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| ODFW’s new interactive fishing maps feature detailed information and directions to dozens of fishing locations throughout Morrow, Wheeler, Umatilla, Union, Baker, Grant and Wallowa counties. Click to enlarge |
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife today introduced a new interactive fishing map to help anglers find fishing locations in the agency’s Northeast Region.
The GoogleTM-based map details 95 trout-stocking sites in the northeast corner of the state, including sites within the Umatilla, Malheur and Wallowa-Whitman national forests. ODFW’s Northeast Region covers Morrow, Wheeler, Umatilla, Union, Baker, Grant and Wallowa counties.
“We are pleased to roll out a new trout stocking map to help people find the many places they can go to catch trout produced at Oregon’s hatcheries,” said Scott Patterson, ODFW fish propagation manager. “Trout fishing continues to be very popular, and knowing where to go is an important factor in people’s ability to get out and participate in this activity.”
The fishing maps can be accessed from ODFW’s website from links in several places, including the Trout Stocking Schedule page, weekly Recreation Report and Where and How to Fish page. The maps allow viewers to zoom in for a close-up at the sites in their choice of map, satellite and terrain view. Clicking on a fish-shaped icon opens a text balloon with site photos, links to nearby campgrounds and other points of interest, fish species, and links to ODFW’s weekly recreation report, trout stocking schedule and sport fishing regulations. Users are also capable of generating GPS coordinates and turn-by-turn directions to each site from any starting point to many of the lakes and/or trailheads leading to hike-in lakes.
The Northeast Region map is the third regional GoogleTM -based fishing map that ODFW has released in the past year. The agency launched a similar trout fishing map for its Northwest Region last April and map to its Southwest Region last September.
“The whole point of these maps is to make it easier for people to enjoy trout fishing,” Patterson said, adding, “Trout fishing is a huge economic engine for Oregon. It also adds significantly to our quality of life.”
Trout fishing is the most popular fishery in the state, according to a 2006 ODFW survey of anglers. Of those anglers surveyed, 73 percent said they had fished for trout in the past year. That equates to approximately 420,000 anglers.
A 2009 study for the agency by Dean Runyan and Associates estimated that the freshwater fishing contributed nearly $200 million to the state’s economy. While the study didn’t break sales down by fresh water species, which would also include salmon, steelhead and other types of fish, the economic impact of trout fishing on the state’s economy is nonetheless significant. The $4 million annual cost of the trout stocking program is covered primarily through the sale of Oregon fishing licenses.
The trout stocking map is the latest addition to a suite of GoogleTM -based maps, including the Wildlife Viewing Map and Oregon Hunting Map.
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