Wednesday May 14, 2025
Central Oregon Daily —
Oregon wildlife officials are investigating an alleged case of steelhead poaching on the North Fork of the Umpqua River in Douglas County.
The Oregon State Police and Wildlife Division shared photos of a person of interest and a suspect vehicle. The alleged unlawful taking of a steelhead trout happened on May 8 at John P. Amacher Park in Winchester. Wildlife officials say they contacted a father and son in the parking lot of the park before later finding a steelhead that had been hidden in a bush.
Fishing for steelhead trout is not allowed on the Umpqua River system, according to the Oregon State Police and Wildlife Division.
On Thursday, May 8, 2025, a father and son were contacted in the parking lot at Amacher Park. A wild steelhead was later found stashed in bushes where one of the individuals had been fishing. The individuals were not positively identified during the contact and fled the scene before the steelhead was found.