Wind R. Cleanup - Fun, Productive, & Hopefully a Trend Setter!

We should all thank Joe 'Superfly' for putting together today's (Sat. 16th) cleanup event in the Wind River canyon - way to go bud. 10 of us met early this morning at the mile post 7 parking area to hike down into one of the most heavily fished canyon sections of the Wind during springer season. I was told how bad it had gotten but I was still appalled at how much trash and mono line tangle clumps and fileted salmon carcasses were litering this 1/2 mile section. Every kind of trash imaginable, and the place stunk like a city garbage dump. We thought we could only make a dent in the amount of trash, but I am very proud of our gang for getting almost all of it out of the area in multiple large bags! ... And what a helacious climb down and back out of this place! ...

This is such a very beautiful river gorge, with huge boulders scattered in the fast gradient water. No wonder so many fish are lost there. Of course it has some big long deep chinook holes too. BTW, the fishing has slowed with very few to be seen in gin clear low water. But we still had fun fishing for the first couple of hours, with a few hookups that were lost. We followed by getting after the cleanup vigorously and got it done in less than a couple hours. It made us all feel very good to leave the canyon in it's more natural clean condition! ...

We then went to a nice campground on a tributary creek and enjoyed a really fun BBQ and beverage party. I hope this event will inspire more like it. And I also hope that the states will put garbage cans at trail heads along the rivers, with a big sign that reads "PICK UP ALL YOUR TRASH AND BRING IT TO THE GARBAGE CANS. ANYONE CAUGHT LITERING BY RANDOM SURVEILANCE WILL BE HEAVILY FINED." ...

I also must say that I continue to be impressed with the fishing knowledge of some ifishers. At the BBQ party I learned of a new secret tech that involves a razor, baitoil, and a ping pong paddle. I promised not to reveal how these are used - but it sounds very effective! I will be trying it soon. ... And pardon me HEY_YALL (Mike) for again revealing what a nice good guy you are. Gee, now you will have to re-build the rep over again for some of the members [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] .

This was just great fun and a worthwhile endeavor! Can't say enough for getting more of these events organized. Thanks all. - Steve

[Firedog]

RT, Sounds like a great success. Sorry I missed it, had a few things come up for this morning that had to be taken care of. Will make the next one. I fished the Sandy a few days ago and picked up everything in one area trying to do my part and wondering what makes these slobs so lazy that they cant pack out there garbage. Keep up the great work and keep us informed about the next one, I will do everything I can to make it.
Firedog.

PS posted some info to your Kalama thread on P.P. board

[SteelieSteve]

I fished up below River Mill on the park side today and was sad to see all the discarded bait containers thrown along the river bank. One mound that easily would have filled a big bag. Fished 6 hours and saw only 1 fish caught. If they can pack it in they can pack it out!! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

[superfly]

Here, Here, how about a roll call from all of you that showed up today, since there is no way I will remember all who attented.
I am really happy to see that kind of turnout for a first time event. It was my firsty time trying to do something like that and I want to thank the great people over at Vision Hooks for sponsoring this event, Oh I guess that would be me, anyways I enjoyed meeting all of you and I am glad you enjoyed some of my stories from the days of old.
Hopefully this will spread like chlamydia and all of our rivers will start looking like catholic school girls!
Peace Superfly [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[bait boy]

Hey RT I thought that was straight wesson oil for that new tech.... Next time remember the side planers for the plugging. Next time bring a change of clothes I hate to see scissors that close to such a delicate area.

I had a really fun time and thanks to the bringers of food it was very good and the buyer of the bud cube.

Thanks to vision hooks for sponsoring this event and supplying the free gifts. It was good to meet everyone and don't let Hey Y'all fool ya he isn't that big of a redneck..

Rick

Right on 'Fly - you've got such a way with words [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] . Since I have a higher percent of brain cells still intact, I'll give this a shot: Thumper, Oregon Fish Chaser, and his friend, Ramstrong, Fobbman, Rick H, THE REEL HEY_YALL, Superfly, & RT; and one dude that kept drooling on himself when we checked out the hatchery holding ponds, that wishes to remain anonymous (or doesn't want his parol officer to know he was hangin out with all of us? [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ). ...

Have any of you ever tried wading into a few thousand springers trapped in a cement holding pond? It's definitely a kick in the pants trying to catch one that way. After 'Fly put on a demo for us as to how affective his eggs and hooks are in the hatchery ponds - all the fish kept running away from his eggs - 'Yall said "watch this" and jumped right into the big pond after the feesh bare handed (he thought it was only a couple feet deep, but that spring fed creek water is so gin clear he couldn't tell it was about 5 1/2' deep; just a few inches over his head - jk). He found out reel quick that this wasn't like hand grabbin catfeesh back home in 'Bama! Fobb got this on video, so you will see this for yourself on America's Funniest Home Videos TV show this fall. BTW, I just got an e-mail from Fobb blackmailing me for heavy double figures of dough - doh! - to destroy the video tape of the BBQ; seems he put the cam on top of a car and left the thing running and pointed right at the shannigans [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] . Hey Ryan, I figure he hit you up for triple digits after you were caught on cam up on the picnic table doing and an impression of a dolphin table dance - well, whatdaya expect from a former Navy guy after a few beers? ... A park ranger that looked like Willie Nelson in uniform walked up to us and told us that this was not a day use campground and we had way over the limit of cars parked there ... that's NOT a good thing to do with 'Yall around - quicker than 'Fly can cracker off a fish the poor ranger found himself up on the table dancin with Ramstrong [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] with 'Yall, now in his famous helmut, yelling "faster bo, faster - yo shur gotta purda mouth". ...

Well, that's only the stuff I can write about on here. Wish I could tell ya more, since I am stuck to this dang chair for God knows how long ... after that climb from h*ll my thighs have stiffened up so bad they've plumb froze solid! I'd try rolling off the chair but I know I couldn't crawl outta here using just my hands; so that's why I'm ramblin on with this [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] . I'll probably be here all night until my wife or son find me stuck here in the morning.

-----------
RT
Windstock Secretary of de Fence
"Wind River Canyon Gang - 2001" [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[SteelieSteve]

C'mon RT a young fella like you oughta be able to hobble up those hills double time. Just make sure the rest of the gang is before you when you make your slide back down like a body surfer. AKA the human avalanche. Did the Redneck do any better catching those feesh in the hatchery pond? I've seen him trying his bass tactics on the floatilla(JK) [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[smilesforu]

Thanks for the effort guys. Please quit trying to ruin my image of the redneck and his tooth.

Someone just put me out of my misery and amputate both of my legs. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

For some reason I only have about 18 minutes of video on the tape. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] Me thinks that the battery is not quite what it said it is as far as time left. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] Oh, and thank you to Joe for the "donation" to my video editing fund. It will not be forgotten. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

It sure was nice to meet more of the iFish gang. Doesn't surprise me in the least that RT forgot to mention that I was the one that won the first and biggest fish contests using my new Silent Approach jigs. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] I gave that fish a kiss on the snout and let him go, but only after making a deal with her that she'll take my offerings again when she returns as an adult in 3-4 years. [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Also, I've found that Wesson doesn't really work for me. Extra VIRGIN olive oil is lighter and much more flavorful than that corn or vegetable crap. That and I just can't get the image of Florence Henderson out of my mind and it makes me lose my concentration.

Thanks again go out to everyone that attended. Your dedication to cleaning the environment is most admirable. Especially Mike, who I passed on the way home scraping dead opossum's off of the highway. Curious how he walked by some other trash alongside the road without picking it up. It must be something from his Cherokee blood, with the spirits of the animals and all. Whatta guy!

[ 06-17-2001: Message edited by: fobbman ]

[OR Coast Range]

This was a good trip, even if we did have to BBQ hamburger instead of Springer. The Wind is a great looking river. Its too bad that the pigs have to leave all their sheyot down there. That was some of the most repugnant stuff I've ever had to wade through. People would leave their fish guts and carcasses in the pools on the cliffs; I've never seen so many flys and maggots. I was definately glad to take a shower when I got home.

The BBQ afterwards was a good idea as well. It was good to get to know some of you guys, even if hey_yall did try to pick up the senioritas in the slot next to us by showing off his **** helmet and trying to imitate his favorate WWF superstar.

[Backlash2]

Thanks guys for doing such a great job in a river canyon that is worthy of much better than the way it gets treated. I was unable to attend do to the fact that I was stuck working yesterday. As a matter of fact I'm at my desk today too, as I type. A double thumbs up all the way around. Special thanks to Joe for setting the whole thing up. What a turn around from the thread that started the whole Wind river thing.

Way to go guys, I think I will quit my job instead of missing the next one. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Ramstrong]

Hey now! RT, I wouldn't be mentioning my dolphin dance after you performed you're version of the $400 Soldotna dance. Does Hey Yall have any money left? The park ranger was funny, esp after Yall's rendition of mess with the bull you get the horns beyotch. I just love that game. Anyway, it's always fun getting together with other members of the ifish crew.

I think this is a great thing you guys did! Even thogh I don't fish there I just wanted to give you my thanks. I will try to make future cleanup events. They sound fun too. Stump

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

I just tried to post to this thread and received the following message

"We cannot process your posting, because you have exceeded the maximum number of images allowed per post. The current limit is 8. The rest will be confiscated by the ODFW. "

I wasn't trying to post any images. Fobbman was the one with the camera [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

How about some for this fall at the popular salmon bankfishing holes?

[ 10-24-2001: Message edited by: Stump ]

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Hey stump, good idea! How about heading it up? My knees can't handle the canyon right now since I bulked up for my winter workouts. Time to send in the second-stringers. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

It is a beautiful, beautiful river and I'm glad I was part of the original crew. I'll sign up again in the spring....maybe..maybe..lol j/k sign me up for the spring fling.

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

garyk - thanks is not needed for people who are doing what's right. It's what is supposed to be done.

I bet the best way to really acknowlede this problem on the front-end would be to sack up all the trash and get the big group and dump the trash in front of the capitol building saying "We be ******."

Funny how much empty bait containers weigh at the end of a fishing trip. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] I think one of the worst worst worst things is people who strip off all of their mono and just leave it or hide it.

I think I'll just keep an eye out for the perps, follow them home, and then unload a couple of days' worth of trash in their yards. Funny how a dog dislikes another dog for messing in his yard. Sooner or later, those dogs will lock up. It ain't the size of the dog in the fight; it's the size of the fight in the dog.

[Silent Lucidity]

My calves just recently stopped hurting from that event. Maybe the next cleanups I do will be on the beach or something. Nothing with any hiking. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Maybe on the next one we'll do a press release of sorts. Doubt they'll care, though.

Hi Mike. That was a great clean up effort and we got an amazing amount out of that canyon, leaving it close to what it should be like - natural beauty. It was also a bunch of fun! I will add to your post by suggesting anyone with a worthwhile river cleanup project in Washington and Oregon just post here and on Bob's BB for volunteers - meeting to first fish, then cleanup a well used area of the trash, and then do whatever afterward; fish more or have a lunch get together or go home and watch football in the afternoon. Rivers such as in the Tillamook area, Sandy/Clackamas, Lewis, Cowlitz, Chehallis, Nisqually, Skykomish, and lots of them all over. Small goups of 5 to 15 people can do a lot of good targeting trash and snagging hotspots to clean things up the way we did on the Wind. Toward the end of this fall salmon season would be a good time for anyone to post for a volunteer effort at a specific needed area.

RT

[Silent Lucidity]

I'll just make sure that the camera is well hidden this time, Steve.

SL, curious; how much blackmail money have ya made from the Wind R. hatchery and picnic footage so far? [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Silent Lucidity]

I'd be making a whole lot more if that check of yours would ever arrive.

[willierower]

There will be a clean up on the Kalama soon. Kalamabama and rivertramp from Bobs Board are the guys who are on top off this. My wife and I are going to try and get a dumpster for the clean up.We also talked about calling the newspaper before hand. Maybe the news will pick up on this and do a little report. I will find out more and keep you posted.

[garyk]

Though I've never been on the Wind, thanks for cleaning it up and setting a good standard.

For future clean-ups, you might consider doing a press-release prior to help spread the word of your good deeds and thus help to polish sportfisherman's somewhat tarnished image. (See my rant about pigs and fishing's public image toward the end of the 'Anti-fishing' thread, now on page 2.)

Clean-ups really do help, if only there were an easy way to address the problem on the front end?