Guest Angler Q&A Series: Kirk Blaine
In this new monthly series, we sit down with guests from across to angling community to bring new perspectives and share a glimpse into different aspects of the sport, fisheries and watersheds, and culture. This month, we spoke with Kirk Blaine from Native Fish Society out of Oregon City, Oregon. Enjoy!
Tell us a bit about yourself and how you each got started fishing.
I started fly fishing at a young age, fishing small streams and creeks in Wyoming with my father. His passion for fly fishing is what planted the seed for me. Getting older, I would accompany my father on trips to the World Famous Big Horn River in Ft. Smith, Montana, chasing trout on the pristine tailwater. I continued to angle off and on throughout my years in high school and college in Montana, but playing collegiate basketball limited my time on the water. Shortly after graduating from college, I moved to Colorado where I discovered my passion for fly fishing and conservation while working part time at the local fly shop. I guided on days the shop was busy and ended up spending five years running float trips in the mountains of the Vail Valley. Then, in 2017, I moved to the Pacific Northwest and more specifically southern Oregon. The clinic my wife works at provided us lodging at the Steamboat Inn (a beautiful historic fishing lodge) and a guided trip on the famous North Umpqua River. One day on the North Umpqua was all it took to get me hooked on steelhead fishing and this beautiful place. I work full time for Native Fish Society as the Southern Oregon Coordinator and spend as many days as possible out on the water fishing with my wife, one year old daughter, and two dogs. I also have volunteered over the last five years for a local non-profit called the Steamboaters.
You are the Southern Oregon Regional Coordinator for the Native Fish Society. Can you share a little about the organization with us?
Native Fish Society (NFS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a footprint across the Pacific Northwest. Guided by the best available science, we advocate for the recovery of wild, native fish and promote the stewardship of the habitats that sustain us all. The organization was started in the late 1990’s by a group of passionate anglers and advocates. Since then, we have expanded and now focus on five key areas of fish restoration and conservation that we call the five H’s: Habitat, Hatcheries, Hydropower (and barriers), Harvest, and Heat (or climate change). We support these five focus areas through three programs we lead - 1) our River Steward Program which focuses on empowering local advocates to standup for their homewaters 2) our Fellowship Program which focuses on experts who have a specific skill that can help assist with a campaign or effort in a specific watershed or region and 3) our policy and legislative work that will support and focus on the restoration of wild native fish in our region.
As anglers, conservation should be close to our hearts so that fish (and the watersheds they inhabit) remain here for generations. Do you have a recommendation on the most impactful action each of us can take to support the preservation of our resources?
As anglers, we must invest in the waters and fish we cherish. This investment can be made in multiple ways, from giving financially to an organization doing good work to move positive areas of conservation and volunteering your voice at critical times during public processes and decision points to implementing a conservation project on your private land. I firmly believe that now is a time anglers must self-reflect on how they engage with their homewaters and ask themselves how they can support a future of abundant fish. We all must look into our personal means and how we might be able to engage in issues impacting our fisheries and watershed. All too often, we are directly focused on our personal desires to jump out on the water and catch fish - however, it’s important to reflect on what we can do to make the opportunities to jump on the water and catch fish abundant for ourselves and future generations.
You are based in the Pacific Northwest which is home to many of the hallowed water for steelhead. What makes the watersheds so unique? What are the biggest issues impacting anadromous species there?
These watersheds are all very unique from coastal streams to the headwaters that originate in the Cascades and the Rocky Mountains of Idaho. The waters really vary from high desert summer steelhead habitat on the Deschutes to the coastal rainforest that harbor winter steelhead. Yet, all these fish utilize connecting corridors throughout this region. Each watershed faces different challenges that make it more difficult for steelhead. On my homewaters, we face impacts from a deadbeat dam that is purely designed to provide a private waterski lake for the 150 or so homeowners that live above the dam. It impedes fish passage to over 160 miles of prime spawning and rearing habitat for salmon and steelhead. Other impacts on my local waters include hatchery programs that are causing high rates of introgression and competition with wild fish that ultimately decrease natural selection. Looking at the Pacific Northwest as a whole and numerous cold water fisheries, climate change is the overarching issue affecting the long-term sustainability of our fisheries. With positive changes as humans, coupled with key habitat projects, we will be able to slow the progression of climate change giving salmon and steelhead a better chance to adapt to the ever-changing conditions. Advocates can do many things to help limit the impacts from climate change.
When you have time to get on the water, what is your favorite style method of fishing (whether it’s throwing big streamers or euro-nymphing) and what are you chasing?
By far, swinging flies for steelhead and more specifically skating dry flies for summer steelhead. The heart-thumping take of a 10lb wild steelhead exploding on a glassy pool to hit the fly will stay in your memory forever. The fluid motion of a smooth single spey launching out on a peaceful morning is hard to beat as well. That said, I enjoy all types of fishing and especially just being outside listening to our natural ecosystem and the beauty of the natural world. It is the whole reason I do what I do and why I am so involved in conservation work. I want these beautiful places, experiences, and fish to be there for my children to experience one day.
Thanks Kirk for sitting down with us and sharing your story!
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Your Name: Kirk Blaine
Location & Home Water: Roseburg, Oregon - North Umpqua River
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Favorite Species: Summer Steelhead
Favorite Fly Pattern: Foam steelhead skater
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Favorite Rod / Reel Set-up:
7126 Sage Method Spey with Sage Spey Reel for winter steelhead
7110 Sage X switch with Sage Spey Reel for summer steelhead
