|
gle-action Canadian-style outfit with a drop weight feeling for the shallow bottom, often just outside the breaker line. Leave your downriggers at home. The program was thoroughly enjoyed by another good turnout of members and guests.
Diana, Warren and Matt surprised us by kick-starting our July Auction with donated fishing trips to Willapa. We much appreciate their generosity. The program was followed by a vigorous discussion of two current issues of great importance to the sport-fishing community. First, those in attendance unanimously voiced their support of the proposed Cedar River sockeye hatchery. Unfortunately, the public meeting on the hatchery's supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) was the same evening. Fortunately, member Chuck Wischman, who has been very involved in this project, was able to attend the public meeting and ably advocate for the hatchery. The SEIS was necessitated by a court ruling determining that the "worst case" had to be explored. Discussion of a "worst case" is ironic, when in fact the hatchery is a win-win for all concerned. Members were encouraged at our meeting to contact the relevant agency personnel and support approval of the long-delayed project, without which we may never see any better than the sporadic sockeye fishery we current have in Lake Washington.
An excellent public comment was submitted by fishery scientist and PSA LWC member Dave Powell. The second subject discussed was the recent and ongoing furor over the outrageous over-harvest of Chinook salmon, including ESA-listed fish, that took place this winter off Neah Bay. When the actual take exceeds the forecast by a factor of 20 to 40 times, something is radically wrong with the system and with those responsible, from the tribal fishers to the regulators. Those in attendance were unanimously supportive of State Board Steve Sande and his response which was widely quoted in the local press. The PSA has more clout than ever before, mainly due to the diligent work of Clint Muns and others who, in cooperation with RFA and other organizations, learned to work within the system rather than attack it from the outside. Hopefully some of that clout can be brought to bear on this travesty so similar incidents do not occur in the future.
On a more positive note, we have some more great programs lined up this spring, including Pat Neal, popular Olympic Peninsula guide and author, who will speak to us on Fishing for steelhead and salmon in Peninsula rivers, at our April 14th, 7pm meeting at the Fire Station. In addition to our regular meetings, our calendar is loaded with more fishing and outdoor classes by Roger and Linda Urbaniak, our annual Hood Canal outing in June, the Fundraiser Auction in July, and our annual summer picnic in August. Guests are always welcomed, so come on along!
RICH ELLIOTT
|
|
