October 2011 e-newsletter

Save Bristol Bay Road Show comes to Portland and Corvallis this month

Take a break from the rainy weather by joining the Northwest Steelheaders at the Save Bristol Bay Road Show in Portland on Oct. 19 and Corvallis on Oct. 21. These free shows include the documentary Red Gold, panel discussion and Q&A with local fishermen, salmon hors d' oeuvres and drinks.

Bring the spouse or date, the kids and invite your friends and co-workers. This is one free show you won't want to miss!

For more info on Bristol Bay and to take action to help protect it, please visit the ANWS campaign page HERE.

Steelheaders comment on sea lion take

Sea lion interactions with anglers becoming more frequent and more dangerous

Earlier this year, the states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho applied for a permit for lethal take of sea lions in the Columbia River under Section 120 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Steelheaders provided the following comments on the application:

The application is complete and meets all requirements toward justifying the need and process. There are other facts that are not included or understated as a result of only including legal relevant data. These facts should however be considered.

First is the increasing boldness and aggressiveness of sea lions toward anglers boating fish. In earlier years, it was uncommon to experience conflict beyond sea lions taking fish that are constrained at the end of a fishing line. In the past year, the closer encounters of sea lions bumping boats, taking nets, and physically contacting anglers or otherwise putting people at risk has become much more common.

These animals frequently weigh over half a ton and show teeth matching that size. Our members can recount first hand experiences from the ocean at the mouth of the Columbia River all the way to Bonneville Dam. This clearly demonstrates the ineffectiveness of harassment. These animals are not in any way intimidated by allowed human action.

Second is the scope of the sea lion take of sturgeon the length of the river below Bonneville Dam and the take of salmon below the ¼ mile observation area. The observations of this take is not structured therefore not suitable for any accurate estimates but the frequency of these observations make it clear the impact on these fish is significant. Further, the sturgeon take is primarily brood size fish, making the ultimate impact on the sturgeon population even more significant. While the majority of sturgeon predation may be by Stellar sea lions, rather than the California sea lions, the limited actions allowed under the application will have a positive impact toward protecting sturgeon and salmon further down in the river.

The Association of Northwest Steelheaders is a fishing conservation organization dedicated to managing our natural resources toward the greatest values using the best available science. This has caused us to advocate for limiting our own sport fisheries when the science indicates the need. In the case of sea lion predation, the science is clear. Effective sea lion management needs the options provided under this application.

For background information, click HERE.

2012 raffles are here!

Win an all-expenses paid trip to Yakutat Lodge in Alaska or a ClackaCraft drift boat

2011 ClackaCraft drift boat winner Jim Eckart reviews his new boat with ClackaCraft owner Bruce Belles in May. Eckart purchased his winning ticket at the Sportsmans Show.

2012 raffle tickets are now available for purchase. You don't want to miss this opportunity to win an all expenses paid trip to Alaska or a ClackaCraft drift boat. The raffles are important fundraisers for the Steelheaders, allowing the organization to be successful advocates for sport fishing.

The lucky ticket holder of the Drift Boat Raffle will win a ClackaCraft 16' Old School High Side Drift Boat that includes a trailer, complete anchor system, oars, dry storage box under passengers' bench, two padded fold-down seats, dry storage under rower's bench, level floors front and rear, and Fish-On rod holders. Retail value of this complete drift boat package is $12,055.

The drift boat raffle drawing will be held at noon on May 2 in the Association office, located at 6641 SE Lake Rd. in Milwaukie.

The grand prize for the North to Salmon Raffle is a four-night, five-day Alaskan fishing adventure at Yakutat Lodge in Yukutat, Alaska, for two people during the 2012 season, and includes air-fare, lodging, meals, and one day of guided fishing. The trip is valued at $4,700.

Winning tickets for the North to Salmon raffle will be drawn at noon on April 25, 2012, at the Association office.

You can purchase tickets at chapter meetings, by visiting our booths at the Portland Boat Show and Sportsman Show and the Central Oregon Sportsman Show or by calling the Association Office at 503-653-4176.

Many thanks to raffle sponsors ClackaCraft and Yakutat Lodge!

2011 North to Salmon raffle winners Jim and Maxine Pace (left) pose with their halibut catch at Yakutat Lodge this summer.

Correction

In the August edition of The Steelhead e-newsletter, a picture was run with the article on state forests that was of private land and should have been labeled as such. Steelheaders apologizes for this error.

Support the Steelheaders

In This Issue

Bristol Bay Road Show

Sea Lions

2012 Raffles

Meetings and Events

Recent Activities and Events

Nutrients 1
McLoughin Chapter past president Matt Rockweit (above) and current president Carol Clark (below) place spring chinook carcasses from the Clackamas Hatchery in the upper Clackamas River for nutrient enhancment on Oct. 5.

Nutrients2

SalemExperts_1
Above: Wayne Parker of GDF showcases his new product line at the Salem Chapter Meet the Experts night on Sept. 20 in Keizer.

Below: ANWS Secretrary and Salem Chapter board member Ben Light gives attendees some tips and techniques for catching salmon.

SalemExperts1

Norm with fish from Sandy Tillamook fishalong

Above: Steelheaders Co-Government Affairs Director Norm Ritchie holds the winning chinook caught during the Sandy Chapter's Tillamook Fish-a-long Saturday.

Below: Pro guide Dave Johnson gives Sandy Chapter members some fishing tips during the chapter's Tillamook Fish-a-long Friday evening.

Dave Johnson Sandy Tillamook fish along

November

Meetings and Events

Coastal Salmon Fish-A-Long

Join the TV Chapter starting at 5 pm on Friday Nov. 11 at the

Tillamook County Fairgrounds

4603 E 3rd St. in Tillamook for a weekend of salmon fishing. Cost is only $50 and includes your lodging and meals. Space in limited so RSVP soon HERE.

Association

Board of Directors meeting 9:30 am Saturday Nov. 5 at the Shasta Middle School Library, 4656 Barger Dr., in Eugene.

NW Steelheader magazine

The Steelhead e-newsletter

Facebook

Ifish thread

For more information contact ANWS President Joe Demonico at (503) 778-0151 or jdomenico@farmersagent.com

Columbia River (Vancouver)

Monthly members meeting 6:30 pm Wednesday Nov. 9 at Pied Piper Pizza, 12300 NE Fourth Plain Rd. in Vancouver.

September newsletter

Website

Contact President Keith Hyde at 360-772-0996 or dunerider84@aol.com.

Emerald Empire

Monthly members meeting 7 pm Wednesday Nov. 2 at Eagles on the Green, 1375 Irving Rd. in Eugene.

October newsletter

Website

Facebook

Contact President Bill Robbins at 541-689-5075, suznbill@comcast.net

McLoughlin

Monthly members meeting 7 pm Tuesday Nov. 8 at Round Table Pizza, 16550 SE McLoughlin in Milwaukie.
August newsletter

Contact President Carol Clark at 503-632-6974 or clclark@bctonline.com.

Mid-Valley

Monthly members meeting 7 pm Wednesday Nov. 2 at the Albany Senior Center, 489 Water Ave. in Albany

October newsletter

Contact President Bill Nyara at 541-401-9559, nyara@heritagenw.com

Newberg
Monthly members meeting 7 pm Tuesday Nov. 8 at the Chehalem Senior Center, 101 Foothills Drive, in Newberg.

Facebook

Contact President Kevin Hula at 503-781-9378, kevinhula@aol.com

North Coast

Monthly members meeting 7 pm Thursday Nov. 10 at the ODFW Tillamook Office, 4907 3rd St. in Tillamook.
Contact President Bill Hedlund at 503-815-2737, billh@ifish.net

Salem
Monthly members meeting 7 pm Tuesday Nov. 15 at the Keizer Community Center, 930 Chemawa Rd. in Keizer.

Website

Facebook

YouTube

Contact President Dana Roberts at 503-364-7923, danacrob@hotmail.com

Sandy River

Monthly members meeting 7:30 pm Wednesday Nov. 2 at Glenn Otto Park, 1208 Historic Columbia River Hwy in Troutdale.

October newsletter
Website
Contact President Jeff Stoeger at 503-282-4830, mjstoeger@msn.com

Tom McCall
Monthly members meeting 11:30 am, Wednesday, Nov. 16 at the Old Spaghetti Factory, 0715 SW Bancroft St., in Portland
Contact President Dave Reggiani at 503-657-5379, dsreggiani@comcast.net

Tualatin Valley

Monthly members meeting 7 pm Thursday, Nov. 10 at the Aloha American Legion Hall, 20325 SW Alexander St., in Aloha.

September newsletter

Website
Contact President Mark Hutchinson at 503-649-1028, hutchisfishin@gmail.com