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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 9, 2005 Extra angling opportunities in store for Free Fishing Weekend By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune Two organizations looking to promote sport-fishing among distinctly different crowds again are tag-teaming with state-sponsored events to create extra angling opportunities during the annual Free Fishing Weekend. A free derby for kids again will anchor along a portion of Lost Creek Lake, across the lake from one of the several dozen Free Fishing Weekend events sponsored across the state by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. And across Jackson County to the Dead Indian Plateau, another group will hold a $11-per-person derby at Howard Prairie Lake meant to raise money to create senior- and disabled-friendly access to popular Rogue Valley fishing waters. The private derbies are part of a new approach to Free Fishing Weekend in Oregon, where the emphasis the past 12 years has been on taking kids fishing. Oregon’s regular anglers instead are now asked to take a non-fishing friend, neighbor, family member or co-worker with them to a lake, pond, stream and even the beach this Saturday and Sunday. Advertisement This is the one weekend each year during which licenses and harvest tags are not required to fish. And this year, that includes shellfish, meaning licenses aren’t required for crabbing or clamming during the weekend. At the ITS derby, pre-registered anglers are broken into four age groups from toddlers to seniors. The contestants then fish for rainbow trout in Lost Creek Lake between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., with each participant able to weigh in one fish. Prizes are awarded in the several categories at 4:15 p.m. at the Takelma day-use area. Participants must be present to win. At Howard Prairie, participants pay their registration fee and fish anywhere on the lake for prizes. The event, however, is dominated by seniors and disabled anglers who take advantage of access at the pike at the Howard Prairie Resort, says marina manager Chris Johnston. Here is a run-down of the various local Free Fishing Weekend events sponsored by the ODFW. JACKSON COUNTY Expo Ponds — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Parental supervision is required. Bait is provided, rods and reels can be borrowed, and help for beginning anglers is available. The event will be held at the north end of the Jackson County Fairgrounds. Call 826-8774. Fish Lake — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Rods and reels are available for loan. The lake is near Highway 140, about 35 miles from Medford. Call 552-2913. Hyatt Lake — 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The Bureau of Land Management and United Hunters and Sportsmen are holding this event for kids. It includes free camping and free breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free bait and loan of rods and reels are available Saturday, as is a fish-print activity. The event is at the Hyatt Lake BLM campground. To get there, take exit 14 from Interstate 5 at Ashland and follow Highway 66 about 15 miles to Greensprings Inn. Turn left on Hyatt Lake Road about 2.5 miles to Hyatt Lake and follow the free fishing signs. Disabled access is available. Butte Falls Hatchery — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. A hatchery pond is stocked with trout for Saturday, and it will be open for fishing throughout the summer. Call 865-3322. Medco Pond — 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday. The pond is owned by Superior Lumber Co. and will be closed Thursday and Friday, but open Saturday. The pond is on the Prospect/Butte Falls Highway about 15 miles northeast of Butte Falls. Call 560-3732. Stewart State Park (Lost Creek Lake Marina) — 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. This event is held at the park’s Lost Creek Marina, 34 miles north of Medford off Highway 62. Bait is provided, and fishing lessons, rods and reels are available. There are also prizes for the smallest and largest fish. Call 560-3334. KLAMATH COUNTY Lake of the Woods — A stocked pool will be at the resort for kids. A fishing competition with awards in several age categories as well as big fish, best limit and no-fish categories Saturday and Sunday. The lake is off Highway 140 in Klamath County. JOSEPHINE COUNTY Lake Selmac — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Off Highway 199 near Selma. Call 597-2494. EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY Diamond Lake — 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Free door prizes, free hot dogs, sodas and ice cream. Includes a trout derby for three age brackets, with trophies. Registration forms are available at the Diamond Lake Resort. The lake is accessed off Highway 230. Call 800-733-7593, Ext. 227. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Air Purifiers Advertisement s