10/18/2023
Friends,
It has almost been 15 years since me and my dad took the leap of faith to follow our hearts and passion for the outdoors by creating Oregon, Rod, Reel & Tackle.
This business venture was fueled by a father and son with a profound love for each other and our fellow man.
You see it all started for me when I was around 5 years old. Before my dad came into our lives.
Me and my two brothers fished to provide food for ourselves and our single mother. Our fishing rods were actually “poles” which were usually peeled off of a sapling near the fishing hole we would frequent. We would tie on a section of fishing line and snell a hook up along with a worm, and catch bucket fulls of blue gill.
I remember carrying that pole and 5 gallon bucket with me everywhere, taking advantage of any opportunity we could to take a cast.
We would then haul the days catch home to start filleting and cleaning. After frying them up in a cast iron skillet we would then pile them on a plate in the middle of our table..which at the time was a piece of plywood with 2 saw horses, because my mom had to sell the kitchen table to put clothes on our backs.
I would then sit down on that 5 gallon bucket which doubled as my chair at the table and we would feast like kings till our next meal. You see when I started this business with my dad it wasn’t about money, fame or bragging rights…it was about not only giving a man to fish, it was about teaching a man to fish so that he may provide for his family as I did way back when.
Back when we opened up float fishing, jigs and pink worms were looked at with a smirk. All we knew was a glob of roe, piece of yarn and a glow in the dark corky..which contrary to popular belief still works today! That paired with a 8’ 6” medium casting rod and an Abu Garcia 5500, some 12lb maxima ultra green with a gamakatsu #1 anodized hook is what most steelhead anglers dreamed of. As the years passed and as we grew as a company we got more involved in the politics of fishing, such as local fights like hatchery vs wild. I was excited to make a difference and to help in pursuit of our dream for our fellow man.
But In the midst of these battles I saw one man turn against another, agenda vs agenda. Then science came into play and from there it turned into ones man’s science vs another, supporting whatever agenda they aligned with at the time. I saw commercial fishing vs sport fishing, and purists against hatchery and harvest.
I ask myself how did this all go so wrong, what happened to us? But as the fight continued little did we know there was a bigger opponent in the corner, lurking in the shadows. As they watched us kill each other and fight over what scraps were left, they schemed a plan to end it all for every man and women.
In almost 15 years of business & working in this industry I have seen us go from having strong thriving fisheries that built an economy and community that the state of Oregon was founded on…to what we see today! Which is multiple fisheries that have died in our own back yard, and have been choked off by policy and personal agenda with little total disregard for our fellow man. A perfect example of this is the law suit that is currently in play against the ODFW, for the disregard of the CMP that protects us and our fisheries from such issues listed above.
We have nothing to hang our hat on right now…
Currently there is nothing that was and anything that could be even considered to being consistent or close to what we had. In my opinion there lies some good people in these agencies that want to integrate policy and reverse what is taking course, but they have to choose between their life long careers or what is right for our fellow man and woman.
This all being said.. I have had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life, and in turn I have decided to close Oregon, Rod, Reel & Tackle by no later than the end of this year in 2023. This decision is solely my own and I have an opportunity to be proactive vs reactive based of what trends I have seen over the last 15 years. I can continue to work this industry and survive , but the question also remains for how long? There are many friends of the industry asking themselves these exact same questions. I will leave this industry the same way I came in, having provided and with the little bit of myself and the love for it that I have left.
I ask you not to feel sorry for me…serving the greater Lane County community has been my pleasure!
The friendships and memories will never die, and could fill any man’s heart for 5 lifetimes. But for possibly the next time you see me and If I have a rod in my hand or maybe even a “pole” ;)It could likely be under a different setting..maybe even standing next to you on the bank of a river or stream with a smile on my face.
Friends I would like to leave you with this last thought…
This industry is not for the faint of heart!
The men and women who work this industry,
Sport or Commercial are a different breed. They stand at the rail, or sitting behind a pair of oars for days on end…hands split and cracked from the elements…missing their families, and kids birthdays. They do this because they have it in their heart, they do this because their providing, and they do this because it is necessary…because without them we would all surely starve!
I ask you today to support these men and women listed below and their companies, because they supported me and believed in my dream as I believe in theirs. With out them and their support I could not have lived my dream for as long as I have. My friends I assure this industry is changing and not for the good, let’s join together in keep this alive and support them for as long as we can!
Your friend,
Michael Glass
Owner
Oregon, Rod, Reel & Tackle
Fisher's Guide Service, Grey Ghost Guide Service, Mike Kelly’s Guide Service, Todd Linklater Fishing Guide, On the Line Guide Service Willamette Valley Outfitters G. Wheeler Fishing Guide, Greg Hedricks Guide Service, Coast Land Outfitters LLC, Valley Boy Guide Service, Smoke On The Water Guide Service, Matt Halseth Guide Service, Chris Lundy’s Guide Service, Grant W Scheele, Scott Amerman, Painters Guide Service, J Beards Fishing, Shane Groshong, Mitchell Brooks Fishing, Trevin Hoyt Guide Service, Jeremy Gravon's Guide Service, Ethan Nickel Outfitters, Holloway Bros Fishing, Joe Headlee Fishing Guide, Curt Currey’s Guide Service, DM With Fishy Waters Guide Service , Kyle Duke Fishing, John Elder Guide Service, Jake Zirkle, Brett Gesh/Bite Finders, Marvin Boome Jr., Bryan Sweezey, Fishing Bear Forge - Knifemaker, Jack Connor,
Bruce Bells, Dan Fisher & Jake Gregg with the rest or the ClackaCraft Drift Boats crew. Scott & Christina Weaver Dylan Rush Outfitters, Bryce & April Williamson Thirsty, Brandon WedamBnR Tackle, Duane Leavitt and the crew Stryker Rods & Blanks, Dinger Jigs, Fish-Field, Bruce & Joe Koffler from Koffler Boats, Shortbus Flashers , Addicted Fishing, VIP Outdoors, Dave Eng Fisheng Products, Scott Mills Eugene Silkscreen, Kurt Cummings the lead man, Josh Hopkins,Poulsen Cascade Tackle, Kokanne Kid Fishing,PI Graphics, BiG Rock Sports, Gunnarama Wholesale, Northwest Bait & Scent - Zilla Bait Co.Inc, D&G Bait, Inc
