Thinking about picking up fishing for the first time in ages, and heard that Alton Baker fishing is pretty good. I'd like to hear more local/maybe experienced opinions on it though, a specific question I have is if the fish are really safe and okay to keep and eat, considering the homeless population and J. H. Baxter contributions. Anything is nice, though. Thank you!
I wouldn't eat the Alton Baker fish, or at least I wouldn't eat very many of them unless I was starving. Hatchery fish are pretty bland and gross until they spend a few months in a colder river or lake, and they get fished out of the park before they have a chance to develop. I fish there sometimes because it's an easy bike ride, but there are dozens of better fishing spots within a 1-3 hour drive and it's worth the extra effort. If you're just looking to dust off your pole or try out some new tackle then the park is fine. If you want to eat them go to Clear Lake or Dexter reservoir. I wish I could show you some pictures, the trout you catch from the pond will have pale white flesh and they cook up very mushy and gross. The trout I caught at Diamond Lake last summer had bright red flesh - much healthier fish and delicious. Also, stocking operations have been disrupted due to the fires last summer and the park (and presumably other locations) may or may not be stocked even if the ODFW site claims it is being stocked. I'm holding off on buying a license this year until I'm certain the stocking issue has been resolved.
This was secretly posted by ODFW. It is current and accurate.
https://dfw.state.or.us/fish/docs/2021_Rainbow_Trout_Stocking.pdf
Biggest trout ive ever caught was at clear lake, not to mention how beautiful it is there.
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Pole?
Well technically most people use "fishing rods" as a "fishing pole" does not have a reel or line guides and is merely a line attached to the end of a pole, but it is common enough in modern usage to refer to a "fishing rod" as a "fishing pole" that you should quite obviously know what I'm talking about. So now you have stolen the 2 minutes of my time that it took to respond. I hope you are satisfied, and that your life is going well.
You can eat them, if the river flowed in the opposite direction id be much more concerned about eating the fish. A nice place that is much less populated is hendricks county park outside thurston. There are some good fish in there.
Catch and release?
Yeah, that's what I was anticipating doing, but someone I asked mentioned keeping their catches from there. Not sure if it's bad info or not, but hey that's why I'm asking here.
I wouldn't eat them.
https://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/ECSI/ecsidetailfull.asp?seqnbr=849
Would you want to be caught with a hook through your face and then released?
Fuck no, but better than being gutted.
Can I offer you door #3 where hairless apes just leave you alone and entertain themselves in a way that doesn't cause pain to sentient beings?
I like that door best.
I use them for fertilizer in my garden.
I think the park is a fantastic place to practice fly casting, particularly near the spillway closest to the duck pond adjacent of the frolf course. However, I'd agree with everyone else who commented to probs not eat the fish you catch. Get out there and enjoy yourself some sunshine!
Thanks for the replies and info, everyone! I gotta stock my supply box before I head out, but maybe I'll see some of you out there. 😄
Fall Creek at Big Fall Creek rd. Spinner fishing for hatchery trout and natives, their meat is insanely good! Check out Eugene Fishing Scene on FB.
A good recommendation, but while you're allowed to take two wild fish per day, I would encourage everyone to release those and just take the hatchery (up to 5 per day). That river gets a lot of pressure and if we are all taking the wild fish, there won't be any left.
That's it for the public service announcements. Get out there and have fun.
