In This Issue
Steelheader Meetings


Keep up to date at meetup.com

Association ExCom Meeting
6:30 p.m., January 18, Association Office,
6641 SE Lake Road, Milwaukie
For More Info:
President Bill Kremers
541-602-0881

Columbia River Chapter
General Meeting
6:30 p.m., Janurary 12, Pied Piper Pizza, 12300 NE Fourth Plain Road in Vancouver.
For More Info:
President Don Hyde
360-771-4627 
Emerald Empire Chapter General Meeting
6:00 p.m., Tuesday, Janurary 3, Eugene Elks Lodge, 2470 W. 11th. Eugene
Guest Speaker: Randy Bales of Lured Beads.  He will be discussing "bead fishing", the latest trend to come to steelhead angling.
For More Info:

McLoughlin Chapter
General Meeting
7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 10, United Church of Christ, 15305 SE Webster Rd., Clackamas. 
Guest Speaker: Bruce Goins from, Goins Outdoor Adventures, will be giving tips on winter steelhead fishing and answer any questions that you might have regarding bobber doggin.  
For More Info:
President Carol Clark
503-632-6974

Mid-Valley Chapter General Meeting
7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 4, Albany Senior Citizens' Center, 489 Water Avenue NW, Albany.
Guest Speaker: Todd Logan of Adaptive Excursions will describe guided drift boat trips for mobility challenged customers and show his special ADA friendly Willie Drift Boat.
For More Info:
President George Larson
541-971-1033

7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Janurary 10, Chehalem Senior Center, 101 Foothills Drive, Newberg.
For More Info:
President Ty Campsey 503-705-8296
North Coast Chapter General Meeting
No meeting for January.
For More Info:
President Bill Hedlund
(503) 815-2737

Salem Chapter General Meeting
7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 17, City of Keizer Community Center (City Hall), 930 Chemawa Road NE, Keizer.
For More Info:
President Brian Winn
(623) 363-7387

Sandy River Chapter
General Meeting
7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 4, Glenn Otto Park, 1208 Historic Col. River Hwy, Troutdale.
Guest Speaker: Chapter member and pro guide Trevor Storlie will discuss fishing for steelhead on the Sandy River.
For More Info:
President Steve Rothenbucher
503-255-6232

Tom McCall Chapter General Meeting
11:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 18 at The Old Spaghetti Factory, 0715 SW Bancroft Street, Portland.
For more info:
President
John Laing
503-730-4662
 
Tualatin Valley Chapter General Meeting
7:00 p.m ., Thursday, January 12,  Meriwether National Golf Course,
5200 SW Rood Bridge Road, Hillsboro.
Get there early at  6:00 p.m.  for Tech Table to learn new fishing techniques!
For More Info:
President   Tim Lenihan
503-310-9824



Oregon Commission votes 5 - 2 to stall implementation of Columbia River Reform Package

After the tireless work the Steelheaders did for implementing reforms on Columbia River gillnetting, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is stalling the process, not allowing for full implementation of the tenets of Senate Bill 830, the Columbia River Fisheries Reform Package.

All that we paid for, sacrificed for, and were promised is now in jeopardy and NOW is the time to speak up about it.

Take action by:
  • Setting aside your day on January 20th, to come to Salem to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Headquarters and show your support by wearing your Steelheader's gear and if you choose, testify in support of full implementation of the plan.
  • Email Chair Finley and the commission by clicking here, stating that sport anglers aren't getting what we paid for, sacrificed for and what we were promised and why the Columbia River fishery is so important to you and your family.
  • Email Governor Brown's natural resource director Jason Miner by clicking here.
We need you now, more than ever. Without a strong voice pushing all the right buttons, the gillnet fleet will have the upper hand in keeping the reforms from becoming reality. We've come this far, let's take the ball across the finish line.


Teaching the Next Generation

Resources Director Ian Fergusson helped guide a group of middle school students from Hillsboro in a search for spawning coho salmon in the Tillamook State Forest. The event was put on by staff and volunteers from Wild Salmon Center, Tualatin Riverkeepers, and the Hillsboro nonprofit Adelante Mujeres. The students were able to view spawning coho, inspect a carcass up close and personal, and learn something about salmon life cycles and the importance of forests in providing clean water, nutrients, and habitat structure. Watching their enthusiasm, it was easy to see how a simple event at the right time can spark a lifetime interest. Who knows...maybe there was a future aquatic ecologist or fish biologist in that group.

Helping Raíces a Alas in Molalla

Each fall and winter, dedicated Steelheader volunteers deliver salmon eggs to classrooms around the Portland area through Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Fish Eggs to Fry Program. Students observe and learn about salmon lifecycles and riparian habitats before releasing fry into rivers to begin their journey to the Pacific Ocean. In addition to working with classrooms, I partnered with OSU-Extension Service, Clackamas County to lead a bilingual, after-school STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) club through the Fish Eggs to Fry Program. Thirty-four eager, Latino 4 th -8 th graders joined the Roots to Wings (Raíces a Alas) Club in Molalla, Oregon.

The non-formal setting of the after-school club lent itself to chaos (but the fun kind!) and enthusiasm shown by the kids was off the charts! They diligently performed water quality tests every day after hopping off the school bus and once, I received a frantic phone call because the dissolved oxygen levels of the tank dipped slightly. Club members and their families spent a fun, chilly Saturday in mid-October at Eagle Fern Park performing the same water quality tests in Eagle Creek as they perform on the aquarium and looking for macro-invertebrates (we did find a few caddisflies and stoneflies, but a few accidentally trapped tadpoles were the real celebrities). The day wrapped up with a pizza party after a short hike through old-growth cedar trees to learn how the forest protects the salmon by keeping the river healthy. Just last week we released about 250 fry into the Molalla River! Kids were sad to see them go, but excited for the salmon to begin their journey to the Pacific Ocean. Although the program is complete, we hope to host a fishing clinic for club members and their families in late spring!

Molly Orr
Education Coordinator - Association of Northwest Steelheaders
Making Connections
There are many reasons why people join the Northwest Steelheaders. There are many longtime members, and some may even remember the original reason the Steelheaders were formed: To remove commercial harvest from the Columbia.

When I originally joined, my goal was to learn how to catch fish. I had found on the ODFW Outdoors Calendar a spring Chinook Clinic being held along with the Sandy River Chapter. I was so naive when it came to fishing, that I believed that I would have the chance to bring home a spring chinook that day for my family. I learned a lot that day, but came away determined that I was going to learn to catch these large fish.

2017 Legislative Session Begins January 9th
At the upcoming legislative session ANWS will continue fighting for state fisheries and habitat, thus continuing to improve fishing opportunities. During the next month you are encouraged to make contact with one or more of your local legislators. Make sure their agendas include issues relating to outdoor conservation and the interests of anglers like you. We want to be fully engaged with the important budget and policy making work at the capitol. With all of us working together at both local and state levels we can keep making progress. Please let policy advocate Bob Oleson   [email protected] know if you have questions or news.
2017 Willamette Salmon Quest

Join the Steelheaders for the 2017 Salmon Quest Fishing Tournament April 1st. Begin your day with a full day of spring fishing with the best guides and anglers in the area. Fin clipped salmon and steelhead can put you on the winners platform. The day concludes with a dinner, awards, and silent auction at the Airport Holiday Inn in NE Portland. Angler registration fee includes guided fishing, dinner, and award ceremony. Proceeds from the tournament are dedicated to improve sport fisheries through on-the-ground restoration and fisheries projects in the Willamette and Sandy river basins.

More details coming soon at the Salmon Quest Event Page
2017 Family Fish Camp

Advanced anglers and absolute beginners, come together for a fun weekend on the Sandy River!!

The second annual Family Fish Camp will take place March 17-19, 2017 at Camp Angelos near  Troutdale, OR. Sleep in cabins, make new friends, and learn the basics of fishing! Experienced  Steelheader volunteers will teach knot tying, fish identification, equipment essentials, and how to  land fish! Families will leave the weekend with the skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm needed to  explore the rivers and lakes that provide endless outdoor recreational opportunities in the  beautiful Pacific Northwest.

If you know a family that wishes to get into fishing, have them visit our Steelheader's web page  for Family Fish Camp. If someone you know needs financial assistance to attend the camp, have  them indicate that on the registration form. NO ONE WILL BE TURNED DOWN AS LONG  AS SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE!

The event is also looking for volunteers of all kinds! From knot tying experts, to casting  enthusiasts to cooks, any Steelheader may play a role in the success of this year's camp. Contact

Molly Orr at [email protected] for more details or watch the Family Fish Camp Event Site!
Upcoming Events 
57th Annual Portland Boat Show
January 11-15, Portland Expo Center, 2060 N Marine Drive
Wednesday-Friday, 11:00-9:00; Saturday, 10:00-8:00; Sunday, 10:00-6:00
Contact Mike Myrick mcmifishandivote@msn.com OR 503-281-6438 to volunteer for our booth and gain free admission.

Pacific Northwest Sportsman's Show
February 8-12, Portland Expo Center, 2060 N Marine Drive
Wednesay-Friday, 11:00-9:00; Saturday, 10:00-8:00; Sunday, 10:00-6:00
Contact Mike Myrick mcmifishandivote@msn.com OR 503-281-6438 to volunteer for our booth and gain free admission.

Hook, Line, and Sinker
Winter Steelhead Tournament benefitting Tillamook Basin Habitat
SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday March 4th, Tillamook OR
More details coming soon!

Family Fish Camp
SAVE THE DATE!
March  17th - 19th, 
Camp Angelos, Corbett OR
More details coming soon!

Salmon Quest
Benefitting Willamette and Sandy Basin Sport Fisheries
SAVE THE DATE!

April 1st, P ortland Airport Holiday Inn.
More details coming soon!

 
Watch this space for future events!
The Steelhead  e-newsletter is sent to all 
Northwest Steelheaders members each month.

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