Page 49 - Clackamas County Watertourism Strategic Plan. Final.v3

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR WATER-BASED TOURISM IN CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OREGON THE PEOPLE
4-7

Survey Results

Oregon’s most favorite water-based sports
vi
Fishing is by far Oregon’s favorite water-based recreation activity . Fly fishing alone is the most popular water-based sport,
exceeding the second most popular sport, flat water kayaking, by twice as much. However, when combining all fishing types, fly,
Paddlers' Favorite Activity
sea, bass and general fishing, this activity comprises four of the top eight categories of favorite sports and was represented by
67.6% of the unweighted respondents (fig 1). Furthermore, when the same data are weighted to reflect the true population, 72% MotorBoating
of Oregon’s water enthusiasts would choose one of the four types of fishing activities as their favorite sport, with fly fishing alone 11%
Fishing
comprising 43%. The second most favorite sport, flatwater kayaking at 14%, doesn’t come close to this level of interest. 47%
Paddling

42%
After breaking down the data by respondent group and rivers, fishing still rises to the top as either the most, or nearly the most,
popular sport. Remarkably, non-motorized boaters prefer fishing over paddling. When combining all fishing activities into one
group and all non-motorized boating activities, fishing is the top activity at 46.8% versus paddling at 41.4%. Without combining
any categories, fly fishing is the top favorite activity among non-
motorized boaters. When digging deeper, the preference is even Table 4-5 Non-motorized Boaters' Favorite Activity by Top Eight Favorite Waterbody
more pronounced for certain rivers. On the Deschutes for Favorite Water Bodies Fly Fish Other Fish Flat Water Bass Sea White Water Motor Swim Total
example, fly fishing was more than twice as popular as the second Kayak Fish Fish Raft Boat Wade
Deschutes R 41.90% 19.40% 6.50% 19.40% 12.90% 100.00%
and third ranked activities, flat-water kayaking and whitewater

rafting. On the Columbia, 57% prefer some type of fishing over Columbia R 28.60% 21.40% 35.70% 7.10% 7.10% 100.00%
flatwater kayaking at 35.7%.
Rogue R 17.40% 13.00% 8.70% 4.30% 8.70% 34.80% 13.00% 100.00%

Willamette R 16.70% 25.00% 50.00% 8.30% 100.00%
Among the motor boater respondents, it appears that motor OR Coast North 22.20% 22.20% 22.20% 22.20% 11.10% 100.00%
boating is only a means for performing their favorite activity,
fishing. On only one river and one section of coast line, was Owyhee R 20.00% 20.00% 60.00% 100.00%

motorboating the respondent’s favorite activity. On all other OR Coast South 25.00% 25.00% 25.00% 25.00% 100.00%
waterbodies some type of fishing was either the most preferred
Umpqua R 14.30% 57.10% 14.30% 14.30% 100.00%
activity or it was tied with whitewater rafting. Naturally, when
reviewing only angler respondent data, fishing of some type was John Day R 16.70% 16.70% 16.70% 50.00% 100.00%
the preferred activity 75% of the time with fly fishing taking 49% of Total 26.10% 11.70% 25.20% 2.70% 6.30% 16.20% 10.80% 0.90% 100.00%
that amount (tables 3-5 to 3-7).