Page 122 - Clackamas County Watertourism Strategic Plan. Final.v3

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR WATER-BASED TOURISM IN CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OREGON THE OPPORTUNITIES
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Recommendation 30: Create more Family Friendly Fishing Experiences Improving the
Market data shows a large untapped market for fishing experiences that are more family friendly Experience
and user friendly. Using Oregon’s famous rivers to lure xxxv9 prospective family travelers is a new
approach. The “family fishing trip” is not currently a product that is packaged. A guided fishing
trip to catch charismatic steelhead or salmon is certainly a popular tourism product being
packaged and sold today. High-end experienced anglers will fly to Oregon solely for fishing.
Likewise, skiers and bikers may come to Oregon specifically for these activities, but a family-friendly fishing
package is not something that is sold today. Today, family fishing is merely an afternoon activity within a week or
weekend of travel and structured by the traveler. A family-friendly fishing package is different. Families who enjoy
fishing also enjoy learning about nature, viewing nature, and camping in nature. A family-friendly fishing package
would be based at a campground and include fishing lessons, natural interpretation on the ecology of aquatic
animals, natural history tours, boat trips, how to clean and cook fish, wildlife photography lessons, snorkeling for
fish, and discounts on gear, permits or licenses. These activities would be packaged as a single product to attract
visitors but would also be optional and informal. Guided tours can be al la carte and available through the
campground. The entity providing these activities can be the campground owners or through a partnership with a
private entity. This first prototype of this idea should be implemented at Milo McIver State Park. They currently
have rangers giving natural history tours, they have the facilities, and a fish hatchery. This park would serve as an
excellent location to experiment with this concept and the Mt. Hood Territory DMO should lead the formulation and coordination of this product.
Recommendation 31: Expand Fishing Tour Products
Fishing shouldn’t be just about casting a line with a hook at the end. A lot of people are discouraged from fishing because of what’s involved with baiting hooks, removing hooks
from struggling fish, and with waiting for a fish to bite. New fishing activities and tourism products can be created to make fishing fun and exciting and fresh. Some ideas
include:
River SCUBA or snorkeling. While most people have seen a fish fighting to get off the end of a line, most people rarely see their natural habitat. Fish have predicable habits and
habitats. While they are illusive to the angler with a hook, they are easily located by people in SCUBA or snorkeling gear. If you have never seen a 24-inch trout dominating its
territory at the bottom of 6-foot deep pool, the author encourages you to try it once. Hunting for fish in their natural habitat, observing them interact with other fish, search for
food, and master the river currents is as thrilling as reeling one in. Very few companies offer river snorkeling in the United States. The Crystal River is Florida is a popular
destination and a company on the French Broad River in North Carolina offers tours with river biologists. A company in Oregon offering similar tours may be the first in the
Western United States.

9 Pun intended