good hatches of PMD,PED,Green Drakes,Yellow Sallies and Caddis.
My best combo has been fishing a dry dropper in the riffles and pocket water.
The dry fly we been using is a Silvey's Chubby Sally #14 with a Silvey's Beadhead Caddis pupae in
Green or Tan.
Late June and July the Caddis hatches start becoming huge and the fish will key on them.
So make sure you carry some Elk Hair Caddis for dries and have plenty of Caddis pupas in green or tan.