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Drpsych
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I am a 5th generation local resident and fisherman on the McKenzie River. I spent much of my childhood drifting the river or wading out to my chest and fishing for hours on end with my father. I can remember when the salmon would stack up at Leaburg dam, and even recall an experience when one jumped in our boat when we were anchored just below the dam. Looking back, spending time on the river and fishing with my family are some of my fondest childhood memories, and I still spent at least a couple hours every day with my pole in the water. Sadley though, I have 5-children that are just as eager to spend time on the river, but this year we have had so many bad experiences with rude fisherman that it is becoming more of a hassle than an enjoyment. I have had my son's spot stole below the dam when he turned his back for a couple minutes, have had a fly fisherman walk into the river where we were fishing and almost hit my daughter with his fly during a cast, have had people act like vulture where are family was fishing, and most recently I was fishing for steelhead off the shore near Greenwood and had a guy in a sled who started doing cookies in the water in front of us and then jetted down the river. I can't count how many times we have had a driftboat move right in front of us and drop anchor, acting as if we weren't even there. I can remember the day when someone would act like that and find a group of guys waiting for them to land at the boat landing to "address the problem." I'm not promoting this, but have to express my sadness for the simple lack of respect that many people have these days for their fellow fisherman, not to mention their greed to steal fishing a spot from a young child. I would just ask that all those fisherman out there that still have some respect for this beautiful river, and the local tradition of treating others with respect on the river, do their best to treat others with respect and pass that on to their children. Happy fishing!
