East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-09-24

s--'s--ss---ss----Hs---n --us---ss--s
Sports OF the field, the mountal
and the stream beclSOn the year roun
tc many hundreds OF sportsmen d
Fendleton and Umatilla county. Th
BUSY Pendletonian or his cousin OF tn
smaller county communities, Is neve
too busy TO take the trusty rifle of
the wall or the rod and line from ii
resting place to so in pursuit OF gam,
or fish.
From the mighty Columbia river
which flows along the north boundary
OF umatilla county for 80 miles, to
the summit OF the Blue Mountains
which form rim extending from the
northeast corner of the southern bor-
der OF the county, are streams, fields
and hills where abound many kinds Of
prey for the angler and the nimrod.
Fish ranging in size from brook trout
10 sturgeon may be taken In the wat
ers Of Umatilla county and birds and
game large and small can be found
In the various land areas.
There Is hardly season OF the year
In which one or more forms OF outdoor
sport are not pen to the sportsmen of
this county. The cycle of fishing and
hunting seasons is almost as complete
as the yearly calendar.
In early spring the waters OF the
lower Umatilla river attract large runs
OF steelhead salmon, making their way
TO inland waters to spawn. Below the
Hermiston dam fishermen throng each
spring to try their skill against the
strength and fight shown by the steel
heads Landing these fish is often a
matter OF a half hour and more work
but when one has a steelhead he has |
made something OF catch.
front Fishing Good
Trout fishing Is opened i'm Umatilla |
county on April l each year and the
rivers and streams are thronged with
anglers until the heat of the summer
and low water thins down the ranks TO
only the faithful. In early spring the
lesser streams. such as Squaw creek.
Mckay creek and Birch creek yield
well filled baskets of trout. As the
water recedes, the upper Umatilla
river and Meacham creek are favorite
streams for fishermen.
Streams of the south OF the county,
although more inaccessible, often pro-
vide excellent trout fishing. FIRE.
cuented less by anglers, these streams
contain brook trout less accustomed to
tHt Hd9H VI man dtiI tst6tilJ tdht Aiit
fly or bait cast upon the waters TO lure
them. These streams are not produc-
tive OF large trout as are Meacham
creek and the river.
Rainbow trout are predominant in
the streams OF the county but in the
larger streams the Dolly Warden trout
may be caught by bait fishing. These
trout lie in the holes and strike at the
spinner and minnow. Eastern brook
trout have been planted in a few
places and are sometimes caught.
Meacham lake, near Meacham, was
4, rmerly open to trout fishing but by
order OF the state fish and game COM !
mission was closed at the opening of
this year and is now being used as a =
natural propagation water to stock ,
meacham creek and the waters below.
Whitefish. a species declared by
many to be very delectable, are quite a
Plentiful in the upper river and are ,
caught while one angles for :
trout. basket of mhitefish is de- 1
clared by many just as desirable as i
basket OF trout, and usually requires
less effort.
Spring OF the year also brings bass !,
fishing. These gamey fish are found ri
in the Cold Spring reservoir and in .
Few sIoughs along the Umatilla river !
N the vicinity of Rieth and below. A ,
ness or two of bass each year Is de- I
,lared an essential to complete sea- u
'on by most OF the dyed-in- -the-wool VI
Of these parts. 4,
The Grouse Season ~
On August Is each year the season !,
Ior grouse is opened and the opening
lay usually finds confirmed hunters !,
occurring the canyons and the breaks in 2,
he mountains for this elusive bird. 4
Although grouse are far from being !,
carce they give the hunter all the
work he Is looking for and all declare n
that when one get the limit of grouse q
he has fully earned them. r
Deer season follows the grouse sea-
son and on September 1 rifles are u
brought out and the hills secured in .
search of bucks. Many sportsmen
maintain cabins in the mountains
where deer are plentiful and few de-
votees of the sport go through the 81
season without obtaining at least one s.
buck and a set OF horns. Deer thrive ti
well in Umatilla county and in spite of c
the open season allowed. do not APP S,
pear to be diminished In numbers. W
There is n limit of two bucks in a T
which. to the credit of local "
sportsmen, Is seldom taken advantage a
Of The sportsmen of JImatila county +,
are sportsmen in the true sense of the fl
word ard not game hogs. n
China Pheasant Hunting h
Eight days are allowed annually for a
the hunting of pheasants. beginning u
the first Sunday in october and ending
the second Sunday in october. Fields r