March 2013 e-newsletter

General Meeting, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 6 at Veterans' Memorial Building, 1626 Willamette Street, in Eugene. Join early for a no-host dinner, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Guest speaker is pro guide & chapter member Zach Adler. Zach will be covering successful techniques for those soon-to-arrive Mckenzie River summer steelhead.

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

McLoughlin

General Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 12 at Denny's, 15815 S.E. 82nd Dr., in Clackamas. Guest speaker is Tom Murtagh, biologist for ODFW. Tom is in charge of the sea lion hazing program that will be under way at Willamette Falls. Everyone is invited to learn first hand about what is going on, what needs to be done, and what we can do.

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

Mid-Valley

General Meeting 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 6 at Albany Senior Center, 489 Water Ave. in Albany. NOAA Fisheries biologist Lance Kruzic will speak about the McKenzie and Santiam River systems.

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

Molalla River

General Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21 at Farmstead Restaurant, 28313 S. Highway 213, in Molalla. Oregon fishing guide Jeremy Toman will cover springers in and around the Oregon City area.

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For more information contact President Sam Wurdinger at 503-932-8386 or dingerjigs@yahoo.com.

Newberg
General Meeting 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 at the Chehalem Senior Center, 101 Foothills Dr., in Newberg. Guest speaker is Mike Arnold of Hillsboro. Mike makes awesome spinners for salmon and steelhead and fishes above Willamette Falls with his spinners.

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

North Coast

General Meeting 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 28 at the ODFW Tillamook Office, 4907 3rd St. in Tillamook.

Contact President Bill Hedlund at 503-815-2737, billh@ifish.net

Salem
General Meeting 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 at the Keizer Community Center, 930 Chemawa Rd. in Keizer. Guest speaker will be Hobart Manns. This is a great opportunity to bring old fishing tackle you might have in the shed, garage, closet, or your tackle box and have Hobart appraise them for you. Hobart has had over 50 years of collecting experience. He will share some very interesting stories with you about his past fishing experiences. You don't want to miss out on this meeting!

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Contact President Jim Zelenka at 503-371-4063, jzelenka@comcast.net

Sandy River

General Meeting 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 6 at the Sam Cox building in Glenn Otto Park, 1106 E Columbia River Hwy., in Troutdale. Joe Salvey of Fish Hawk Adventures. Joe is one of the local area's premier guides and has a reputation for catching a lot of fish. Joe will be speaking on big river (Willy, Columbia, Channel) techniques for spring chinook.

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Contact Howard Berg at 503-665-8008, howardbergate.com

Tom McCall

General Meeting 11:30 a.m. Wednesday March 20 at the Old Spaghetti Factory, 0715 SW Bancroft St., in Portland.

Contact President Dave Reggiani at 503-657-5379,

dsreggiani@comcast.net

Tualatin Valley

General Meeting 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 14 at the American Legion Hall, 20325 SW Alexander in Aloha. The meeting will feature a fishing guide centering on spring salmon fishing.

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

Wounded Veterans Fishing Event

Columbia River Chapter is again putting on the Wounded Veterans Fishing event on March 23rd this year. The Chapter has increased the number of veterans to 57, and so far has 29 boats and guides.

The Chapter provides lunch for the veterans and has also secured a new rod and reel to give to one of the veterans, via a drawing the day of the event.The chapter has received monetary donations that will more than cover the costs of this year's event.

If you would like to volunteer your boat for this event, contact Chapter President Keith Hyde.

Protect the Bait: Tell PFMC to adopt Fisheries Ecosystem Plan

We have spent billions of dollars to recover salmon and steelhead through improving freshwater habitat, hydro system operations and propagation, all of which are done in-stream; however, salmon and steelhead spend most of their lives and gain almost all of their body weight out at sea. In the past, we considered "ocean conditions" to be a black hole, beyond our control. Ocean conditions are a major consideration in determining the size and number of returning fish runs to our Pacific Northwest streams. We know now that ocean conditions are not a black hole and that human activity can have a direct impact on the ocean conditions affecting salmon and steelhead runs.

There are a lot of factors that go into ocean conditions, but the bottom line for salmon and all other major predators is the abundance of forage fish. It is impossible for large ocean fish to thrive - or for the economy dependent on them to prosper - if the forage species they eat suffer a population crash or are seriously depleted. A recent study titled "Multivariate Models of Adult Pacific Salmon Returns" found that forage fish abundance was a key factor for predicting salmon and steelhead runs.

Herring, sardines, and anchovies are just a few of the many species that provide the link between minute plankton to our larger predator fish, birds, and mammals. All our high-valued fish such as salmon, tuna, halibut, and ling cod are equally dependent on forage fish, as are sea birds and sea mammals.

Forage fish are harvested as a cheap source of protein for many uses, most of which are ground up and processed into a dry meal and fish oil. Forage fish are being processed into feed for livestock such as pigs and chickens. Aquaculture (fish farming) has more than doubled in 12 years (along with its consumption of forage fish), creating a threat to our ocean-reared fisheries and all other dependant wildlife.

The Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC), overseeing NOAA Fisheries, is now addressing the impacts of harvesting forage species in an ecosystem context rather than individually and considering a cautionary approach by gaining an understanding of the food web impact before allowing new fisheries on currently untargeted forage species. It has created a Fisheries Ecosystem Plan initiative now open for public comment. It is in the public's best interest for the PFMC to adopt this initiative to consider foregoing harvest of currently untargeted forage fish species until the species has been evaluated in a food-web context rather than as a single species population.

Please take action now by clicking HERE to encourage the PFMC to adopt the Fisheries Ecosystem Plan to protect the forage fish that grow our salmon and steelhead in the ocean.

Help Support Conservation Areas in State Forests

The Oregon Department of Forestry has announced they will hear public comments on their new "High Value Conservation Area" designation on state forest lands. These areas have been identified as having special value for fish habitat and recreation. Everyone who is concerned about balanced management of our state forests and healthy salmon and steelhead populations should attend one of these meetings. This is your opportunity to demonstrate that conservation of these areas is important to you. Speak up as a NW Steelheader who fishes the rivers that flow from these forests. Let ODF know how important these areas are!

Tuesday, March 12: Community Hall in Cannon Beach (207 North Spruce)

North Coast State Forest Coalition open house begins at 5 pm (refreshments). Formal public comment period begins at 6 pm

Wednesday, March 13: Hillsboro Main Library (2850 Brookwood Parkway)

North Coast State Forest Coalition open house begins at 5 pm (refreshments). Formal public comment period begins at 6 pm

If you can't make a meeting, you can submit comments to the Board of Forestry quickly and easily HERE. Please personalize the comments, let the BOF know why fish habitat on the North Coast is important to you.

Notes from the lobbyists: OR suction dredge mining

Both Oregon and Washington legislative sessions are in full swing, and Steelheaders are tracking numerious bills that affect fish and fishing. We will provide you full updates from both states as the sessions unfold

One of the five main ANWS public policy priorities in Oregon is to work for the improved regulation of rapidly increasing suction dredge mining operations. Prompt attention by the Oregon legislature will prevent future loss of habitat and salmon (along with other aquatic life) in numerous in stream mining areas around our state. Such mining by-products as excavated banks and extreme turbidity in streams cause long lasting damage. Although most of our goal can be achieved through increased regulatory efforts and coordination among key state agencies, the vehicle for any new legislation they may need is Senate Bill 115.

Oregon anglers should be encouraged to share support and opinions with Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee (via its chair Senator Jackie Dingfelder)--it is suggested these communications also be sent to Governor John Kitzhaber, using the heading of SB 115 on communications. Now is the time our voices can have a major impact. Contact the ANWS Government Affairs team if you want more information.

2013 Salmon Quest:Give back to the resource while having fun!

This year's Salmon Quest will take place April 20. You don't want to miss out on this exciting tournament! A full day of fishing for spring Chinook followed by an informal dinner and the awards presentation. Seats are filling quickly so reserve your spot today! Register online or call the office, 503-653-4176.

Donate Tackle to the River Ambassador Program

The next RAP event for our returning war veterans is set for May 17-19. Each wounded warrior goes home with a rod, reel, line and tackle, and we are soliciting donations of quality used tackle. Help a veteran transition from combat back to life stateside!
To donate quality used fishing gear, call the office at 503-653-4176.

Special Events

Tualatin Valley Chapter Spring Fish-Along, March 8-10

Fishing trip weekend sponsored by the Tualatin Valley Chapter. Meet at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds 4H Dorm, 4603 E Third Street, at 4:00 Friday. Contact Tom Vanderplaat.

Sandy River Chapter Clinic and Onstream Session
The first in a series of "how to" clinics is scheduled for Friday evening, March 20, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. in the Sam Cox Building at Glenn Otto Park.

These clinics have two primary goals: to give existing members additional information about fishing methods and skills as well as to attract new members. The general public is welcome to attend this FREE clinic, however to participate in the On-Stream Session April 6, they must join as members. Volunteers are needed to help set up the clinic, to discuss their favorite bank fishing method or basic skill during the clinic, and to lead two to three people April 6th to get the new members started right. Contact Larry Palmer.

STEP Conference, April 6-7

The 2013 Conference will be held at 7 Feathers Resort in Canyonville, OR on April 6-7. Northwest Steelheaders is a sponsor of the event, and the conference is your opportunity to learn about restoration efforts throughout the state.

For more information and to register, please click HERE.

To view the flyer, please click HERE.

Molalla Spring River Cleanup

From 9:00 a.m.-1 :00 p.m. on April 20 at Feyrer Park, just southeast of Molalla on Feyrer Park Rd. Includes a barbecue lunch at the park.

Salmonberry Spawning Surveys

Volunteers are needed for spawning surveys, April 14 and 28 and May 5 and 19. This is your opportunity to see big steelhead (many over 20 pounds) in a small stream and contribute to a body knowledge about this special river and its steelhead. Contact Ian Fergusson.

We hope you enjoyed this edition of "The Steelhead," which is sent to all ANWS members monthly. For questions and comments, please e-mail office@anws.org. For more information, please click on a linked button below.