Draw down of pond means more fish for anglers, June 18

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced it has doubled the daily bag limit on trout and bass at EE Wilson Pond near Corvallis.  Under the new rules, effective today through June 30, anglers are permitted to keep up to 10 trout and 10 bass.  The rules were enacted to give anglers the opportunity to remove extra fish before the pond is drained to facilitate removal of excessive aquatic vegetation in the pond, according to Elise Kelley, ODFW district biologist in Corvallis.  “We encourage anglers to remove trout as well as bass, bluegill and other warmwater fish from the pond while it is draining,” said Kelley.  Surviving fish not harvested by anglers will be collected and taken to another holding facility. Once the pond has been drained it will not reopen to fishing until next year. The pond is typically open from Feb. 1 through Sept. 30.  The pond is located in the EE Wilson Wildlife Area next to Hwy. 99W 10 miles north of Corvallis, at 29555 Camp Adair Road, Monmouth, OR 97361. The 1,788-acre wildlife area is owned and managed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and is a popular hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing area. Parking permits are required on the wildlife area and are available online at www.odfw.com and at all ODFW field offices and license agents for $7 daily or $22 annually. The permits are good at all 21 ODFW wildlife areas.