Commercial jet boats make it impossible to fish the river

The stretch of Rogue River from Denman Wildlife Area to Fisher’s Ferry is one of the best summer steelhead fishing drifts on the river. Regrettably, once Rogue Jet Boat Adventures starts their commercial season in May, the river becomes virtually unfishable until September.

It does not matter if you are drifting gear, swinging flies, or throwing spoons or spinners, once the large commercial boats begin running, the amount of dislodged vegetation and other streambed materials in the downstream drift make it nearly impossible to fish effectively.

Nearly every cast is fouled with weeds or debris.

Folks who for years have fished this section of river avoid it entirely while the commercial jet boats are operating, and many of the River Guides now restrict their guided trips in this reach of the river to half day.

These guide trips begin at daybreak and are completed before the commercial jet boat operations begin to avoid the poor, unfishable river conditions created by the large commercial boats.

The commercial jet boat operations in this area have seriously impacted the practice of “Multiple Use” and commerce by creating an environment unsuitable for recreational fishing and limiting the guiding industry to unreasonable limitations to their guiding opportunities.

“Multiple Use” on this section of river has become a thing of the past and this begs the question; Will this be resolved, or will it be allowed to continue?

John Pogue / Medford

Editor’s note: This letter was submitted on behalf of Rogue Flyfishers, Rogue Flyshop, The Fishin’ Hole, Rogue Valley Anglers, Ashland Fly Shop, Jon Hazlett, and Umpqua Valley Flyfishers

America the Beautiful deserves proper leadership

We simply must stop anointing aristocrats, bigots and bullies, conspiracy theorists, and obstructionists as our rulers.

If you always do as you’ve always done, you’ll always get, what you’ve always got.

Make sense?

America the Beautiful became the greatest nation on the planet because of a moral code; valor, work ethic and people who knew what leadership and vision were.

Whomever you vote for says more about you than any candidate.

Steve William Laible / Grants Pass

Sparacino is clear, obvious choice

I have worked with both Randy Sparacino (as a City Councillor) and Dave Arrasmith (as a County Commissioner) and unequivocally, public service performance would place Randy Sparacino as the clear and obvious better choice!

Bob Strosser / Medford