Oregon DFW to Host Father’s Day Event at St. Louis Ponds
OutdoorHub 06.12.12
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host a Father’s Day fishing event Sunday, June 17 at St. Louis Ponds Fishing Area from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. ODFW staff and volunteers will be available on site to provide instruction to anybody who wants to sharpen their fishing skills.
“What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than by getting out for a relaxing day of trout fishing?” said Jeff Fulop, Salmon Trout Enhancement Program biologist for ODFW’s North Willamette Watershed District.
For this event, ODFW will stock the ponds with 2,500 legal-sized rainbow trout and an additional 60 trout ranging in size from 2-4 pounds.
“The ponds will be loaded with fish, including some lunkers that would put a smile on any father’s face,” said Fulop.
The department will loan out fishing gear to individuals who do not have their own gear and will provide bait, while supplies last.
St. Louis Ponds is a 54-acre complex of seven ponds owned and managed by ODFW. The site has a new paved ADA accessible trail around one of the ponds as well as a couple of ADA accessible fishing platforms. In addition to stocked trout, the ponds contain several species of warmwater fish, including largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie and sunfish.
St. Louis Ponds Fishing Area is located 13 miles north of Salem and west of Interstate 5. To get to there from I-5, take the Woodburn exit. Then go east to Hwy. 99E. At Hwy. 99E, head south to Gervais Road. Go west on Gervais Road through the town of Gervais. The road eventually changes to St Louis Road. Continue west on St Louis Road as it crosses over I-5 to Tesch Road, at the railroad crossing. Go left on Tesch Road and follow the signs to the ponds.
