Action Alert January 2017

Displaying On January 20th, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will decide the fate of Columbia River anglers for the 2017 fishing season and the future of the Columbia River Fisheries Reform Package. To date, Oregon’s anglers have not received what we paid for (the Columbia River endorsement fee), what we sacrificed for (smolt transfers from the Sandy River and Willamette River hatcheries to supplement the Young’s Bay gillnet fishery), and what we were promised (increased angler opportunity and greater conservation measures by the gillnet fleet).

WE NEED YOU THERE!

Join your fellow anglers in a united front against attacks on the bi-state reform package agreement by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission. In December, led by Commissioners Buckmaster and Anderson, who favor commercial fishing interests, the Oregon Commission voted to “freeze” implementation of the reform package, thereby rolling back the phase out of gillnets on the mainstem Columbia and the promised phase in of increased sport fishing opportunity.

Fortunately, this last Saturday, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission did not follow in Oregon’s footsteps, but instead largely sided with sport fishers. Washington decided to implement most of the key provisions of the reform package, including full implementation of the spring and summer season reforms, and a commitment to full implementation of fall season reforms in two years.

Now, the ball is the Oregon Commission’s court . . .

WE NEED YOU THERE!

Sportanglers have kept their promises and the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission reaffirmed their commitment to their largest constituency through a decision prioritizing sportfishing on the mainstem Columbia. In the face of two already approved fee increases, and the need for support for an alternative fee package that recognizes that all Oregonians should pay for ODF&W’s programs, it’s time for the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to recognize the merits of full implementation of the Columbia River Fishery Reforms. Please join your fellow anglers and urge the commission to keep their promises to our community by attending the January 20th meeting in Salem or email them, expressing your desires for full implementation of the reform policy. Please tell the Oregon Commission to:

  • Commit to full implementation of the Columbia River Reform Package – including the agreed to recreational fishing priority on the mainstem and a transition of gillnets to off channel areas.

  • Reject ODFW staff’s proposal to abandon full implementation and to allow non-selective gill nets to permanently remain on the mainstem.

  • Re-open the Young’s Bay area to recreational fishing – as recommended by ODFW to aid conservation of wild fish by removing more hatchery fish from the spawning grounds.

  • Allow the use of barbed hooks in the Willamette River and Oregon tributaries as also recommended by ODFW.

WE NEED YOU THERE!

Where:

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Headquarters
4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE 

Salem, OR 97302

When:

Meeting starts at 8:00am

Meanwhile, please consider writing the commission on your feelings for deviating from the course at:

[email protected]

AND, contact your Senator and Representative by finding their contact info here:

Find Your Legislator

January 2017 Newsletter

 

 

 

Hi All!

Well here it is time for the winter steelhead to be coming up the river and looking for food, the water level in the North Santiam is down to a fishable level, but it is really cold outside, for some reason winter dropped on us like a ton of bricks, I still have snow in my yard and my street is still frozen, it is pretty though.

Come one, Come all to hear our speaker give you tips on catching that elusive winter steelhead, Arden Corey is a licensed river guide for the Santiam rivers, his home river is the North Santiam and he doesn’t miss very often. So grab your fishing buddy and be at the meeting on the 17th, we’ll have refreshments and our always great door prizes, and a great speaker.

To pass along a little info for the bargain hunter in you, On Jan 10th at the 50 + center, Mid Valley Anglers is putting on a vendors show, you don’t have to be a member to attend and there should be a lot of great buys there, so don’t forget the 50+ center on Portland road, I believe it starts at 7pm. Have fun

Please don’t forget that this is ticket sales time of the years for the drift boat, I will have tickets at the meeting and we will be looking for some help in selling tickets, so please try to help.

Well looks like its time too sign off and wish you all a Happy New Year. Keep your line tight and your powder dry. Brian