Trout Unlimited is building new partnerships in Central Oregon.

Darek Staab, Pacific Northwest Education Coordinator, teaches the group about the Deschutes River watershed.

This summer, Darek Staab, TU’s Pacific Northwest education coordinator, teamed up with Vámonos Outside, a local group working to connect, engage and inspire Latinx families and community into the outdoors for all of Central Oregon.

Vámonos Outside hosts programs throughout the year from ski and snowboarding lessons to summer camp activities. This summer, the organization led a multi-day program to connect Latinx youth to multiple outdoor experiences. The group took full advantage of everything central Oregon has to offer from white water rafting and fishing to canoeing and climbing.

TU staff and Deschutes Chapter board members met up with Vámonos Outside along the Deschutes River to teach the group about the river’s ecosystem and provide fly casting instruction.

Quotes:

“It was wonderful working with the youth from Vámonos Outside – to see the smiles and concentration as they were testing out different flyfishing rods, and enjoying a beautiful section of the Deschutes River. We look forward to helping out more next season, as we really value this new partnership.”

Darek Staab, TU’s Pacific Northwest education coordinator

“I am glad the youth were able to get some fishing with Trout Unlimited during our camp! They loved fishing and some brought up stories about their parents fishing when they were young! It was great to see them do their thing.”

Wesley Heredia, Vámonos Outside programs coordinator  

“Our local Deschutes Redbands Chapter is situated in the middle of amazing coldwater habitat and an increasingly diverse community. Connecting one with the other is a priority for us as a chapter.”

Kim McDonald, Deschutes Redbands Chapter vice president.

The Deschutes River originates in the Oregon Cascade Range and eventually flows north over 250 miles to its confluence with the Columbia River.

The Deschutes supports a robust catch and release fishery for native redband trout.

Program participants receive initial instruction from Dalton Romanowski, Central Oregon fly fishing guide and Deschutes Chapter Board Member.

Participants quickly picked up casting techniques and many were eager to switch out the yarn on the end of their lines for flies.

Kim McDonald, Deschutes Chapter VP and long-time TU advocate, encourages participants as they pick up casting.

An eager Vámonos Outside participant casts with Steven Goldberg, Deschutes Chapter President.