March 2021 Newsletter

Salem Chapter Northwest Steelheaders Newsletter for March 2021.

We hope you are doing well: if you’ve got the COVID-19 virus, hope you are well enough to do some fishing and are catching the big ones.

Salem Chapter leaders.  If our chapter is remaining active, we need help form the membership. Talking with President Rod Ratzlaff he does not want to continue as chapter president and just may not do it.  I do not plan to continue as chapter secretary. Members of the board of Directors have done an excellent job and been very generous with their time. I will let the board members speak for themselves, we can always use new members on the board. It is time for someone the step up and give this chapter some new direction and motivation.  So, we are asking for some volunteers to do that. While we remain closed, we are losing membership.
 Please contact President Rod Ratzlaff at [email protected] or myself at [email protected], thank you.

Learn the River Trip 2021 North Santiam River. The North Santiam River Guides has extended an invention to the Salem, Albany and other chapters of the Northwest Steelheaders to join them in the first Learn the River Trip on the North Santiam River 2021, if weather and river conditions allow.

“We have scheduled a LTR April 3, dependent upon weather and water conditions: 
Stayton to Greens Bridge:  Cast-off Stayton ramp 10:00 AM / optional take-out Shelburne is also known as Buell Miller Boat Ramp. Stayton to Shelburne is clear.  Shelburne to Green Bridge is questionable. We will include this stretch of the river if Jon Beilstein or Bob Lusk get a chance to do a reconnaissance trip. A decision will be made by April 1 or 2 and posted on our website or sent by email. Contact Bob Lusk if you would like to be added to the list so we can plan for shuttle if needed.” 
Phone 503-859-2880. Note: www.nsrga.com E-mail: [email protected]

Bob L. is a shuttle driver and takes reservations at that number. Leave a message and he will get back to youHe can give directions to the Shelburne and Greens Bridge boat ramps. Strongly recommend you look the boat ramps up on a map and write down the directions.
If you want to do your own shuttle that will be helpful. I will leave Greens Bridge at 9:30 a.m. and if necessary, stop at Shelburne, then on to Stayton boat ramp and in the water by 10:00.
If it is unsafe to go from Shelburne to Greens Bridge, I will leave Shelburne at 9:30 for Stayton boat ramp. Boaters will need to sign some paperwork and attend the safety lecture.
Recommend you check the pressure in your trailer tires, grease your hubs, check your life vest, find your whistle, plug for the boat and have at least 50 feet of rope in your boat.
Recommend you check the weather report to have the correct gear on or with you. Lunch, fluids to drink, full charge on your phone and a camera are suggested.

There should be some open seats in some of the boats.
Bob Lusk will coordinate the open seats so please contact him if you want to go.
Fishing gear if you wish, this is a rowing and navigation trip and it is desired that folks stay together so we do not loose anyone.

Raffles vs Drawings vs Door Prizes AssnI received this notice form the Association:
Our Angling for Advocacy trip raffle raised over the IRS limit for raffle fundraising without a specific license, which we did not yet renew for 2021. Because chapters are under the umbrella of the Association’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, you must put a hold on any raffles your chapter is planning on hosting until we get the license sorted out. Door prizes are still allowed. 

New fishing limit at Detroit Reservoir: New [?] for 2020, the bag limit for Detroit Reservoir is 5 kokanee per day in addition to the daily trout limit of 5 trout. That means anglers can now keep a total of 10 fish daily—only 5 can be rainbow trout though all 10 can be kokanee. (Kokanee are defined as trout in most cases including Detroit Reservoir, see the regulations for exceptions).

 

The Salem Chapter Zoom meetings. This program could work for us if someone would step up and take the project for action. The Zoom meetings with a guest speaker could put us in contact with our membership [which is declining] be informative on chapter and Assn. activities and hopefully generate new members for us.
The Assn. is ready to help guide anyone to get the Zoom meetings up and running. So, we are asking for some volunteers to do that. Please contact President Rod Ratzlaff at [email protected] or myself at [email protected], thank you.

Submitted:                                                   Approved:
Bob Johnston                                               Rod Ratzlaff
Chapter Secretary                                         Chapter President

Learn The River float trips 2020

1. The first Learn the River trip sponsored by the North Santiam River Guides and supported by the Salem Chapter NW Steelheaders will be on 7th of March 2020. If weather and river conditions permit. See River Guides Web Page: www.nsrga.com for more trip information. If your craft is not registered with the Oregon Marine Board, all craft over 10 feet will need a “Non-motorized waterway permit.Rafts are welcome. Be sure to have Personnel Flotation Device [PFD] is required for everyone in the boat. A whistle on each “PFD” and a “pet PFD” are recommended. If this is your first tip you will need to sign a document to be part of the group.

This trip: From Greens Bridge, to the take out, at Jefferson or just under the I-5 bridge at the rest area #241.  This is the least technical drift boat run on the Santiam River, good trip for new boat owners and new oarsmen.

Schedule: The gate at Greens bridge will be open early for the launching of boats. You are welcome to provided your own shuttle if you wish.  Bob J. will provide a shuttle back to Greens Bridge departing I-5 take out at 9:30 AM. with a stop at Jefferson take out if needed.  Safety and trip briefing at 10:00 AM, then shove off.

River Guide President Bob Lusk is coordinating the trip, if you plan to go please call him at: 503-859-2880, you may leave a message he will have a list to call if something aborts the trip. If you plan to take out at Jefferson we need to know.