CLACKAMAS, Ore.— St Louis Ponds, a popular fishing spot near Gervais, will now be open all year thanks to the recent installation of an automated gate.

Because of the gate, ODFW no longer needs to rely on volunteer hosts to manually open and close the gate each day. These volunteers weren't always at the site during the winter months so historically, St Louis Ponds was closed from Oct. 1-Feb. 28 annually.

Now, the property will be open April 1-Sept. 30 from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. and Oct. 1-March 31 from 6 a.m.-7 p.m.

As the gate will close automatically each night and not reopen until the next morning, visitors to St Louis Ponds need to leave before the posted closing time or risk getting stuck behind the gate.

St. Louis Ponds is a 260-acre property that provides public fishing opportunities in seven ponds with approximately 54 surface acres and seven miles of shoreline for bank fishing. The seven ponds hold crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, redear sunfish, green sunfish and channel catfish. Ponds #3 and #6 are stocked with rainbow trout in the spring. The property also includes a 22-acre park managed by the Marion County Parks Department.

St Louis Ponds is just for bank fishing; boats and flotation devices are not allowed. An ADA-approved paved pathway and several fishing platforms and floating docks make it possible for people in wheelchairs to reach many of the ponds in the complex. There are ADA-accessible restrooms on site, too.

The automated gate was purchased and installed using federal Sport Fish Restoration Funds, which are generated from a federal excise tax on the sale of fishing equipment.

"St Louis Ponds is one of our most popular spots for fishing in northwest Oregon, so we're happy it can now be open all year," said Ben Walczak, ODFW District Fish Biologist. "We thank anglers and other users for following the posted opening and closing times."

Directions to St Louis Ponds: West of I-5 about 15 miles north of Salem and 2 miles west of Gervais. From Gervais, take St. Louis Rd. west; turn left onto Tesch Ln. before crossing the railroad tracks.

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Contact:
Kevin Stertz, (971) 673-6044, Kevin.A.STERTZ@odfw.oregon.gov
Michelle Dennehy, (503) 931-2748, Michelle.N.Dennehy@odfw.oregon.gov