ODFW call for outdoor photography submissions

Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife is seeking submissions of your best hunting, fishing and wildlife photos from 2015 for the ODFW photo gallery. Photos must be your own, and taken in the state of Oregon. If there are people in the shot, have their permission to submit the photo.

Please submit high resolution images, at least 5x7 300 dpi (1 mg or larger). Due to the size, it may take a moment to upload. Include date, location, species, names of those pictured, name of the photographer or any other relevant information for the caption.

You can read the terms and conditions of submitting your photos by clicking here.

Submit your photos at the link below: http://odfw.wufoo.com/forms/odfw-photo-submission-form/

Aubrey Holloway

Santiam Secrets

(Updated Text)
(Confirm Waterloo Regs & North Santiam Access)

In the spring of 2015, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife updated gear restrictions for Waterloo Falls, a very narrow passageway that is a pausing area for spring chinook and summer steelhead migrating towards the hatchery at Foster Dam on the South Santiam River. The natural feature just south Lebanon is a legendary combat fishing area known for a few unsavory characters that some of the more ethical anglers jokingly refer to as "Waterlosers." Oregon State Police issued multiple citations at this location on a regular basis, and district fish biologist Elise Kelly says that the public has repeatedly reported incidents of floss-fishing and snagging. Anglers are now limited to using bobbers with a leader less than a yard and fly-fishing gear. The leader on the bobber must be suspended in the water column and not resting on the bottom. The regulations extend from 200 feet above the falls to the bridge which is about 500 feet downstream.

Waterloo Falls and Waterloo Park boat ramps are marked by signs for Waterloo Rd. just off Hwy 20. There are a few options within the vicinity of Waterloo to fish if you want to avoid rubbing elbows with the locals. If you want to make room for yourself to fish the falls, go across the bridge from boat ramp at Waterloo and follow the trail on the right down to the river. You'll be face-to-face with the battleground of the combat fishery, but at least you'll be on the side where the sun shines and you can get a tan if they aren't biting. You'll have to jump into the casting order if there's a crowd across the river, but the angle of the shoreline tends to blow out your drifts, so keep them short. If you plan to fish the falls by boat, be there before "crack of dawn" early and don't have expectations of being there first, you'll just be questioning why you didn't hit the snooze bar. It's not unheard of to be the 6th boat in the water to fish the falls at 4am.

If that sounds unappealing, you can launch a boat just upstream from the falls at Waterloo park. On the same bank as the ramp, just downstream there is a short stretch of water with a deeper trench that is a travel lane for fish who've just tackled getting up the falls. You'll want to keep the boat to the right side of the river as you're fishing downstream until it starts to curve towards the right, then you can row into shallow slackwater back upstream to an island just above the ramp. From either side, running plugs or backbouncing can produce fish splitting around the island. There are a couple more holes on the park's side of the island that are accessible from the bank.

If you want to devote the day to your trip, floating upriver sections from the Pleasant Valley boat ramp to Waterloo Park or to Pleasant Valley from the boat launch near Foster Dam can be productive floats. There are a couple of bank access areas near the dam, including Wiley Creek that are as competitive as they are productive combat fishing zones. With the change in regulations for Waterloo Falls targeting some of the flossers and snaggers, there's a good chance you may end up floating past or rubbing elbows with them in these areas. Upriver of Waterloo Park to Foster Dam is easily navigable with a drift boat or pontoon. If you cross the dam and take a left onto North River Rd, you can fish a short stretch of bank access at the site of the old hatchery. If you go a little further down the road, you'll reach an unpaved parking area on the left commonly known as "Church Camp," because there's a trailhead that goes between a Church of Christ summer camp and a baseball field. The trails are marked with signs that read "Fisherman" pointing the way to the river.

Keep in mind that these areas along the South Santiam are fished heavily because there's a lot of fish in them. Sand shrimp or small presentations of eggs can produce spring chinook or summer steelhead, increasing the opportunity for a mixed bag. Trout and Mountain Whitefish are common by-catch. During low flows and heavy fishing pressure, try using low-visibility line like light flourocarbon. Smaller presentations like drifting a corkie and strip of scented yarn or a single-egg pattern of some sort tends to be more productive. Cleardrift floats tend to be less distracting for the fish looking up at your bait in clear water as well. Spinners and spoons will draw bites from fish that are shy on the bite. Anise and shrimp are pretty reliable flavors of choice as well.

If you want to avoid the traffic of the South Santiam, head North. Contact the ODFW regional office in Corvallis about getting a key to access the North Santiam float from Greens Bridge in Scio to Jefferson. They don't actually start locking the gate until July 1st. There is a short application process they will send you by email as well as a confirmation of your approval. The purpose of closing this area off and making it accessible to anglers is to prevent the launching area from becoming a local riviera. Once your approval is confirmed, you can purchase a key to the gate from Clyde Lock and Safe for around $5. To get to the gate, from I-5, take exit 238 onto Jefferson Hwy 99 East. After you cross the mainstem of the Santiam River, you'll take a right on South Main St and continue onto Jefferson Scio Drive to Greens Bridge. Continue over the bridge and take a right onto Densmore Road the gate to the boat launch under the bridge will be on the immediate right. There's a few holes on the north fork float that hold fish and you'll know them when you see them. Pikeminnow run rampant through this stretch, so bring plenty of bait. The confluence of the North and South forks of the river can be difficult to push a boat through in low water, but also creates a unique opportunity to catch fish holding in the area to move up the North Fork as well as fish on their way up the South Fork. There's a few other holding areas on the mainstem, but plan on spending most of your time upstream in the North Fork of the river and don't be afraid to anchor up and focus your most of your energy on those holes earlier in the day.

If you keep up with the nwsportsmanmag.com headlines, you may have recently read that the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is regulating the kind of gear that can be fished at Waterloo Falls, a very narrow passageway that is a pausing area for spring salmon and summer steelhead migrating towards the hatchery at Foster Dam on the South Santiam River. The natural feature just south Lebanon is a notorious combat fishing area known for a few unsavory characters some of the more ethical and knowledgeable anglers jokingly refer to as "Waterlosers." Oregon State Police have issued multiple citations at this location and district fish biologist Elise Kelly says that the public has repeatedly reported incidents of floss-fishing and snagging. Anglers are limited to using bobbers with a leader less than a yard and fly-fishing gear. The leader on the bobber must be suspended in the water column and not resting on the bottom. The regulations extend from the falls to the bridge which is about 500 feet downstream.

Waterloo Falls and Waterloo Park boat ramps are marked by signs for Waterloo Rd. just off Hwy 20. There are a few options within the vicinity of Waterloo to fish if you want to avoid rubbing elbows with the locals. If you want to make room for yourself to fish the falls, go across the bridge from boat ramp at Waterloo and follow the trail on the right down to the river. You'll be face-to-face with the battleground of the combat fishery, but at least you'll be on the side where the sun shines and you can get a tan if they aren't biting. You'll have to jump into the casting order if there's a crowd across the river, but the angle of the shoreline tends to blow out your drifts, so keep them short. If you plan to fish the falls by boat, be there before "crack of dawn" early and don't have expectations of being there first, you'll just be questioning why you didn't hit the snooze bar. It's not unheard of to be the 7th boat in the water to fish the falls at 4am.

If that sounds unappealing, you can launch a boat just upstream from the falls at Waterloo park. On the same bank as the ramp, just downstream there is a short stretch of water with a deeper trench that is a travel lane for fish who've just tackled getting up the falls. You'll want to keep the boat to the right side of the river as you're fishing downstream until it starts to curve towards the right, then you can row into shallow slackwater back upstream to an island just above the ramp. From either side, running plugs or backbouncing can produce fish splitting around the island. There are a couple more holes on the park's side of the island that are accessible from the bank.

My first ever steelhead, a summer fish from church camp

If you want to devote the day to your trip, floating upriver sections from the Pleasant Valley boat ramp to Waterloo Park or to Pleasant Valley from the boat launch near Foster Dam can be productive floats. There are a couple of bank access areas near the dam, including Wiley Creek that are as competitive as they are productive combat fishing zones. With the change in regulations for Waterloo Falls targeting some of the flossers and snaggers, there's a good chance you may end up floating past or rubbing elbows with them in these areas. Upriver of Waterloo Park to Foster Dam is easily navigable with a drift boat or pontoon. If you cross the dam and take a left onto North River Rd, you can fish a short stretch of bank access at the site of the old hatchery. If you go a little further down the road, you'll reach an unpaved parking area on the left commonly known as "Church Camp," because there's a trailhead that goes between a Church of Christ summer camp and a baseball field. The trails are marked with signs that read "Fisherman" pointing the way to the river.

Keep in mind that these areas along the South Santiam are fished heavily because there's a lot of fish in them. Sand shrimp or small presentations of eggs can produce spring chinook or summer steelhead, increasing the opportunity for a mixed bag. With this year's low flows combined with heavy fishing pressure, try using low-visibility line like light flourocarbon. Smaller presentations like drifting a corkie and strip of yarn or a single-egg pattern of some sort tends to be more productive. Cleardrift floats tend to be less distracting for the fish looking up at your bait in clear water as well. Spinners and spoons will draw bites from fish that are shy on the bite. Anise and shrimp are pretty reliable flavors of choice as well.

If you want to avoid the traffic of the South Santiam, head North. Contact the ODFW regional office in Corvallis about getting a key to access the North Santiam float from Greens Bridge in Scio to Jefferson. They don't actually start locking the gate until July 1st. There is a short application process they will send you by email as well as a confirmation of your approval. The purpose of closing this area off and making it accessible to anglers is to prevent the launching area from becoming a local riviera. Once your approval is confirmed, you can purchase a key to the gate from Clyde Lock and Safe for around $5. To get to the gate, from I-5, take exit 238 onto Jefferson Hwy 99 East. After you cross the mainstem of the Santiam River, you'll take a right on South Main St and continue onto Jefferson Scio Drive to Greens Bridge. Continue over the bridge and take a right onto Densmore Road the gate to the boat launch under the bridge will be on the immediate right. There's a few holes on the north fork float that hold fish and you'll know them when you see them. Pikeminnow run rampant through this stretch, so bring plenty of bait. The confluence of the North and South forks of the river can be difficult to push a boat through in low water, but also creates a unique opportunity to catch fish holding in the area to move up the North Fork as well as fish on their way up the South Fork. There's a few other holding areas on the mainstem, but plan on spending most of your time upstream in the North Fork of the river and don't be afraid to anchor up and focus your most of your energy on those holes earlier in the day.

This article was published in the July 2015 issue of Northwest Sportsman Magazine

I'm Dreaming of a Chrome Christmas

Wild Steelhead, first fish "landed" of the day

This was the scene as I crested Mary's Peak on New Year's Eve. Snow was falling pretty steady, but a mix of light rain just made it more of a slush. Some of snow did stick, maybe a half inch or so here and there so I'm chalking it up to being a white Christmas. Oddly enough, that evening would be the first full moon on Christmas eve since 1977. The fishing was good, so I'm noting that in case there might be some kind inter-stellar relevance to the hot bite that took place over the course of two days.

I love mornings like this, and having slept in to 8:30am or so, I felt well rested, caffeinated, and full of bacon and eggs as I was headed over the peak. The snow wasn't falling in the valley at all, in fact it was sunny, so seeing white on the way up caught me by surprise. It was about 45 degrees in town (Corvallis) and 31 on Mary's Peak.

As I made it to the Alsea Hatchery, the water was at about 9.41ft on the graph, which is significantly higher than I normally like to fish, but the visibility was still a good 10" or more, with the water being an olive-green color. The current was pretty swift and landing areas for hauling fish in that I normally use were under water. It would have been a good day to have a net, but who wants to lug one of those around? I ended up losing the first fish of the day because the drag was set a little high, (to keep it from running down a tailout it shot for) then it jumped and there was nowhere to put the tip into the water at that moment and the tension was just too much I guess.

Maybe next Christmas I'll ask for a Rushton landing net. This would have been a good day for one

of those, especially with the first fish I landed being wild. It seemed to be one of those fish that no matter how I tried to keep it in the water, it just felt like swimming up on the bank. Either way, it had a hot pink yarnball in it's beak that I pulled out while I had control of the fish before sending it back on it's way.

Then I landed another and another, just below the parking lot. I walked out with a limit and a smile.

I hooked all 4 fish on a Spirit River UV Fusion "Clown Egg" 12mm bead that I picked up from The Watershed Fly Shop in Corvallis, as well as my limit the next day.

Christmas Day was a very short day of fishing. The temperature was slightly warmer at 34 degrees coming over Mary's Peak, and the graph read 8.63ft when I left the house. Most of the snow had melted, but it was still falling. Using the same bead pattern, I quickly got my limit and proceeded to wander around the hatchery as a spectator, bringing gifts of Early Times whiskey to other anglers.

The water was still swift the next day, but the equipment had really made a difference in being able to land the fish. The Loomis GL2 Moderate Action 8-12lb rod bent like a horse-shoe, providing enough power to steer the fish around but enough give to let them head shake and roll around, do flips, aerials, all the fun stuff, without breaking the line (except for the one time which was my fault, not the rod). The Fleuger Purist has become my new favorite reel. I have it spooled with the blue Power Pro Super Slick (30lb). It treated me well fighting summers on the Siletz on a 10.5" Wright and McGill Light Action rod, but the Loomis combo really let me put the wood those chromers and rope 'em in.

Beyond the fancy stuff, one little gimmicky doo-dad that really ended up being a game changer was the "Trigger Happy Comfort Grip." I've had some discomfort in my right hand since breaking it a few years ago and it really helps alleviate some of the pain in my hand when fighting several fish in swift current. I'm sometimes skeptical about these kinds of products, but after having one in my hands I've become a true believer. Just to give you a summary of the feel, compare a hard plastic bicycle seat to a gel-seat, now think about the seat of your reel being between your fingers while you're holding to a rod for dear life with a drag-screaming chromer taking you for a ride. They're a good little add-on to have. I listed the product on an article for Wide Open Spaces about the 9 best outdoor products of 2015.

I took one of the first steelhead to a Christmas party on Christmas eve, feeding a bunch of people I haven't seen in a long time. The other 3 fish are going into the smoker, and possibly into jars (if they make it that far). The meat from all the fish was good quality and the eggs from the hens came in tight skeins. I cured the eggs in Pro Cure's Double Neon Red Wizard Cure with a few drops of Pro Cure Anise oil. Maybe they will come in handy for some Springers on the Santiam once winter steelhead season dies down. For now, I'm enjoying as much of this as I can.

Lonny Brooks catches a steelhead with a sweet-tooth on a gummy worm

To watch this video, please follow the link to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/lonny-brooks-catches-steelhead-gummy-worm/

Gerald Swindle's Mind Blowing Trick Shot Cast

To watch this video, please follow the link to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/gerald-swindles-mindblowing-trick-shot-cast/

The Over Hash-Tagging Angler

To watch this video, please follow the link to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/rex-del-reys-psa-hashtagging-anglers/

ODFW Reopens crab, clam, and mussel harvesting

ODFW Reopens crab, clam, and mussel harvesting

To read this article, please follow the link to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/odfw-reopens-crabbing-clamming-mussel-harvesting/

WDFW Reopens Clam Digging for Christmas Holidays

To read this article, please follow the link below to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/wdfw-opens-christmas-clam-digging/

Cheaters Never Win: 5 Times Tournament Anglers Cheated and LOST

To read this article, please follow the link below to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/cheaters-never-win-5-times-angler-tournament-cheaters-lost/

BREATHTAKING FOOTAGE OF MONTANA ELK HUNT BY BRANDON PALANIUK

To watch this video, please follow the link to the Wide Open Spaces website:
http://www.wideopenspaces.com/breathtaking-footage-montana-elk-hunt-brandon-palaniuk/

Fish Gets Payback & Hooks Brooks in the Mouth

Revenge of the fish: Fishing Addicts Northwest angler Lonny Brooks takes a treble to the upper lip while bass fishing

While fishing solo, Lonny Brooks lands a bass, then pauses for a moment to take a selfie with his catch. Off camera, the fish flops, and the treble on the tail end of the jerkbait sinks two out of three points into his upper lip.

As Brooks mentions in the video, "This is not advised, kids." If something like this happens to you, you might want to seek medical attention.

This is by no means a how-to video, but keep in mind that his plan of action is to first cut the hook free from the bait using a heavy duty pair of wire-cutting pliers. He then pulls the points out one at a time.

At some point in most angler's lives, there comes a time when we end up with a does of our own medicine. Fortunately for fans of Fishing Addicts Northwest, Lonny Brooks was released unharmed. You can subscribe to Fishing Addicts Northwest's YouTube channel for more videos, or like their Fishing Addicts Northwest Facebook page for updates and videos.

Mini Jetboat is the envy of the neighborhood kids

To watch this video, please follow the link to Wide Open Spaces:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/miniature-jetboat-envy-neighborhood-kids/

A dozen "must see" Fishing YouTube channels

To read this article, please follow the link below to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/dozen-must-see-youtube-fishing-channels/m

Breathtaking footage of Brandon Palaniuk's Montana Elk Hunt

To view footage from this hunt, please follow the link below to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/breathtaking-footage-montana-elk-hunt-brandon-palaniuk/

Gerald Swindle's One-Boat Christmas Parade

To see Swindle's one-boat Christmas parade, please follow the link below to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/gerald-swindles-one-boat-christmas-parade/

Pro Bass Angler Ott Defoe on Small Swimbaits for Winter Smallmouth

To watch this tutorial, please follow the link below to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/ott-defoe-small-swimbaits-winter-smallmouth/

Breathtaking Aerial Footage of Alaskan Sockeye Run (Bonus Q & A with film-maker)

To see Jason Ching's breath-taking aerial footage, follow the link below to the Wide Open Spaces website. Below this link is also an interview with the film-maker about his project...

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/breathtaking-aerial-footage-alaskan-sockeye-run/

Jason Ching works year round for a research group called the Alaska Salmon Program which is based out of the University of Washington in Seattle. His research program spends each summer (June to September) at several field stations located in and around sockeye salmon spawning grounds in Southwest Alaska. While in Alaska, he collects a variety of data in the field related to salmon behavior and ecology. Ching has been involved with the program since 2007. The program helped him develop a respect and understanding for the natural world and a passion for documenting the environment.

Q: What inspired you to do this filming project?

A: For as long as I can remember I have always had a strong desire to be involved with nature and the outdoors. In more recent years photography and filmmaking has allowed me to combine my passion with nature and the visual arts.  It has been a great pleasure of mine to communicate and hopefully inspire others to share an appreciation for nature and the environment. 

I work as a research scientist, but having wild Alaska in my backyard each summer has been the perfect situation for me to document the natural world, and progress as a nature photographer and filmmaker. To me being in Alaska each summer is another opportunity to capture what nature has to offer in order to share it with others. I have been doing it ever since I started coming up in 2007. It is such an amazing opportunity to work and play in such an intact, diverse and productive ecosystem.

Q: How many hours in the field do you think you have invested in this
project?

A: What is interesting about this project is that it is tied into a research based pilot study. The study is looking into whether or not using UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) are an effective method in enumerating sockeye salmon populations on spawning grounds. This meant that I was able to largely fly my UAS for work, allowing me to gather around 12 hours of footage for this video. In addition to those 12 hours of flight time there was probably another 12 hours of stream and tundra hiking involved to get to and from these spawning locations. 

Q: Does anyone help fund your projects?

A: My video and photography projects are completely funded independently. It keeps me pretty poor, but I love being behind a camera while in nature. Engaging people with the natural world through my visuals is very rewarding to me.

Q: What plans do you have for future film projects?

A: Other than seeing what Alaska brings to the table next summer, I don't have any solid film projects on the horizon. As more of an amateur hobbyist, I would certainly like to get more involved in environmental filmmaking and photography and find a good balance between my interest and experience in the natural world, and taking it's picture.

Creative way of preserving deer skulls

To see the tutorial, please follow the link to the wide open spaces website

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/check-creative-way-preserving-deer-skulls/

Patience pays off for father-son blacktail hunt

To read the full story and watch the video, please follow the link below to the Wide Open Spaces website.

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/patience-pays-off-father-son-blacktail-hunt/

Fish On Christmas Lights Display

To see the display, go to the WOS website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/fish-lights-display-will-get-holiday-spirit/

How to Wacky-Rig worms for Monster Steelhead

To see this tutorial, please go to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/wacky-rig-pink-worms-monster-steelhead-joseph-princen/

World record spotted bass caught on camera

Please click the link below to watch the video on the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/potential-world-record-spotted-bass-caught-film/

Increase in Female Hunters helps to fill ODFW budget gap

To read the article and interviews, please follow the link below and proceed to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/increase-female-hunters-oregon-helps-fill-odfw-budget-gap/

Underwater footage shows fish eye view of jig fishing for Bass

To watch this footage, please visit the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/underwater-footage-shows-fish-eye-view-jig-fishing-bass/

TMI: Sharing Too Much Information can spoil your secret spots

To watch this PSA, please visit the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/tmi-sharing-much-information-can-spoil-secret-spots/

Flying fish evade predators from above and below

To view this footage, please follow the link to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/flying-fish-evade-predators/

Train your dog to catch lobster

To view this video, please follow the link to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/train-dog-catch-lobster/

Mike Iaconelli leaps from his boat to land a bass

To see the video, please follow the link to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/mike-iaconelli-leaps-boat-land-bass/

Salmon Crosses the Road, Joke Writes Itself...

To see this video, please follow the link to the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/salmon-cross-road/

Potential World Record Spotted Bass Caught

To see the full story, please visit the Wide Open Spaces website:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/potential-world-record-spotted-bass-caught-california/

CCA Meeting Minutes 12/6/2015

• State Executive Director Chris Cone, issued a congratulatory message regarding CCA Corvallis being recognized by the state as the Chapter of the Year at the CCA Oregon banquet.

• Cone also mentioned the recent ODFW Commission meeting on December 4th. ODFW's consideration for the gillnetting industry could set a precedent for prioritizing non-recreational fishing. Below is a summary from that commission meeting:

In September, a group of Columbia River gillnetters testified at the ODFW Commission in Seaside to tell the Commission that the bi-state Columbia River salmon fishery reforms – adopted by Oregon and Washington in 2013 -- should be scrapped in favor of a return to extensive gillnetting in the Columbia River.

This would go against the commitments made to recreational anglers and fish advocates who care about protecting our wild fish, sustainable fisheries and the sport anglers who have paid additional fees to implement key aspects of these reforms.

The December 4th ODFW commission meeting was packed with over 60 CCA members as well as members from the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, The Association of Northwest Steelheaders, and the Northwest Guides and Anglers Association. Several stood before the Commission to provide input on the transition away from the use of gillnets, and the shift to a recreational priority in the Columbia River. The Columbian published some press regarding commentary by some of those in attendance which you can read on their website here: "Sports fishing groups: Columbia River Salmon Reforms Working."

CCA's expectation is for the Commission to carry out the Columbia River reforms approved by the Oregon and Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissions and made into law in Oregon with passage of Senate Bill 830 in 2013.

We are more than halfway through that transitional period. Sport anglers are paying increased fees to fish in the Columbia and the taxpayers have helped fund the plan. Shifting direction before the changes in the bill go into effect is not acceptable.

• Other major obstacles mentioned include predation issues (such as cormorants and pinnipeds) as well as prioritizing hatcheries as beneficial to recreational angling.

• An announcement regarding details about the Fishing Derby: The event will be held July 1st-Labor Day. Anglers can enter to win weekly prizes and a grand prize.

• We have funds allocated from the national office to apply towards a habitat project for our chapter. CCA Corvallis needs to prioritize a goal for the chapter's habitat project. This will be discussed further at the next meeting in January. Ideally, the chapter needs to find some direction and choose a project we want to adopt for our chapter.

• Guest speaker Eric Martin's presentation was well received and informative. The details were extremely thorough, but some of the highlights included the pros and cons of steelheading on small water, studying structure during low flows in the summer and what to look for in winter. Martin made recommendations of allowing a hole to "rest" after hooking a fish, and moving to find fish rather than being stationary. Finally, he suggested keeping a log book and recording the date, time, water temperature, flow, moon phase, as well as the sex and condition of the fish landed. A wide variety of rigging demonstrations were also exhibited.

Fishing's Zen Helps Vets, Others

Airman Todd Fuerst goes into battle with his first Salmon

In August, I got a call from an old friend from Atlanta that I hadn't seen in over a decade. He was traveling around the Northwest with a few friends doing some sight-seeing, just killing time before the lease began on his new apartment in Brooklyn. Prior to his travels in the Pacific Northwest, Staff Sergeant Todd Fuerst was traveling through Afghanistan and Qatar serving our country. While I was preparing to move to the Northwest, he was preparing to start a family and enter boot camp. Knowing he was so close by, I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a friendly reunion.

"I'm in town. Show me around. What is there to do around here?" When I got the call, the Buoy 10 fishery was in full swing, I scrambled to find a guide that would book our seats on such short notice. I wanted to make a good memory and welcome the airman back home in style. We got several recommendations for Mike Arnold of Absolute Angling. After confirming our trip with Mike, I picked Todd up in downtown Portland and we headed for Astoria. "You can pound pavement anywhere and be a tourist, let's hit the water and do something special," I told him. Todd was never an avid angler, but he was on board for the experience.

When we got to Hammond, Todd and I set up camp at the launch, then explored around Fort Stevens. At one point, we climbed into a concrete gunner's bunker, and Todd ran his hands across the opening overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River. Deep in thought, he grinned back at me and said, "Well... this all looks strangely familiar." We continued out towards the shoreline and opened a couple cold beverages as the sun went down. "It's good to have you back on American soil," I told him. The conversation that followed really put a lot of things into perspective. Above all, the one that he said that stood out the most was, "I think the hardest part about coming back is listening to civilians complain when they have no idea just how good they have it here." The following day was a great reminder.

Mike Arnold of Absolute Angling Guide Service and also a retired Patrol Sargent after 31 years with the Forest Grove Police Department, put Todd on his first salmon within an hour of our lines being in the water. The first couple runs took out nearly 200 feet of line as he was going into battle with his first salmon. Mike was patient and Todd was attentive to his instruction on keeping the line tight so the barbless hooks wouldn't break free. After a long fight, Todd got the fish in Mike's net and brought

Absolute Angling Guide Mike Arnold and
Staff Sergeant Fuerst with his First Salmon

it on board for a few pictures. It was a fairly large tule hatchery chinook. Being that early in the morning, Mike suggested we put the fish back and search for more. We managed to boat a nice keeper after losing a few hookups, but Todd was thrilled simply by the experience of his milestone, and I was grateful to have shared it with him.

That evening, he and I met with fellow NWS writer Jeff Holmes and Guide Ivan Khorseev of Semper Fi Sportfishing. Todd had to leave the following the day, but Jeff and I fished from Ivan's boat and put some fish in the box. Jeff released a wild steelhead he hooked rolling a cut-plug herring, a rare feat for any angler in the lower Columbia fishery. Ivan, a Marine Corporal, was stationed in Hawaii, Japan, and did two tours in Iraq. Having fished all over the world, he started taking it more seriously in the Czech Republic. After seeing photos of salmon and steelhead from the U.S. and Canada, he decided it would be the greatest job in the world to fish for a living, so when he got out of the military, fishing slowly took the place of employment he had to fall back on in case he failed at guiding. That day, like many others for Semper Fi Sportfishing, proved to be successful, and Ivan has watched his business grow and support his family.

I am not a veteran, but as a surviving family member of a veteran suicide, I understand the necessity of programs that support our troops upon their return home, as they resume everyday American life. The epidemic of PTSD is a constant struggle for returning veterans many years after their service ends. A veteran commits suicide every 65 minutes, and nearly 70 percent of them are over the age of 50. Studies point out that veterans may be less likely to seek help from a mental health professional, and while research shows that "ecotherapy" benefits mental health and wellbeing, a key factor to the approach of introducing veterans to outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing as a form of therapy is that it can prove to be effective simply because it's more likely to be utilized. The zen of fishing is a therapeutic distraction that can benefit all of us, but there are several organizations that focus on placing active duty and returning veterans in the outdoors.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities including education and outings. This non-profit is incorporated in the State of Maryland, receives no government funding and is dependent on tax-deductible, charitable donations and the help of volunteers to meet the educational, equipment, transportation and related needs of its participants. In one testimonial from their 2014 annual report, Captain Kimberly Smith USMC says:

“Sometimes I find myself speechless when people ask me what Project Healing Waters has done for me because words are untouchable to what this program has given my life and others. PHWFF saved my life and I’m completely serious about that. That’s why I want to do everything I can to give back even though I’m still in recovery myself.”

Another budding organization based out of Lacey, Washington has began to expand it's network of veterans and civilian support to provide outdoor experiences for those who have served. In 2014, "The Fallen Outdoors" organized 1,600 outings with veterans. Their Facebook group serves an audience of veterans seeking outdoor experiences while acting as a base for veteran and civilian volunteers alike to actively provide those opportunities.

TFO founder Eric Bakken served 8 years in the Army. While in Afghanistan, himself and two others hatched a plan to create an organization upon their return to connect veterans with their love of the outdoors. Specialist Eric Finniginam paid the ultimate sacrifice during a mortar attack. The loss inspired Bakken and Staff Sergeant Johnny Bates to follow through in his honor, creating the organization which operates in 37 states with 250 military volunteers and serves a support system of 1600 veterans each year.

The Fallen Outdoors is run exclusively by veterans with the help of guides, land owners and everyday outdoorsmen and women that just want to say thank you. Bakken, originally from Minnesota, says "Most guys join (the military) and leave what's important to them at home or lose touch with their hobbies because they get to a new place in a new state and it's hard for them to learn the elements of fishing and hunting in their new surroundings." Bakken intends for TFO to provide knowledge and the proper gear as well as the opportunity for outdoor experiences in each state. Above all, the network built by the organization aims to provide the comaraderie familiar to veterans who have served.

Perhaps one of the most unique, multi-faceted and outdoor themed veteran support groups is Soul River, which was spawned from Navy Veteran Combat Stevadore Chad Brown's personal experiences with struggling to save himself. The well-traveled Texas native served his military duty in Desert Storm/Desert Shield, Somalia, Cuba, Antartica Iceland and Egypt. The river gave Brown an "awakening in his soul" while contemplating taking his own life. "Just being in mother nature's theater, surrounded by the beauty, spirituality and complexities, we find nature's secrets of the cycle of life and death in something as simple as the mayfly," says Brown. A troubled childhood from a broken home and life in the streets with gang affiliations he credits his mother for never giving up on him and guiding him through his obstacles in life.

Being saved by his experience on the river, he says that like any veteran, the heart to lead and protect never left him, and inspired him to share his experience with others. Brown has combined the demographics of veterans and troubled youth to build a symbiotic relationship that creates a community of what he describes as "iron sharpening iron." He says the focus is not so much teaching people how to fish, but promoting an appreciation for the outdoors by providing the opportunity to be an ambassador and steward of the river, and connecting this community to give each other some living purpose.

Soul River aims to connect those demographics by nurturing it's participants into becoming future volunteers, creating a mutually beneficial and self-sustained community. As the Soul River community continues to grow, Chad is seeking veterans who want to serve as volunteers with youth on expeditions as well as civilians with backgrounds in biology, human development and youth engagement with the outdoors. In addition to volunteers, Soul River needs resources like private land/river access to hold expeditions with youth and veteran participants. Soul River holds public events like the annual Celebration of Wild Steelhead, where youth can learn casting techniques and how to tie flies.

For those that are unable to make a donation or volunteer their time to the Soul River non-profit, Chad has created his own clothing line that features his own unique designs and runs a shop out of Portland, OR that sells this line as well as fly fishing gear, which he sets aside a portion of the proceeds to fund his projects.

You can shop Soul River online here: http://soulriverrunsdeep.com/shop/ or visit his retail store:

 Soul River Inc.1926 N Kilpatrick ST. Suite B
Portland, Oregon 97217

Volunteers can fill out an application online here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jKTe15RpD3Vrt7l28XBrnvqTlaSGepJf3GaA8VZDDZg/viewform?c=0&w=1

To contact The Fallen Outdoors:

thefallenoutdoors@gmail.com 
thefallenoutdoorsstaffer@gmail.com
The TFO Facebook Group is a great resource for networking and organizing trips:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1442558026045786/

You can contact the main office Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing about their services or contribute a donation at:

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing
PO Box 695
La Plata, MD 20646
(301)830-6450
Toll Free: (866)251-7252
Fax:(301)430-7344
http://www.projecthealingwaters.org/

To find a program in your area, please visit: http://www.projecthealingwaters.org/Programs.aspx

This article was featured in the October 2015 issue of Northwest Sportsman Magazine.

To subscribe to Northwest Sportsman, please visit the wesbite nwsportsmanmag.com

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