ODFW plans youth fishing pond at ex-hatchery site

An abandoned fish hatchery site near Camp Sherman could find new life providing youth fishing opportunities under a plan being proposed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The agency will discuss its plans to create a small fishing pond on the 15-acre property it owns on Spring Creek at a public meeting on Tuesday, March 17 at the Camp Sherman Community Hall. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.

According to Jen Luke, ODFW fish biologist in Bend, the 1-acre pond would be stocked with trout and open only to anglers 17 years old and younger.

“We think a small, youth-only fishing pond would strike the right balance between creating a new fishing opportunity while maintaining the natural environment of the site,” she said.

In addition, the pond could be used for smolt acclimation and egg hatchboxes as part of the effort to re-introduce Chinook salmon to the Metolius, upper Deschutes and Crooked river basins.