THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 



RIVERS AND STREAMS OF OREGON 



With Some Descriptions of the Country, Fish and Fishing— Part 4 



BY 



JOHN GILL 



[ SOUTHERN TILLAMOOK RIVERS 



The county of Tillamook is richly favored with superb fish- 

 ing waters. Almost every mile along the mountain roads a 

 trout brook comes dashing down a ravine, or goes furtively, as 

 a mink threading the alder thickets. Little brooks only a mile 

 or two long pour into the sea direct from the bold shores, and 

 these swarm with little trout, and in the fall and winter are 

 choked with spawning salmon. 



If we follow the road south from Tillamook City and up the 

 river which bears the name of the region, twelve miles travel 

 brings us to a fine tributary of the Nestucca — the branch being 

 known as Beaver Creek. The names Rock, Beaver, Clear, Muddy, 

 and even Elk, Cow and Bear, are applied to streams in nearly 

 every township of western Oregon, and frequently to several 

 streams in the same county. In eastern Oregon, Dry Creek is 

 even more frequent. This Beaver Creek of Tillamook deserves 

 a different if not better name. It is a stream of good volume 

 and easily fished, the road from Tillamook to Cloverdale follow- 

 ing nearly all its length. The praises of Beaver Creek are sung 

 most heartily by Col. George Henderson, who spends most of his 

 time on its waters and fishes many other tributaries of the fa- 

 mous Nestucca. Among these is, of course, a Clear Creek and 

 an Elk Creek. 



At the very source of Nestucca in Washington county is 

 Meadow Lake, a natural trout pond, which is now a preserve of 

 the Meadow Lake Club. Eastern brook trout (salvelinus fonti- 

 nalus) have been planted here with success, and it is hoped may 

 follow the river down its course. 



Three Rivers and Little Nestucca are large branches coming 



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