Hermiston area and fishing along with rental homes? (Portland, Pendleton: unemployed, school)

[huntman58]

Well the job search is still one and now it is taking us to Hermiston. I have driven threw the area and I also lived in SW Idaho so the high desert is nothing new to me but will be to the wife in some ways. Yes we are coming from the hated state of CA. Yes us also dislike it also so please do note hate us if we move to your neck of the woods okay1
What I would like to know is what is the rental housing market like? We will be looking for a 3 bedroom 2 bath home to rent with some land out of town is better then in town small town over bigger town works the best for us country folk..
we also love to fish warm water and trout so whets it like in the area both close to town and with in say an hour to hour and half? No boat yet but that will happen later. I also like to bow hunt any good hunting around for that. I do not get a round to will as I am disabled so walking a lot or up and down mountains is long gone for me but a good day in the woods is what matters or one the water and if any thing is brought home that’s just icing on the cake.
One last thing I have read about it being windy a lot also is there any places with in commutes of say 30 to 40 minutes that are better then others?
Thanks all for your help.

[skinem]

I lived in the area from '92-2000. Hiousing was incredibly tight when we moved there, but has loosened up with a lot of building--unfortunately, I'm no help with current costs. Places within commuting range of Hermiston would be Umatilla, Stanfield, Echo, Irrigon, Boardman, Pendleton. Each town has it's own character and personality and might not be a fit for everyone.

Rental property outside of town with land was hard to come by...would expect it still is.

Fishing will be great, especially if you're willing to drive 2 hours instead of 1 and a half! Of course, warm water fishing includes walleye, smallmouth, crappie, bluegill, perch, sturgeon, and there are some great trout streams and lakes in the Blues, Wallowas, down toward Burns, LaGrande, Baker, etc. Of course, you have the Columbia and Umatilla Rivers right there for fishing as well as the McNary ponds--you can be fishing in about 10 minutes from anywhere in Hermiston. I think some of the ponds have paved paths if getting around is a chore.

Let me put it this way--I fished so much one summer (flyfishing) that I got "tennis" elbow, or I prefer to call it "fishing" elbow. Funny how I couldn't get any sympathy for it...You'll find places to fish.

Windy? HA! I've seen the streetlights come on in the day time because of all the dust in the air in Echo and Stanfield. Umatilla and Hermiston don't seem quite as dusty, but it's relative--it's still dusty and windy. Used to work in a couple of school systems in the county and we had to re-align the ball field lights at the start of every season due to the wind moving them and "re-aiming" them. We would have to haul in dump-truck loads of dirt at the start of each baseball and softball season to refill the infields and basepaths because the dirt in them is now in Idaho.

You know how you can tell when the wind quits blowing in Umatilla County? The ranchers fall over.

Pendleton is about 30-35 minutes away--it is maybe a tad less windy there.

I thought there was a lot to like in the area--it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I liked it.

Good luck there--hope you find what you want there and are happy.

[huntman58]

Skinem thanks for the info. Your post was about what I was finding and thinking. Were I am now fishing is a long drive away and in Idaho it was from a few minutes to hours away all depending what ya wanted so I understand that. As for wind we get a lot here at times and being in the middle of a working ranch/ orchard the dust is never ending from the tractors and work to the wind driven. We are just hoping for some were you do not have to dust every day or it looks like you have not for months LOL.

As for the rest yes it may not fit all but we are the kind that can make almost any thing home as long as it is not a big city like LA SF Portland and such.
A home with some land is a dream and some thing we will drive a bit farther for also as it is now we drive 30 miles to shop no matter what it seams and 3 miles to get the mail as no delivery here. I also spent time at a friends who is for the most part off grid and only has a phone line the rest is solar, well and septic and no cell reception. so as any one can see we can do country big time easy just the wife has to be able to get to work so can not be to far out for now at lest.

Again thanks for the info

[skinem]

Huntman58, if you lived that far out, moving to Hermiston will seem like life in the big city. I've lived out like you and this will sound silly, but you know I liked when we very first moved there? Garbage pickup. No more it, burying what wouldn't burn, saving it until the wind quit blowing so you could burn it without setting the country on fire, etc.

You'll need to dust in Hermiston.

As far as shopping, Hermiston will have everything you need--for more shopping , Tri-Cities is about a half hour away...Walla Walla about 45 minutes-hour.

There were a couple of property management companies in Hermiston that managed rentals in the area--I can't remember their names...google them and you should find something much more concrete on availability and price.

Hope you like it!

[sarahkate_m]

Originally Posted by huntman58

Skinem thanks for the info. Your post was about what I was finding and thinking. Were I am now fishing is a long drive away and in Idaho it was from a few minutes to hours away all depending what ya wanted so I understand that. As for wind we get a lot here at times and being in the middle of a working ranch/ orchard the dust is never ending from the tractors and work to the wind driven. We are just hoping for some were you do not have to dust every day or it looks like you have not for months LOL.

As for the rest yes it may not fit all but we are the kind that can make almost any thing home as long as it is not a big city like LA SF Portland and such.
A home with some land is a dream and some thing we will drive a bit farther for also as it is now we drive 30 miles to shop no matter what it seams and 3 miles to get the mail as no delivery here. I also spent time at a friends who is for the most part off grid and only has a phone line the rest is solar, well and septic and no cell reception. so as any one can see we can do country big time easy just the wife has to be able to get to work so can not be to far out for now at lest.

Again thanks for the info

In case you don't already have this info & in case you don't check all your threads, I posted these links which may interest you:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/orego...on-area-2.html

Kate

[Hawk J]

Howdy Huntman58...

If you live with a few mountains between you & the wind origin/direction thar won't be much wind.

There are also some good folks that live by Hermiston that you can ask fishin' ??? on

www.oregonfishingforum.com


Catch u some bigg'un lunkers...

[huntman58]

Well thanks all for the info. I have filed it away incase it is needed later as the wife did not get the job in Hermiston this time around but there is a hint in a month or two of a few more openings and if still unemployed she will apply to them. As it stands right now she is in the running for another Oregon area Job and on here in CA. believe it or not LOL. Were we end up will be were the job offer is. A few years a go before all this economy mess we would have been chousing were we wanted to live. Funny how only 18 months can make such a big change in ones life. I say that as I went back and yes two years to one and a half ago there were openings all over the place in her field now few and far between or so it seams. I do have to say almost every job she dose apply for she gets an interview so sooner or later an offer will also come along so watch out people we may be coming to your town and yes we are rednecks and dam proud of it but I do keep the grass mowed as I need to know were the truck is so I can drive it to go fishing! LOL. Again thanks ya all

[skinem]

Originally Posted by huntman58

...but I do keep the grass mowed as I need to know were the truck is so I can drive it to go fishing! LOL. Again thanks ya all

Better luck next time...something will come along.

Another benefit to living in the Hermiston area...don't water the grass and you'll never have to mow it!

[Hawk J]

the wife probably likes to be able to find the outhouse too...




Best of Luck huntman