Columbia Springer Season TO BE CONTINUED!

[crabbait]

NEWS RELEASE - (Really it's just me, crabby)

It was apparent today that a large number of sport fishermen care about the resource.

The joint ODFW/WDFW meeting held tonight was attended by approximately 250 to 300 SPORT FISHERS and a few commercial fishermen. The sport fishermen outnumbered the commercial fishermen by at least 20-1.

The meeting was orderly, for the most part, although spontaneous applause was at times deafening. One such outburst occured when it was pointed out that distributing sturgeon quota 50/50 between 170 commercial fishermen and 80,000 sport fishermen was far from "equitable" (those are their numbers, folks).

These public meetings provide the public with an opportunity for input. This meeting gave us a first look at a draft proposal for spring, summer and fall chinook plus sturgeon and steelhead quotas and seasons. The final fraft is expected to be available on the ODFW website on Friday, October 15.

The next opportunity to learn more about the proposal and provide input will be October 20 in Cathlamet, Wa.

<font color="red">This is not a joke, people. We filled the room and overflowed into the hall! With continued participation of this magnitude our voices will be heard.</font>

You all made me very proud. More to come, with photos, in a new thread tomorrow.


Back, by popular demand, the Original:

NEWS RELEASE - Sometime in January, 2006:

It was announced today that there will be no sport fishing season for prized spring and summer chinook on the Columbia river until at least 2010. Wild fish impacts usually set aside for sport anglers will be allocated evenly between commercial and tribal fishermen.

The joint ODFW/WDFW commission defended it's decision today stating that meetings held in October were so poorly attended by sportsmen that the impact of this closure must be negligible. "The sport fishermen were outnumbered by commercial fishermen 3-1 at the meetings", said one official. The two-state meeting held mid-week on October 12, 2005, was intended to provide sport and commercial anglers with an opportunity to hear about issues such as season length, daily limits, closures and allocations. While nearly half of the 130 gillnet license holders were in attendance, only about 20 sport fishermen were counted.

"It's like we always said", one commercial fishermen noted, "these sport boats are just out there to kill a day off. If they can't fish salmon they would just as soon fish bass or go golfing. It's a business for us and we are glad to see that the commission finally listened to us."

These public meetings provided input for seasons and impact allocations through 2010. While no sport fishermen were available for comment, their poor attendance at the meetings tend to bear out the commercial netter's contention. Columbia fishing needs to be run like a business.

[stevo]

:shocked: :shocked: :shocked:!!!!
Crabbait, you almost stopped my poor ticker!!
I will be there. Folks please heed Crabaits warning and attend.
Thanks

[rowmanholiday]

See you all over in Vancouver tomorrow night!!! If indeed there is a large advantage for us in terms of numbers between sport &amp; commercial fishermen, it shouldn't be a problem to outnumber them at this meeting. It's time to show the people that set the rules that sportfishers are a force to be dealt with.

[Fish Hunter]

The Columbia's management has become too screwed up to sit on the sidelines. I'll be there.

[CATCH AND EAT]

See ya tomorrow evening Steve.

[StickFish]

Ok now that I almost threw up reading that one - I still have to wait for noon tomorrow to see if I can go

[onepiecerod]

These meetings need to be at a time and location that the guides can attend. Most of them are in Tillamook. They carry more weight than we do.

[jokester]

Wow...:whazzup: I'm headed to Idaho tomorrow so I can't make the meeting. For those of us who can't make the meeting, Is there someone we can write to and express our concerns about the issue and their decision??

-jokester

[Fish mojo]

Obviously, this is an important issue to me. The question is, what would I do at the meeting that would help? Is there a sign in that says I support the sport fishery and gillnets suck? How do the bigwigs who run the meeting know my stance or side, or am I just another pot-bellied guy with a flannel shirt and a hat? I wouldn't plan on speaking out, as there are others to do that. I don't want to seem synical(sp?), but as with most beauracratic things, what's right and what actually happens are 2 different things. There is sure to be a preset outcome that won't change with or without me being there. I'm not saying no, but convince me my being there will change anything.

[crabbait]

These meetings need to be at a time and location that the guides can attend. Most of them are in Tillamook. They carry more weight than we do.

Any more sick, lame or lazy excuses? I am in no mood to hear it. Time to stop relying on everybody else to do your business for you.

Be at the meeting or don't even start to complain when this comes to pass.

[jimh]

What's really sad is sportsman have to attend to be represented. Who exactly are the fish and wildlife agencies from Oregon and Washington working for any way. Grrr!~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[crabbait]

Obviously, this is an important issue to me. The question is, what would I do at the meeting that would help? Is there a sign in that says I support the sport fishery and gillnets suck? How do the bigwigs who run the meeting know my stance or side, or am I just another pot-bellied guy with a flannel shirt and a hat?

You show up. When the "bigwigs" see that they have way more people than they can have testify, they ask how many are there to support sports fishermen. Then you raise your hand.

Numbers count BIG TIME at these meetings. For every one that attends, the people who count know that 10 more are very interested or concerned. They know that it takes a certain committment to attend these meetings and it MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. I know from years of working with the public on noise abatement issues.

You can always come up with a reason not to go to this meeting. If you don't go, don't be surprized when there is a one fish limit, or restricted days or no season at all while the gillnetters reap the fish.

<font color="red">I will have an ifish signup board at the meeting. If your name/moniker does not appear on that list, expect a major ration when you start complaining about limits, season closures and gill nets!</font>

[Get Bent]

Where did you get this from? Where can i go read this?

[Pete]

You can get your copy at the following:

WHEN: Wednesday October 12, 2005 6:00pm - 9:00pm
WHERE: Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver Wa.

[Get Bent]

You can get your copy at the following:

WHEN: Wednesday October 12, 2005 6:00pm - 9:00pm
WHERE: Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver Wa.

So what your saying is this is not in writing anywhere??

I know where the meeting is and i know what time.

[CATCH AND EAT]

Lets see. Guides are fishing TIllamook right? so what! They can only fish 12 hours in a day and most of them only fish until 3 or so. There is time for them to make it here for the meeting and testify if they feel it is important. Right now it is we the sportsman that need to show. If the guides show then that is great for all of us. If they don't.........

[EULACHON]

I will be there.....hey maybe we should all bring our BOATS and JAM the parking lot.....

Paul

[Bigriverdawg]

MY friend just got off the phone with fish &amp; wildlife and they said this is not true there has not been a meeting of any kind and there is NO intention of springer closer. I would like also to know where this News release came from as it is not on the Fish and wildlife site.

[Jennie@ifish]

Be still, my heart, Crabbait!

[Redbull]

Steve,

Thanks for bringing this so strongly to the surfuce, but I have a couple additional thoughts.

Yes, it is important to me, but shouldn't we also hope to see a HUGE push from companies like Fisherman's, Joes, North River, Alumaweld, Stevens Marine, Motion Marine, Luhr, Mercury, Yamaha, Suzuki, Carnai trailers, Easy Loader, Bentley's, Ollie Damon's, Willies, Lamiglass, G Loomis, Brads...

If I owned one of the firms, I would probably close shop and pay for the staff to show up in force as well.

It's significantly easier for me to change my hobbies than for them to change their vocations, business models and careers. The trickle down economics of just little ol'me going springer fishing (or not) is really fairly staggering - for other people.


Not asking them to do the dirty work and frankly, grass roots activism and involvement are often the true catalyst of agents of change. However, at the end of the line is $ and it goes to the commercials versus the commerce (ie the vendors to sportsmen)who should also be at the fore front of this battle.

Flame away, but WE should be getting support on this from many sources.

[Boatdog]

I know where it came from. But I'm not telling...

Read the very first line.

[Pete]

MY friend just got off the phone with fish &amp; wildlife and they said this is not true there has not been a meeting of any kind and there is NO intention of springer closer. I would like also to know where this News release came from as it is not on the Fish and wildlife site.

The post says "NEWS RELEASE - Sometime in January, 2006" - it's designed to get your attention about what may happen if sportsfishermen don't take some personal responsibility for the fishing seasons. We get walked on in the regulations time after time and there is NO ONE who represents the interest of sportfishers adequately. The point is that YOU and I and the rest of us who enjoy fishing the Columbia need to make our voices heard as the regulatory process starts on a process which will set our seasons and regulations for the next few years.

[finclipped]

Enough excuses,,,, plain and simple; I'll be there....

[crabbait]

Glad to have you and looking forward to seeing you.....and all the other ifishers who care.....

[Boatdog]

I am planning on going. I hope my presence will help.

And I don't wanna be getting any rations when I complain about the inequities of the system.

<font color="red"> I will have an ifish signup board at the meeting. If your name/moniker does not appear on that list, expect a major ration when you start complaining about limits, season closures and gill nets! </font>

I am anti-gillnets and proud!

[No Wishin Just Fishin]

If the ifish guides are not at the meeting, then Jennie should remove them from the Site. IT IS that important to show up in meetings. And for the guy from SW Wash Anglers. with the 1950s haircut, who always shows up and starts running down the Indians, sit down and shut up, this meeting is not for that.

Bruce Tracewell

[Fish Hunter]

Crabbait, good attention getting post. Stirring it!!!!

Hope it motivates. I don't make as many of these meetings as I would like. The gillnetters always make time as I understand it.

Don't forget full time NSIA staff will probably be there and gets some major backing from many (if not all?)of the companies Redbull mentions.

[Bigriverdawg]

OK I just got off the phone with a gentelman Jim Watts at the ODDWF his is a Columbia River person and he said that the meeting tomorrow is not just for springer fisheries it is for all fisheries on the Columbia SPROT &amp; COMERCIAL ALOCATIONS until 2010.
Jim also weht on to say that the SPORT FISHERMAN IS EXTREMLY UNDER REPRESENTED hte only people that regulary atend is the owner of Fishermans Marine and GI Joes.
I told Jim that it looked like there would be a lot of people from IFSH. JIM was EXTREMELY HAPPY to here we will be ther in force.
I will be there along with every one I can pack into my F350.
Thanks for the heads up CRABBAIT I will see ya all there.

[Jennie@ifish]

LOL... Jennie should do what she needs to do.

I know what you are saying, but I'm not removing anyone. All of the ifish guides do more for the fisheries than I can believe!

Everyone has their forte and their projects. No one can go to every meeting.

I'll bet you see quite a few of them there, but I'd bet some won't be. They might, however they may also be having to attend other meetings/hatchery projects/ etc.

I'm always amazed at how much those ifish guides do to keep up the fishing for all of us.

Now, if I don't go, I will definitely take me off the site. :smile:

That is, if I can make it that far. I'm trying! I'm arranging stuff! I'm going to take a nap in the day time so I can last that long!!!

Jen

[Bigriverdawg]

JIM COULD NOT STERSS ENOUGH UNDER REPRESENTED WE ARE!!!
HE SAID REPETEDLY WE ARE EXTREMLY UNDER REPRESENTED!!!

[Gundog]

Well I don't get off work until 7 so will the meeting still be going on at about 730? I could make a fashionably late arrival.
Mike

[formerlyofsbeach]

Crabbait is right about the 10 to 1 influence impact of people present in a civic meeting. However, that figure is closer to 100 to 1 :shocked:, when it comes to phone calls, e-mails, and letters to legislators. I would be at the meeting, but my flight from Denver doesn't leave until Oct. 22. As a former resident, you can bet I'll be there in spirit and prayer. And, I will call and/or e-mail at least three legislators, being that I'm a money-toting tourista and non-resident sportfisherman, impacted by any decision made at the meeting, i.e.: Oregon's resident and non-resident summer tourism dollars will shrink at the hint of a CR spring/summer sportfishing closure.

Also, I will contact the head of the Oregon Tourism Commission, regarding the potential loss of my future tourism dollars.
TODD Davidson
CEO
503.378.8847
todd@traveloregon.com

For contact info, below is cut and pasted from the NSIA webpage, http://www.nsiafishing.org/currentnews.htm.

"Please join us and contact your legislator today. You can find them easily by calling (in Washington) 1.800.562.6000. or visiting http://www1.leg.wa.gov/legislature to find your State Senator and State Representative (not Federal). In Oregon, call 1.800.332.2313 or visit http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/findset.htm. Change is difficult, and will not happen unless literally hundreds of you call and write. We know the current processes are not working for our region. Pick up the phone or write a quick letter, and together, let’s make things better. If you need help, call NSIA toll free 866.315.NSIA, Carl Burke in WA 360-480-5920 or in OR, call Phil Donovan at 503 522 3023."

100 to 1? :shocked: Be Like Nike!

[CATCH AND EAT]

Folks I am living proof that writing letters and showing up at meetings when I can, has in fact made a difference. This was proven this August after many ifishers showed up at a meeting in Astoria demanding more halibut quota for the CR Region. Whether you agreed with this action or not it goes to illustrate that showing up does work. We got an additional 5000lbs to fish for to the end of September. I was able to put another couple of halibut in the freezer and had the satisfaction of knowing that showing up made a difference.

You don't have to say anything, testify, ect...but showing up and supporting the sport industry is important. Let's pack the joint out and make them rethink this whole springer thing, gill-nets and so on.

Word of warning: Do not be confrontational, accussing, rude when presenting your side of the story. Be thankful you are given the right to testify and be respectful of others fighting for a piece of the pie even if you don't like them. Be concise in your resquests and concerns so that others will have time to say their piece. And be warned, the gill-netters will be there in force to protect their quota. Let them say their peice and bury themselves.

So attend the meeting because it WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

[Steve L.]

Count me in, I'll be there.

Jim Watts is one of the good guys at ODFW and an avid sportsfisherman

[formerlyofsbeach]

Below is a letter I e-mailed to newspapers, legislators, etc., in varying lengths. I focused on potential loss of tourism dollars. The more e-mails they receive the better for us.
Oregon State House Liason:
help.leg@state.or.us

Oregon State Senators:
sen.tedferrioli@state.or.us
sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us
sen.charlesstarr@state.or.us

Oregon Tourism Division:
todd@traveloregon.com


Dear

I am contacting you as a nonresident tourist, and member of Ifish (www.ifish.net), the Pacific Northwest's largest online forum for sport fishers (9336 Registered Users). I am a former resident of Oregon, now residing in Colorado Springs. However, for the last 10 years my tourist dollars, and those of my family, largely have been spent in Oregon. That may abruptly stop for me, and possibly hundreds or thousands of other nonresident sport fishers nationwide.

I refer directly to a potential decision to limit or abolish the spring/summer Chinook salmon sportfishing season. A decision will be announced following a meeting, hosted jointly by the Washington and Oregon fish and wildlife departments tomorrow evening, Oct. 12. The meeting will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, Washington.

In recent years, commercial and tribal interests have taken precedence over sportfishing. This unfair balance has accelerated dramatically in recent months. Recent rulings have severely limited the sportfishing take of Chinook in the Columbia River, while commercial and tribal harvests have increased. And it is not because of salmon numbers. Rather, it is a favoritism shown to non-sportfishing interests. This power shift has emboldened anti-sportfishing groups to such an extent that a threatened reduction in sportfishing harvest appears imminent.

If another reduction in sportfishing opportunity occurs in Oregon, on the Columbia River and its tributaries, I may necessarily have to look to Alaska or other states, in which to spend my summer tourism dollars. The Columbia River salmon fishery is a worldwide magnet to sport fishers, and especially during the peak summer travel season. I am sure that another unfair closure directed at sport fishers would lead as night into day a chilling effect on the economies of many Oregon communities, dependent directly on salmon sportfishing and related tourism dollars.

Therefore, if you agree with me that tourism dollars matter, I ask you to intervene on behalf of those communities, as well as myself and thousands of potential resident and nonresident tourists, who will be forced to look elsewhere for spring, summer and fall sportfishing opportunities if threatened further closures of Columbia River salmon are announced.

Sincerely,
John Horton
(address, etc)

[DriftR]

What exit do we take, heading from the south on I 5 to get to this place?

[Pete]

From I-5

From either north or southbound, take the Camas Highway 14 exit. Within a quarter of a mile, take Exit 1, south. Travel under the railroad berm. At the traffic signal, turn east onto Columbia Way. At the traffic circle turn north and follow the drive around the fountain to the Center parking lot.

From I-205

From either north or southbound, take the Vancouver Highway 14 exit. Travel approximately 4 miles to the Columbia House Boulevard, Exit 1. Travel west on the access road to the freeway underpass intersection. Follow signs for Columbia Way. After the railroad berm, turn east at the traffic signal onto Columbia Way. At the traffic circle, turn north and follow the drive around the fountain to the Center parking lot.

From Downtown Vancouver

Turn south onto Columbia Boulevard. Travel under the I-5 bridge and continue east. At the traffic intersection, the road you are on becomes Columbia Way. At the traffic circle, turn north and follow the drive around the fountain to the Center parking lot.

Directions and map to Water Resources Education Center

[SteelheadBum2]

Do you think the meeting would suite a high school student, because I can try to come, but is thing more for adults?

[KingFisher85]

Yea, a HS kids should be there...bring all your buds, fill that room up!
I'm bustin my ace to be there tomorrow!

[hot wire]

Just sent 4 emails................I WILL BE THERE!!!

[iwanttofish]

I will not be able to attend the meeting I have a full day of inspections and then I can not find care for my family in the evening. Please, Plese as many as possible do need to attend this meeting I wish I could go but it is not possible.

OK here goes. I would like to donate money of sigh a petition to stop the insanity of the nets ****** our rivers and us getting the short end. We are getting screwed and us sportsmen and women are not getting to fish. There is much more at stake here, Please attend this meeting.

Mike Huppi

[ISeeFish]

Anyone know the max. occupancy of the Water Resources Education Center?

[Pete]

It's a very large room ... it'll hold hundreds. Don't worry about overfilling the room ... there's a nice hallway and foyer outside the room and a lobby downstairs. I want to be surprised to see it all filled up.

[BCF]

I will be a little late also Gundog but I'll be there. I am offering a ride to anyone in the West Linn area. I'll be leaving at approx 5:30 from the intersection of Hidden Springs and HYW 43.

PM me if you need a lift.

BCF

[JustCallMeDave]

I'll be the 6'3" 240lb bald guy in the leather jacket, and probably easy to differentiate from the pot-bellied, flannel-wearing, middle-aged greasers that will be the rest of the crowd.

I might be a bit late, but I'll be there.

[SteelheadBum2]

well I was wondering what type of meeting is this?? Is it just a big brawl with the gill netters or is there a issue pressented and then both partys expresse thier opinion to the ODFW/WDFW and they decide. If so, this sound alot like a court case :tongue:

[jocose]

ill be there.. (if you bring a hat and two stickers jennie ill bring some hard earned dollars..) :grin:

[Fish Hawk Adventures]

I will see you guys there, Be ready to fight for our rights.

[River Ranger]

I won't be back from Bend till around eight but I'll try to make at least the last hour or so.

RR.

[OldRedSled]

i'll be there and im bringing my fishing buddy...if you have everfished with anyone bring them along too

[garyk]

OK, got myself and two more confirmed coming with me.

There's still time to lean on your friends to come!

If you want to fish next year, better come tomorrow night.

[KeepFishingFun]

As a fairly new Ifish member not only will I be there to support the cause, I'd love to meet some of you also. I read something about a sign up sheet? I hope I see it.

[StinkyH]

Gonna try to make this as well.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Well I work till 7:00 this morning and I won't be out of school till about 9:30 tomorrow night.
I will write letters though and I can tell you that those of you who can show up SHOULD show up because you CAN make a difference.
I have been to plenty of these meetings and I will be at more in the future. Things are getting better... The first meetings I had to take time off work to attend. I plead for meetings in the evenings or on weekends so that the common sportsfisherman could attend. I have seen a significant change in the scheduling of these meetings.
Show up and do your part. As for me I will be writing letters and I hope to be able to make the next meeting.

[Jennie@ifish]

If you go, I think we should wear ifish name tags. Wouldn't that be fun to be able to recognize folks?

Maybe I'll bring my sticky tags, but if I can't set that up, can you wear a badge that you make yourself, saying your name and your moniker?

Let's double the reason we are going. Getting to know one another strengthens 'the force'!

Jen

[Irish Pennant]

I will have an ifish signup board at the meeting. If your name/moniker does not appear on that list, expect a major ration when you start complaining about limits, season closures and gill nets!
CB, a threat is a bad way to try to recruit help, you have turned me off from signing your intimidation sheet.

[Pete]

Let's get beyond the squabbles and stay focused on the big picture. Sport fishers haven't gotten a fair shake in the process, largely because they don't show up at meetings like this one. The point is, we have an opportunity to voice our concern and interest. Let's not miss it because of a sign-up sheet.

[CATCH AND EAT]

No squabbling please. Let's stick to what is really important.

[Boats]

I'll be there.

[Kentucky Hog Hunter]

These meetings need to be at a time and location that the guides can attend. Most of them are in Tillamook. They carry more weight than we do.

Any more sick, lame or lazy excuses? I am in no mood to hear it. Time to stop relying on everybody else to do your business for you. Be at the meeting or don't even start to complain when this comes to pass.

Let me say this..... <font color="red"> I CAN'T BE THERE BECAUSE I HAVE TO WORK..... </font>

Please don't think I don't care about this situation just because I don't show up and put an "IFISH" sticker on my chest.

I often write my local representatives via email and let them know how I feel about fishery issues like this and this will be no different.

I don't like hearing that I don't have a right to complain just because I miss a meeting or that I am relying on someone else This kind of calling out is surely uncalled for especially when you are trying to make a living in tough times.

Sorry if my family and my job are more important ...... Yes I do care about fishing and the issues that affect sportfishing. I do however think it is wrong to say I don't have a right to complain if I don't go to a meeting.

Here is what I do support: NSIA, NW Steelheaders, ODFW &amp; STAC ....... I also vote......I also buy a sportfishing license..... I also support many law enforcement agencies..... How, you may ask..... With my $$$$$$$.....

So be careful when you call people out if they are not there because some of us who can't be there do care.....

OBTW, I strongly suggest you go there and be organized.... I have many times attended ODFW meetings when there were sportsmen testifying with public opinion and it was very unorganized to the point that it was embarrassing..... I suggest you go there with a very organized message and have someone who can articulate it in a manner that is organized and professional.....

My 2c and by the way..... My name is Terry Luckett