FISHING -- Smallmouth bass seem to be pioneering into the lower Deschutes River to compete with its legendary summer steelhead runs.

Bill Monroe reports in Oregon Live that fisheries biologists became concerned a few years ago, especially after steelhead fishing guide Bob Toman snapped a photo of a steelhead and a smallmouth he landed at the same time on the Deschutes.

"The smallmouth darted out while the steelhead was being fought by one of Toman's clients and tried to take the plug away from the steelhead," Monroe said.

This season confirms that the worries of smallmouth bass becoming more established in the Deschutes is coming to pass, he said.