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The Trout & Salmon Leader | Published by the Washington Council Of Trout Unlimited | April 2015 Edition

Trout & Salmon Leader Newsletter Magazine

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Page 1: Trout & Salmon Leader Newsletter Magazine

The Trout & Salmon Leader | Published by the Washington Council Of Trout Unlimited | April 2015 Edition

Page 2: Trout & Salmon Leader Newsletter Magazine

WCTU NEWS | VIEWS | EVENTS | VENUES | SPONSORS | EXPO | RADIO SHOW

VIEWSLetter From The Editor

Responses From ReadersLines From Listeners

Live PresentationsGalleries

EVENTSCouncil Meetings & EventsChapter Meetings & Events

Community EventsSalmon Days Booth

Washington State Fair

TroutUnlimitedWashington.orgWACouncil.TU.org

Save our WaterwaysJoin TU.org

ConserveProtectRestore The Leader

The Trout & Salmon Leader | Published by the Washington Council Of Trout Unlimited | April 2015

Hello from your Washington Council of Trout Unlimited Chairman’s desk as we move forward into 2015 your council has a lot of great things we have planned for this year. If you have been following our National website of Trout Unlimited you would have seen our article from Nationals website as follows: On Nov. 20, Trout Unlimited launched the Wild Steelhead Initiative, an ambitious and hopeful project to protect and restore the wild steelhead and the fishing opportunities they provide throughout their native range in Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. This is a major deal, as the nation’s leading Coldwater conservation organization (with the largest budget, grassroots network, and national staff) is focusing efforts on the wild steelhead cause in a big way. The heart of the Initiative will be a new community, Wild Steelhead-ers United, which is being established to inform, organize and activate anglers (regardless of preferred gear type)—and anyone who cares about these incredible fish—to protect and recover wild steelhead. In short, Wild Steelheaders United is a home to anyone who believes in the common quest to protect these fish and the incredible fishing opportunities they provide. The Initiative will focus on river systems that have high potential to support robust, fishable wild steelhead populations, while accepting that properly managed steelhead hatcheries may be appropriate to provide fishing and harvest opportunity in rivers that no longer have the capacity to support wild steelhead. The Initiative will address both habi-tat protection/restoration and steelhead policy and management so that all of the “H’s” (habitat (including hydro), hatcheries, and harvest) are aligned so that wild steelhead can thrive. As always we continue to support our local chapters with grants given from the council and urge members to look to your local chapters in helping support the chapter with volunteer time and money, we have to remember it for the kids! Several of our chapters in our state have been working to attract more members to get involved with events we have going throughout the state, the council website will contain this information. Looking forward to a prosperous 2015 as serving you has been a great honor and pleasure, my email is open for any comments or concerns as your chairman.

Tight Lines!

Mr. Rosendo GuerreroChairman

Cover Story: The Yakima River Headwaters Cleanup

Trout Unlimited Washington Water Project (TU-WWP)

The Yakima River Basin and TU-WWPMonofilament Line Collection Tube ProjectUpdates From MarkCSI, The Next Step In The Science of Restor-

ing Salmon To Urban Streams?Cowling Creek Fish LaddersDuckling RescueCatching Hundreds Of Kokanee SalmonDog Creek At Fish ParkWashington Suction Dredge ReformUpcoming Chapter Events

NW Youth Conservation And Fly Fishing2015 TU Western Regional Meeting

• Bellevue-Issaquah• Clark County• Duwamish-Green• Edmonds Salmon• Icicle Valley • Kitsap-Olympic Peninsulas• Kittitas • Klickitat• Olympia• Northshore• Sky Valley• Spokane• Tacoma• Yakima Valley• Yakima Rivers Headwaters

Letter From The Council Chairman

Featured Articles

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Page 3: Trout & Salmon Leader Newsletter Magazine

I would like to donate:

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Sponsors: Please mail your business card size ad with check or money order donation made payable to:

WCTU, P.O. Box 2652, Issaquah, WA 98027 Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. WCTU is a 501(c)3 Charitable Organization

☑ Yes, I Support The Washington Council Of Trout Unlimited

Sponsor Spotlight

Thank you to our Sponsors for making this publication possible. We appreciate your support!

News Views EventsVenuesExpo

BlogTalkRadio.com/TroutUnlimited

Join Mark Taylor On The Radio Show

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Page 4: Trout & Salmon Leader Newsletter Magazine

The Yakima River in well known to TU members in Washington, providing some of our state’s finest fishing opportunities for wild cutthroat and rainbow trout. It ranks among the best fly fishing rivers in the West, and anglers come from all over the world to fish its waters - so a new Trout Unlimited Chapter in the headwaters of the Yakima has formed to create a presence in the communi-ty of conservation-minded volunteers and TU-members who want to continue to enjoy this Central Washington gem. The Yakima River Headwaters Chapter was orga-nized in January 2015 by local guides, fly shop owners, and community members, aligned with a purpose - TU’s mission to conserve, protect and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. At the first public meeting in January at The Brick in Roslyn, WA, more than 70 anglers and community mem-bers joined in a presentation and discussion on the future of the Yakima, led by Chapter President Derek Young. Attendees were asked to share their thoughts about im-portant issues in the headwaters – access, water quality, managing use and policy, and of course – fishing. The newly-formed group met in early February on the banks of the Yakima River, at Memorial Park in S. Cle Elum for a river clean-up and BBQ, collecting trash from the river and surrounding area, filling a large collection bin with refuse, and celebrated with a BBQ from a local restaurant to everyone’s enjoyment and reward for work well-done. 25 people including families, business owners, anglers, and guides contributed 120 volunteer hours in total to the clean-up.

Cover Story: The Yakima River Headwaters Clean-Up During the February meeting, a special guest from the Deschutes TU Chapter joined to share the great work they have done in Oregon. Gabe Parr inspired the attend-ees with his vision for grassroots conservation work, shar-ing the recent successes that the Chapter organized in the face of a fish kill due to irrigation draw downs, saving more than 7000 fish from a certain fate. A representative from the Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board also spoke about funding for future projects and how to apply for grants. To conclude the evening, the Board was created and the work of getting the charter approved began. Commit-tee Chairs and members were also formed, so the group is off to a great start and looking forward to 2015 and be-yond! March came in like a lion for the Chapter with the Board developing a short and long-term strategy and pro-posals for the members to review and get involved – the committee work will align with the goals of the Chapter and TU’s mission, as well as creating strong partnerships with conservation groups and other key stakeholders. Already, there’s a lot of buzz about the possibilities! Meetings are held every third Wednesday of each month at 7 PM, at The Brick in Roslyn, WA. The Chapter meets in the downstairs, family section so all ages are welcome. The Chapter’s website has http://www.tu.org/con-nect/groups/yakima-river-headwaters more information on meetings, events, and how to join TU. ~By Derek Young

Dumpster Before...Dumpster After...Partay!

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Fly Tying Class Pics Trout Unlimited-Washington Water Project (TU-WWP) is a non-profit organization working to restore salmon and trout populations in Washington State. Our primary project area comprises the Columbia River watershed from the Yakima River basin north to the Canadian border. Typically, projects focus on improving instream flows, enhanc-ing fish passage, and restoring aquatic habitat. Past strategies included water delivery system upgrades, switching water source from surface to ground, facilitating water transactions, removing instream barriers to fish migration, and controlling erosion with native plantings and woody debris. The diversity of projects reflects TU-WWP’s objective of finding solutions that benefit both the landowner and the environment:

Although huge challenges remain, we’re optimistic about the future of our rivers and fisheries. Many leaders are putting aside age-old differences to embrace innovative solutions and collaborative, win-win projects that balance the needs of fish and wildlife with the concerns of agriculture and communities. ~By Phaedra Booth

For years, the Yakima River Basin faced an annual ques-tion—where would the basin get enough water for fish, munici-palities, and irrigation? Usually, this meant one of the three did not get its share. However, in 2009 things began to change when the Washington Department of Ecology’s Office of Columbia River and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation partnered to lead basin-wide stakeholders in a process to develop the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan (YBIP) to solve water issues. And in 2013, Stakeholders formally adopted the YBIP and change the basin’s approach to water management. What makes the YBIP unique is its approach to water issues. The YBIP is an ecosystem protection and restoration plan designed to strategically and creatively address climate uncertainty to position the basin for long-term resiliency. The plan lays out seven key elements to help protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife habitat; provide increased operational flexibility to manage in-stream flows to meet ecological objec-tives; and improve the reliability of the water supply for irriga-tion, municipal supply, and domestic uses. If successful, the YBIP will provide a long-list of benefits across the basin. The biggest benefits include: more water in-stream for fish; increased fish access to critical habitat through a

Trout Unlimited - Washington Water Project (TU-WWP)

variety of passage projects; long-term water security for irri-gators and cities; and large-scale land protections. Success will require everyone involved to word on common goal. Trout Unlimited is proud to actively support YBIP to ensure success. TU’s Washington Water Project provides lead-ership and policy guidance as a member of the YBIP steering committee, pursues streamflow acquisitions in high-priority sub-basins in the Yakima Basin, and provides community out-reach to educate stakeholders. Additionally, TU’s Sportsmen’s Conservation Project provides a vital voice on the Teanaway Community Forest advisory committee to develop a manage-ment plan. Together, the two projects are determined to ensure water security in the Yakima Basin. Right on cue, nature wants to test the YBIP by delivering a snowpack well below average. This year’s diminished water availability will undoubtedly stress the system and highlight flaws in the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. Trout Unlimited will help correct any flaws and keep working toward the future of Yakima Basin fish, agriculture, and communities. For more information, see: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pro-grams/wr/cwp/ybip.html. ~By Justin Bezold

The Yakima River Basin And Trout Unlimited Washington Water Project

• We’ve partnered with ranchers, landowners and agencies on scores of on-the-ground projects to restore and reconnect fragmented river systems

• We’ve worked with landowners to make irrigation delivery systems more efficient, keep-ing water in rivers and streams during the hot Eastern Washington summers when it is most needed by fish.

• We’ve removed dozens of fish passage barriers, reopening hundreds of miles of habitat for salmon and trout in the Columbia River Basin.

• We’ve engaged communities throughout Central Washington to raise awareness about sustainable management of water resources and educate the public about the ecological and economic benefit of healthy watersheds and strong fisheries.

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Page 6: Trout & Salmon Leader Newsletter Magazine

Restoring highly damaged urban salmon streams is no small task. It requires patience, time, research, imple-mentation, funds, manpower, science, commitment and the ability to accept failure. Such has been the journey of the Duwamish-Green Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) for the past 30+ years when leaders and members set the goal in 1981 of “returning self-sustaining runs of salmon in their local urban Washington State streams” and later adding the goal of “Involving our Communities in take responsibly for their streams.” Further discussions of barriers to our success included; Knowledge, Planning & Designs; Permits & Funding. The Chapter decided that the best possible way for us to serve our Community was to take on the role of overcoming these barri-ers and empowering the Community to help themselves.Miller, Walker & Des Moines Creeks are three to five-mile long streams flowing into Puget Sound located 15-miles south of downtown Seattle. In the 1800’s research shows local Indian Tribes came together at these streams each fall for celebrations and to share in the bounty of the salmon returns estimated to be two to three thousand Coho and Chum. Beginning in the late 1800’s and running throughout most of the 20th century, over harvest, devolpment, and introduced pollution all led to salmon populations being re-duced to nearly zero. No one really thought about cumulative effects and after all, “the supply of salmon was endless”.The same fate was dealt to hundreds of small streams that flow into Puget Sound and other great watersheds through-out the state. The same fate was dealt to hundreds of small streams that flow into Puget Sound and other great water-sheds throughout the State. When the Duwamish-Green Chapter first commit-ted themselves to reversing the process of decline, the first thoughts were “more salmon placed in the stream would pro-duce more returning adults.” To that end, the Chapter work-ing with the Washington Department of Fisheries constructed a 130,000 Coho egg restoration hatchery used to scatter plant Coho fry in our local streams. Results were mixed with some increase in returning adults, but not at the levels expected. We learned that placing more fish in a bad environment is not the total solution. In the 1990’s the Chapter turned its attention to trying to understand more about stream habitat. Chapter lead-ers met and developed a list of subject-matter-experts from Universities, King County and State Fisheries, then sought meetings with these experts to develop restoration strategies that volunteers could implement. One of the most import-ant pieces of advice discovered was “Don’t start working on stream restoration projects until you understand the issues of the total basin.” Chapter members were then taught the “U.S. Forest Service Scientific Method of Stream Survey - Fish / Habitat Relationships” by King County biologist Bob Furstenberg. The County wanted this detailed information about streams, but it was too expensive to pay professionals to gather the data, that’s where the trained volunteers filled the void perfectly. Six months of Saturday mornings were spent by Chap-ter volunteers surveying five-miles of Miller Creek. Thou-sands of data points were collected; including, riffle to pool

ratios, pool quality index, large-woody-debris, substrate type, silt and gravel sources, habitat on each shoreline, side-chan-nel habitat, impassible barriers, water removal, native & inva-sive plants, stream width and depth and later studies of insect populations, water quality and flow regimes. The survey data showed, in detail, where problems existed in the stream, which in turn provided the Chapter the data for specific restoration design projects and permit application informa-tion. We teamed with the Normandy Park Community Club, who owns 17-acres of land containing two of the streams at their confluence and entry to Puget Sound, the Department of Fisheries, King County, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Consultants and experts were interviewed to help prepare de-signs, permits and grant applications prepared by the volun-teers. The Chapter Leaders had decided that if thousands of decisions producing the cumulative effects were based on public opinion which lead to the conditions of decline, that public opinion and involvement would be necessary to re-verse those thousands of steps leading to recovery. From 1998 thru 2008 many changes were made to the streams including; installing of in-stream rock and log struc-tures to improve pool quality and quantity, invasive plant removal and planting thousands of native plants to improve soil stabilization and terrestrial insect supplies, creation of a salt-marsh and artificial “beaver pond” for rearing Coho and Sea-run Cutthroat Trout. The Community Club formed a “Stewards of the Cove” group that worked with community volunteers, TU members and Scouts to implement dozens of projects. Surrounding cities and the Sewer District in the basin have also taken on stream restoration projects. Seat-tle-Tacoma International Airport restored a couple miles of stream that passes thru their property as part of a 3rd runway project. TU members were asked to review the project details and provide comment, then given tours of the project as it proceeded. After all these steps, informal surveys of returning salmon populations ranged between 200 and 1000 Coho and Chum per year. There were also good populations of Sea-run Cutthroat. Salmon were observed spawning in the stream and fry were abundant in the spring. But, even though we’d met one goal of involving the Community in the restoration of their streams, we felt our goal of self-sustaining runs still wasn’t being realized. We still had problems, but we didn’t know what they were? In 2010 our King County Basin Steward, Dennis Clark started a volunteer CSI Team. CSI wasn’t “Crime Scene Investigation” although it was similar, CSI stood for “Citizen Salmon Investigation”. The projects focus was to gather sci-entific information about the salmon returning to our streams using volunteers to survey the streams daily from September thru December each year. The data collected included; spe-cies, sex, live or dead, wild or hatchery (based on the adipose fin or lack thereof), length, girth, redd locations and most importantly if the females had successfully spawned, partial-ly spawned or died of Pre-spawn mortality (PSM). PSM is a condition where mainly affecting Coho salmon. Apparently normal, healthy salmon returning from Alaska, enter their na-tal stream and die within hours. The Coho display symptoms

CSI, The Next Step In The Science of Restoring Salmon To Urban Streams?

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of disorientation, try to jump out of the water onto a gravel bar and die with mouths agape and fins splayed. Anyone that understands fish would say that they’d suffocated. That situation is odd enough, but Chum salmon and juvenile Coho salmon swimming next to the dying Coho seemed unaffected. In 2011, Basin Steward Elissa Ostergaard took over the reins of the project and the data collection continued. Although PSM has been known to fisheries biologists, these Citizen Scientists had documented a little known, seldom un-derstood situation in our streams. It would take the scientists from NOAA and Washington State University Department of Toxicology to begin to unravel the issues. NOAA testing in nearby streams had shown that copper, mainly from brake pads, was effecting the ability of salmon fry to smell “danger” pheromones released by other fry being attacked, affected liver function that prevented successful smoltification (mov-ing from freshwater to saltwater), and might be affecting their ability to home on their natal streams using the sense of smell. This finding caused the State of Washington to pass laws banning copper laden brake pads, but it still didn’t solve the pre-spawn mortality issue. More study and testing by Washington State University - Toxicology discovered that salmon placed in polluted waters collected from roadway runoff produced the exact same death symptoms being displayed by salmon in the urban streams. Meanwhile NOAA discovered that the percentage of imper-vious surface in a drainage basin was directly related to the percentage of salmon dying from PSM. WSU went on to take polluted roadway runoff that had just killed healthy salmon and filter it thru a column containing rock, sand and compost to find that the salmon could live in the filtered water with no apparent ill effects. Even though basic water quality testing, including; dissolved oxygen, turbidity, Ph, temperature, heavy metals had shown that the stream waters were suitable for salmon habitation, these latest tests were showing that we we’re deal-ing with organic roadway runoff chemicals beyond the scope of testing that had been previously performed.Currently, the means to apply the new science to the ground are in work. Rain gardens to filter runoff on public and private properties are being applied on new and renovated construction projects. There are a few new major runoff treatment projects being installed on basins draining into our streams. Major roadway, parking lot and highway runoff issues lack solutions at this point. Our Chapters 30+ year journey to our goal of self-sus-taining salmon runs isn’t over yet. We’ve learned a lot over the years and we are especially proud of the involvement of Community members and the skills of our scientists to unrav-el the mysteries of our journey. One thing we know for sure, “It takes a Community to love a salmon stream back to health!”, and like Teddy Roo-sevelt said, “The best thing to do is the right thing, the next best thing to do is the wrong thing and the worst thing to do is nothing at all”. Our Trout Unlimited Chapter and our Com-munity has certainly done the right thing, and the next best thing, but can never be accused of doing “nothing at all”.

~By Andy Batcho, [email protected] Normandy Park, WA. January, 2015

CSI... Continued...

This year in Washington TU took on efforts to reform how suction dredging takes place in our waters. Washington State is the last remaining hold out for largely uncontrolled in-stream suction dredge gold mining. In California the courts are deciding. In Idaho the EPA regulates and restricts. In Ore-gon there is a moratorium and in WA there is a piece of paper that allows someone to dig up a stream. The same stream that we have to get a HPA permit to restore and protect. We aim to change this and we will succeed. HB1162 is just the first stages of that success. This session with amazing help and guidance for Rep. Gael Tarleton we not only intro-duced our bill but we got a hearing and held a “Fish In” where anglers from every corner of the state came to Olympia on the day of the hearing and we made a difference. So, what does HB1162 actually do? It requires WDFD to study once and for all if suction dredging harms fish, it man-dates that in order to mine the miners have to jump through the same hoops we do to restore and it prohibits mining in waters closed to fishing. While we didn’t make it out of committee we know that passing legislating is about the long road. It’s about the journey. This session we achieved our goals, we educated, we informed and we made some noise. We also found out who our opposition is and what their arguments are. During the off-session we will work to refine our argu-ments and tighten up the bill language. Then hit the road running next session. If you’d like any additional information or want to get involved feel free to contact Gregg Bafundo. I can be reached at 206-276-4843 or [email protected].

Washington Suction Dredge Reform

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Trout Unlimited Invited to JoinWashington Invasive Species Council The Washington Invasive Species Council (WISC) has invited the Washington Council of Trout Unlimited to share the NGO seat on the council with the Nature Conservancy. WISC was established in 2006 in order to develop a strategic approach to prevent and control invasive species that threaten Washing-ton’s environment and economy. Said WISC Chair Bill Tweit, “Considering Trout Unlimited’s involvement in invasive species work and significant statewide constituencies, I am honored to extend an invitation to Trout Unlimited to serve on the council.” Bellevue-Issaquah chapter member Mark Taylor has agreed to serve as the WCTU representative. Taylor is a TU Life member and is currently serving as the Council’s Membership Chair as well as on the TU National Board of Trustees. “My 30 years of experience importing aquarium fish and other animals for the pet trade make me very aware of the rules, hazards and econom-ic impact that invasive species bring.” said Mark. “I look forward to serving and helping to keep Washington as free as possible from these invaders!” To learn more about the WISC and what you can do check out their website at http://www.invasivespecies.wa.gov/ .

Page 8: Trout & Salmon Leader Newsletter Magazine

How many times have you been fishing and noticed bunches of monofilament line lying around on the river banks and lake shores? We all know that this happens too frequently. Too many fishermen just toss their wads of useless monofilament line on the ground, rather than taking care of it appropriately. Probably, few fishermen are aware that monofilament line is not biodegradable and can needlessly harm or kill fishes, birds and other creatures. The Bellevue/Issaquah Chapter has initiated a project that can help with this situation in our area. We have built and installed what are called “monofilament line collection tubes.” Essentially, a line collection tube consists of four pieces of PVC tubing constructed as shown in the photo on the right. The tubes are installed at points near fishing access sites with the hope that fishermen will put their used monofilament line into them, rather than merely drop it on the ground.

Monofilament line col-lection tubes have been around for a number of years and are currently being used successfully in several states as a means of getting rid of unwanted monofilament line. For a chapter looking for a relatively easy and useful proj-ect, you might want to consider monofilament line collection tubes. Here’s a simplistic list of the steps that are involved. First, you need to acquire the materials to build the tubes. The tubes that we are using are constructed of 6” PVC pipe. Unfor-tunately, this can be rather expensive material. However, in our case, we were able to get the PVC pipe provided free of charge by a company that specializes in water and wastewater solu-tions. (We just make sure that the company gets some recogni-tion by placing a sticker with its name on the tube.) Next, you need to somehow describe the purpose of the tube. We do this with some stickers as shown on the above photo. You can make your own stickers from scratch, or get some pre-made stickers. In our case, we are using some stickers that we were able to get at a reasonable price from the Florida Department of Wildlife. Putting the tubes together is simple – requiring only a tape measure, a hand saw, some PVC adhesive and a little elbow grease. Next, you need something to mount the tubes on. We were able get approval from the local office of WDFW to attach tubes to their signs that are at fishing access locations. Most often the WDFW signs use 4” posts, which turn out to be an ideal size for mounting the 6” PVC pipe. In order to attach the tubes to the posts, we are using metal banding that used to be used to hold bundles of lumber together. Metal banding is no

Monofilament Line Collection Tube ProjectBy Bill Gerdts

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longer used for this purpose, but we were able to scrape togeth-er enough for most or our entire project. Other than attaching the tubes to existing structures, it would be necessary to install them on your own posts. Sometime in the process (or before you begin), your chapter should think about where it makes sense to install the line collection tubes. In our instance for the initial phase of the project, we decided to install several of them at boat launches and heavily fished points along the Snoqualmie River. These typically are the kinds of places where there is heavy steelhead fishing (particularly in the winter), which usually results in lots of discarded monofilament line left lying along the river. We also will be installing tubes at some of the heavily fished lakes in our area. Once the tubes have been installed, they need to be mon-itored on a regular basis in order to empty them out, to make sure they are still useable and to make sure they haven’t been destroyed by vandals or others. We hope that fishermen make use of the tubes, but there is no way to make sure of that. Just having the tubes near lakes or streams should help to educate fishermen about the problems with monofilament line – at least we hope so! Here’s some pictures showing what’s been collected by the tubes. Not surprisingly, some people seem to think that the tubes are garbage receptacles in spite of what the stickers on them say.

Now that the monofilament line (and garbage) has been collected, there are two options for handling the line. First, the line can be dumped in the normal garbage system, so that it ends up in a landfill and is safely removed from the environ-ment. Second, the monofilament line can be re-cycled. The Berkley Company has a line re-cycling program where they use recycled monofilament line to build plastic fish habitat struc-tures, which can installed in lakes and reservoirs under fishing docks and piers. More information on this program can be found at http://www.berkley-fishing.com/Recycling/Berkley-recycling,default,pg.html. This is a relatively easy project to do and can be done relatively cheaply with the help of donated materials. Besides removing monofilament line from the environment, it provides a vehicle for getting Trout Unlimited visibility within our area. If you are interested in learning more about the Bellevue/Issaquah Chapter’s project, please contact Bill Gerdts.

Update From Dwayne Meadows After launching in November, Wild Steelheaders United is already hard at work in the state of Washington and finding great momentum and enthusiasm among the ranks of steelhead anglers. Here are a few updates: Trout Unlimited met with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife head of fisheries, Jim Scott and his lead biologist for the Olympic Peninsula and the Skagit and dis-cussed improvement of steelhead management. The Skagit has an escapement goal of 6,000. Last year, more than 9,500 fish returned, prompting anglers and Trout Unlim-ited to request a well-regulated catch-and-release fishery for spring season steelhead. In the community, anglers have been pushing for such a season for a few years now with their no hook protest, Occupy Skagit. Anglers will be gathering for the yearly wade-in where hookless lines will be casted into the river, a symbol of the bygone years the season was open for steelhead. Trout Unlimited is encour-aging all members to attend the Occupy Skagit, April 4, 9 a.m. at Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport, Wash. It will be a long process, but the WSU believes a well-man-aged catch-and-release fishery is the right step. In Olympia, TU has been strongly advocating for ref-ormation to current suction dredge mining laws. Current-ly, Washington is the only state that does not regulate the activity, which vacuums up river beds in search of minimal amounts of gold, and then releases the muddy cocktail back into the river (more on the basics of suction dredge, its impact on fisheries and what TU is doing about it here). Members attended a hearing in February to encourage members to pass a bill that would, in part, reign in the practice. While not likely to pass in this session, at last check, parts of the bill were still up for consideration. TU will continue to work on the issue after the session ends. For more information on that effort, contact Gregg Bafun-do at [email protected]. TU recently received a $1.9 million federal grant to improve instream flow in three major summer steelhead rivers east of the Cascades. Staff will work with irrigators to modernize irrigation systems and address low flows during the late summer and fall -- a major factor limiting wild steelhead in these rivers. Join us for a night of fishing films as we help host the International Fly Fishing Film Tour in Seattle on April 2nd at Tiny Bigs 100 Denny Way, Seattle. To get your tickets, go to: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1360742 Last but not least, if you have not signed the WSU credo, check out our site: www.wildsteelheaders.org and click on “Be United.”

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Last November had a great turnout of about twenty TU volunteers who helped build important fish ladders on Cowling Creek in Kitsap County. This creek used to support a very healthy run of wild chum salmon many years ago, but various forms of habitat degradation such as culverts, development, etc, caused the run to disappear. Our Kitsap-Olym-pic Peninsulas Chapter of TU has partnered with the Suquamish Tribe to help restore this run of chum salmon. The fish ladder construction helped free up five miles of new spawning habitat for the chum, and it didn’t take long for about 2,000 of these agile fish to make their way up the “stairs”. What a sight!

Cowling Creek Fish Ladders

It’s that time again. The Kokanee salmon are running and we are catch-ing hundreds of them. You want to get in on the action? You want to know what we are using to catch them. Traps! Even I can be a catch a lot of fish using a trap. The annual movement of Kokanee salmon fry from the streams that run into Lake Sammamish has begun and the members of the Bellevue/Issaquah chapter are spending evenings trapping, counting and releasing the fry. Our chapter works in conjunction with the Kokanee Salmon work group to help bring Kokanee back to Lake Sammamish. The Kokanee are a true salmon but they spend their entire life in fresh water, never going out to the ocean. They don’t get as big as their cousins who swim out to the ocean but they are just as important to the western slope eco system. At one time, thousands of Kokanee spawned in the streams running into Lake Sammamish but as habitat was destroyed or blocked their numbers dwindled. Our chapter is committed to the Kokanee and its health. We currently trap three times a week in three streams: Ebright, Lewis and Laughing Jacobs. We arrive about 30 minutes before sunset and get the traps in the water. The streams are small and we pick places where we can channel most of the water flow through the traps. After an hour we crank the trap out of the water and count the fry in the catch basin and then release them back into the stream. It amazed me the first time I saw the tiny fry that look like pine needles with eyes swimming around the catch basin. Counting them is a challenge and takes a good flashlight. There are times where we don’t catch any fry which makes the counting easy. On a normal evening we put the trap in three times. While waiting the hour until the next counting you can read, talk with your trapping partner, enjoy the scenery, or my favorite past time, listen to the Mariners on the radio and cheer them on. After the third time everything is put away and you walk the short distance back to your car. Though I’m often up past my bedtime, it is rewarding to know that I am doing my part to assist the Kokanee. If you would like to get in on the action please contact Robert Metzger at [email protected]. He will help you find the stream closest to your home and get you signed up to assist. You will be there with an ex-perienced trapper who will teach you all you need to know. Trapping started March 14th!

Catching Hundreds of Kokanee Salmon One day last June, I was on a guided fishing trip on the Yaki-ma River with Derek Young with Emerging Rivers Guide Service. We were fishing above Cle Elum and as we were working our way down the river, we suddenly spot-ted a duckling that seemed to be “stuck” among some small branch-es that were hanging over the river. The little duckling was kind of sus-pended over the water with just the lower part of his body in the water and his neck was stretched out and up like he was attached to the branch somehow. We moved over to where he was and Derek noticed that the duckling had somehow bit-ten a fisherman’s fly that was hang-ing from the branch and that the fly was sticking through the duckling’s bill. That’s why the duckling was stuck in his unfortunate position. Anyway, Derek was able to get a hold of the duckling, remove the fly from its bill and release it. The duckling took off floating down the river and hopefully, got connected with the rest of its family. We felt good about being able to help on of Mother Nature’s creatures like that!~By Bill Gerdts

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Last fall our Kitsap-Olympic Peninsulas Chapter of TU conducted a restoration project on Dog Fish Creek at Fish Park in Poulsbo. We adopted a key spawning section of the creek from the Poulsbo Parks Dept. last year that is right near the mouth of Liberty Bay. A large team of TU volunteers rolled up their sleeves and pulled on their waders to help cut, transport, and strategically place more than twenty large sections of fir, along with several yards of gravel, to help create more healthy spawning ground for the return-ing run of approximately 4,000 returning adult chum salmon every year. Our chapter revived this once “dead” run of salmon into a thriving, self-sus-taining population that helps provide various educational opportunities for us to help teach local schools and other public groups about the importance of this chum population to the surrounding ecosystem.

Dogfish Creek at Fish Park

There is no better opportunity for our girls and boys, 12-16, to learn the sport of fly fishing and the merits of conservation. The last week of June 21-27, 2015, The Academy will be held again at The Gwinwood Confer-ence Center on Hicks Lake in Lacey, WA. The applicant must write an essay explaining why they would like to attend and a letter of recommendation is needed from their science teacher or school counselor. Deadline for applications is April 15, 2015. Financial Aid is available. Jim Brosio is lining up the Academy instructors and we are very pleased to learn, most of the instructors from our 2014 event will be returning. We are very fortunate to have the most amazing, talented instructors from various fields right from our Pacific NW. Applications may be downloaded from our website – www.nwycffa.com or you may contact Mike Clancy @ [email protected] or Tom VanGelder @ [email protected] We also have a Facebook page displaying pictures from past events. Jim Brosio @ [email protected] ~By Mike Clancy, Co-Director NWYC&FFA

Join fellow anglers and TU volunteer leaders from across the West on May 1-2 in Jackson, Wyo. for enlightening presentations, inspiring dialogue and engaging camara-derie with those who share your dedication to TU and our mission. We’ll kick-off the two days with a “State of West-ern TU” by TU’s Vice President for Western Conservation, Rob Masonis. We’ll learn from TU staff professionals and volunteer leaders on topics as wide ranging as climate change adaptation to youth education. Opportunities abound to develop your governance skills and practices, discover solutions to your leadership challenges, and in-crease your understanding of the key trends and coldwa-ter conservation issues impacting that particular region. The agenda will break-out into dual tracks so that partici-pants will have a plethora of topics from which to choose. And as always, we’ll have lots of time and opportunities for providing feedback, asking questions, networking and having fun. Total registration cost is $165. See more information and register via TU’s website (www.tu.org); click on ‘Get Involved’; then click ‘National Events’; then click ‘Western Regional Meeting.’

NW Youth Conservation And Fly Fishing 2015 TU Western Regional Meeting

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Bellevue-Issaquah #109 President Brad Throssel | [email protected] Membership Meetings are 2nd Wednesday at Issaquah Brewhouse, 35 W. Sunset Way, Issaquah Website www.tu-bi.org Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/BellevueIssaquah-Chapter-of-Trout-Unlimited/265727933458235March 14 – Chapter fishing trip to Rocky FordMarch 14 – Fry trapping starts at Ebright, Lewis and Laughing Jacobs Creeks Continues every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through MayMarch 22 – Chapter Clamming Trip – MocrocksApril 8 – Chapter meeting-GuideApril 11 – Chapter Fishing Trip to Lone LakeApril 18 –Project Healing Waters - Langolis Fishing Trip and BarbequeMay 9 - Kid’s Fishout - need to determine which lake has the most trout plantsMay 13 – Chapter Meeting-ConservationJune 10 – Chapter Meeting – Fly casting clinic at the Issaquah HatcheryJune 13 - Chapter Fishing Trip Area lakes - Langolis/Rattlesnake/Beaver/Alice/PineJuly 8 - Chapter meeting-FishingAugust 12 – Chapter meeting-Movie nightAugust – Snoqualmie River Clean up – Date TBDSeptember 9 – Chapter Meeting-ConservationOctober 17 – Run with the Kokanee fun run at Lake Sammamish Park

Clark County #560 President Tammy Mackey | [email protected] | 360-513-3725 We are actively seeking officers to help get the chapter back on track. Please contact Tammy Mackey. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ClarkCountyTroutUnlimited

Duwamish-Green Chapter #115 Communications VP John Muramatsu | [email protected] Board meetings on the 1st Monday of the month and Membership Meetings on the 3rd Tuesdays. Locations vary: Mitzel’s American Kitchen, 22330 84th Ave S, Kent Normandy Park Community Club (The Cove), 1500 SW Shorebrook Dr, Normandy Park Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Duwamish-Green-Chapter-of-Trout-Unlimited/326301204136699 April 6 - Board meeting, Mitzel’sApril 21 - Membership Meeting, hatchery vs wild fish, John McMillan, 6pm, NPCCApril 25 - Saturday 1-4pm, learn about steelhead program at Flaming Geyser State Park pondsMay 4 - Board meeting, Mitzel’sMay 19 - Special Seattle location!—Membership meeting at Emerald Water Anglers fly shop 4502 42nd Ave SW, Suite A, Seattle, WA 98116 Puget Sound saltwater fly fishing program by staffMay 23 - Fishing outing, sea run cutthroat at Seahurst Park, Burien 9amJune 1 - Board meeting , Mitzel’sJune 16 - Membership meeting--lake fishing techniques, Anil Srivastava, Puget Sound Fly Co. Mitzel’s American Kitchen 6pm social, 7pm meeting

Edmonds Salmon #101 President Greg Beach | [email protected] | 206-987-1153 Membership Meetings are 4th Wednesday at South Snohomish County Senior Center, 220 Railroad Ave., Edmonds Website http://edmondschaptertroutunlimited.blogspot.com/April 2- Board MeetingApril 22- General Meeting – Halibut FishingMay 6- Board MeetingMay 30-31 – Willow Creek Hatchery – Open HouseJune 3- Board MeetingJune 24- General Meeting – Salmon FishingJuly 1 - Board MeetingAugust 5 - Chapter BBQ

WCTU Chapter Membership Meetings & Events

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Icicle Valley #391 President Mike Wyant | [email protected] | 509-548-7747 Membership Meetings October-May, 2nd Wednesdays at the Icicle Inn in Leavenworth Restaurant, 280 US Hwy 2, Leavenworth Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IcicleValleyTroutUnlimited

Kitsap-Olympic Peninsulas Chapter #383 President Chris Taylor | [email protected] | 206-498-9158 Membership Meetings are 2nd Monday 6:30pm at Central Market Poulsbo (upstairs), 20148 10th Ave., Poulsbo Website www.KOP.TU.ORGApril 4 - Wild Steelhead Monitoring Project at Grover’s Creek - we are working on our biggest, perhaps most important project of

the year and we need volunteers! Please call Steve Burns if you can help, thanks: 360-917-4984.April 9 to April 11 - Fishing Trip to Omak Lake - Contact Steve Burns for more information: 360-917-4984April 13 - Chapter Membership Meeting - meet at Central Market in Poulsbo (upstairs) at 6:30PM.April 14 - Kitsap Water Festival - we need 6 volunteers. This Water Festival at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds is a great oppor-

tunity for us to connect with our local youth to help teach them the importance of healthy water and habitat for wild fish...and have fun doing it. We can set up a booth with two tables (one for playing a quick salmon/steelhead board game that teaches about the trials and tribulations of life cycles), and one for showing them how to tie their own flies). We will try to have a live tank there. We’ll have fun kid-targeted information brochures to hand out as well. Contact Chris Taylor at [email protected].

April 18 - Cowling Creek Spawning Habitat Restoration - we will be cutting up, hauling, and placing large woody debris into Cowl-ing Creek to help with chum salmon and searun cutty spawning. This is a fun and rewarding project. Please call Steve if you can help at 360-917-4984. Thanks!

April 21 - TU Bar Flies Tying Night - We will be meeting at a brew pub in Poulsbo for a night of tying (check website (kop.tu.org) for location and more info. Our nightly tie will be sea-run cutty flies. Jeff Westerlund has agreed to lead us, and just wait until you see his cutty flies! Great beer, good food, and a bunch of lies....what could be better? 7:00 - 9:00PM. Bring tools and vise. All skill levels welcome! Open to the public. Call Chris with any questions (206-498-9158).

April 28 - Spring Auction - we will again team up with Bainbridge Island Fly Fishers to hold the annual spring auction at Seabold Hall on Bainbridge Island. Ted Teather and Ed Samuelson will again entertain us as auctioneers as we bid on some really nice items, both new and lightly used. There will be refreshments and good times! 7:00 - 9:00PM.

May 2 - F3T Fly Fishing Film Tour - We, along with Peninsula Outfitters and Wildernest, will be bringing the film tour to Island Center Hall on Bainbridge Island. The show starts at 7:00PM and will include a live auction and raffle for some premium items from Sage and Wildernest. Part of the proceeds will go toward sending one breast cancer survivor to a fly fishing retreat, courtesy of Cast for Recovery! The rest of the proceeds will go toward wild steelhead and salmon recovery projects. SEATING IS LIMITED, so get your tickets at Peninsula Outfitters, Wildernest, or online atflyfilmtour.com.

May 3 - Bainbridge Youth Fly Fishing Expo - we need 8-10 volunteers to help teach hundreds of kids how to cast a fly rod, tie their own flies, about the joys and responsibilities of sustainable fishing practices, about salmonid life cycles, pond ecosystems, and how to catch, handle, and release trout! This is a lot of fun! Contact Chris at [email protected]

May 1 to May 31 - Grover’s Creek Wild Steelhead Monitoring - we need volunteers to help gather important scientific data. Please contact Chris or Steve if you can help (206-498-9158)

May 11 - Chapter Membership Meeting - meet at Central Market in Poulsbo (upstairs) at 6:30PM. Dick Burge will be presenting Part II of “The Plight of Wild Steelhead in the PNW”....along with the most plausible solutions for recovery.

May 16 - Fish Park Spawning Habitat Restoration - we will be placing more wood and gravel into our adopted section of this criti-cal salmon and cutthroat spawning habitat. Call Steve if you can help us, thanks: 360-917-4984

May 26 - TU Bar Flies Tying Night - We will be meeting at a brew pub in Poulsbo for a night of tying (check website (kop.tu.org) for location and more info. Great beer, good food, and a bunch of lies....what could be better? 7:00 - 9:00PM. Bring tools and vise. All materials provided. All skill levels welcome! Open to the public. Call Chris with any questions (206-498-9158).

May 8 - Chapter Membership Meeting - meet at Central Market in Poulsbo (upstairs) at 6:30PMMay 30 - TU Bar Flies Tying Night - We will be meeting at a brew pub in Poulsbo for a night of tying

(check website (kop.tu.org) for location and more info. Great beer, good food, and a bunch of lies....what could be better? 7:00 - 9:00PM. Bring tools and vise. All materials provided. All skill levels welcome! Open to the public. Call Chris with any questions (206-498-9158).

Kittitas #379 President Tim Wudi | [email protected] Website http://www.tu.org/connect/groups/379-kittitas-valley

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Klickitat #484 President Olivia Holderman | [email protected] | 509-773-3326 Membership Meetings are 1st Wednesday 6:30pm at Columbia Bank Meeting Room, 202 W. Main St., Goldendale Website https://www.facebook.com/KlickitatTroutUnlimited April 1 - General Meeting- Speaker Eric Winther, of WDFW speaking about the Pikeminnow Sports reward program.We will also

be discussing the Stream Clean-up of the Little Klickitat on April 18th.May 6-General Meeting - speaker Dan Bolton of the game department will be speaking on TBD.June 3-General Meeting- will be discussing the upcoming ACE Kids fishing day.July 1 - General Meeting- will be discussing the upcoming Community Days Booth on July 4th.Aug 5 - General Meeting to be held in White Salmon, Wa. with a guest speaker TBD. Will be also be discussing the upcoming

Trout Unlimited family picnic on August 15th.September 2- General Meeting- will be discussing the upcoming Goose Lake fishing trip on September 12.

Olympia #189 President Bob Leingang | [email protected] | 360-754-8262 Membership Meetings are 4th Wednesday at N Olympia Fire Station, 5046 Boston Harbor Road NE, OlympiaApril - Duck Dash Ticket Sales – Bob Leingang: 360-754-8262 Begin sales and identify store locations that will allow sales on

premises.April 13 - Lacey Family Fish-In – Kim Malcom: 360-456-8424 Assemble poles April 13, serve as fishing’guide’ for youth on April

18 at Long’s Pond.April 25 - Vance Creek Kids Fishing Derby – Joe Durham: 360-532-4485 Assist with youth fishing event sponsored by the Elma

Game Club at the Vance Creek ponds in Grays Harbor CountyMay 5- Veteran’s Fishing Program at American Lake – Ron Holtcamp: 360-943-8269. With Tacoma Chapter, provide weekly (sea-

sonal) fishing opportunity for veterans residing at the Community Living Center. Tuesdays, May 5 through Sept 30. May 9 & 10- Wooden Boat Festival – Hal Van Gelder: 360-866-2606. Info booth and ticket salesMay 23- Columbus Park Kids Fishing – Bob Leingang: 360-754- 8262. Held on Black Lake at Columbus Park (private) providing

opportunity for kids to catch and keep trout. Chapter picnic concludes this event.June 6- East Olympia Elementary Casting Clinic – Bill Hiblar: 360-943-2484. Assist kids with developing casting skills. June

Lacey Rotary Duck Dash – Kim Malcom: 360-456-8424. staffing the finish line, and collecting the rubber ducks after the race. June 6

June 8?- Lydia Hawk Elementary School Field Day – Bill Hiblar: 360-943-2484. Assist kids at casting skills station at the annual outdoor activity at the school.

June 8 thru 11- Cole’s Pond Barrier-Free Fishing Week – Ron Holtcamp: 360-943-8269. Help special needs students, assisted living residents, and veterans fish for trout at Cole’s Pond on N Fork Newaukum River in Lewis County.

June 21 thru 27- Northwest Youth Conservation & Fly Fishing Academy – Jim Brosio: 360-943-9947. Help at week long camp for youth 12 to 16 years of age. See article in this newsletter.

September- Washington State Fair- Ron Holtcamp: 360-943-8269. Staff the WCTU exhibit for portions of the 17 day run of the fair in Puyallup. Exhibit provides free activities for kids (of all ages), and information about TU and the environmental needs of salmonids to fairgoers.

Northshore #220 President Dave Steiner | [email protected] | 425-870-5688 Membership Meetings are 1st Tuesday at the Lake Trail Taproom, located at 7324 NE 175th Website http://northshoretu.blogspot.com/ Facebook www.facebook.com/Northshoretroutunlimited

Sky Valley Chapter #654 President Max Jones | [email protected] | 425-238-4590 Membership Meetings are 2nd Tuesday at Qualco Energy Meeting Room, 18117 203rd St. SE, Monroe Website https://sites.google.com/site/skyvalleychapter/HomeApril 26th- While recovering from a poor steelhead season on our home river system (the Snohomish/Skykomish river), the Sky

Valley chapter has been working towards our main two public outreach events for 2015. On April 26th, Sky Valley will be holding our annual Kid’s Fishing Derby. It is a very popular and widely attended event at Lake Tye in Lake Monroe, sup-ported by the DFW, supported by the City of Monroe and attended by hundreds of local area children. The afternoon Adult Derby is a good cash raising event for the chapter, especially if the tagged fish proves to be shy. Our second outreach event is Annual Evergreen State Fair. Every year the Wallace Falls hatchery is nice enough to provide steelhead and Chinook which we display via our pond throughout the fair. As I am sure anyone who has a fair booth can attest, manning the booth for 10 hours a day for ten days always proves to be a challenge but it offers the Sky Valley chapter a great opportunity to

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WCTU Chapter Membership Meetings & Eventsreach people from both near and far. We are always open for suggestions on displays to bring the public into the booth for more than the fish so let us know if you have materials or display materials that you think may help us out.

As for conversation related projects, Sky Valley is following up on leads related to a new park/habitat project near the mouth of the Sultan river, looking into re-establishment of river access near Start up on a former Highway 2 rest area and any other project that we learn of or discover. The chapter continues to clean regularly at the Lewis Bridge river access (thanks to Gary and Ken!!) and we are hoping to assist in the operation of a small coho hatchery (with the Everett Salmon and Steel-head Club).

Spokane Chapter President Bill Abrahamse | [email protected] | 509-209-4048April 7 - Chapter meeting - Avista Spokane River redband studies presentation. Social time starts at 5:30 and meeting starts at

7:00. Longhorn BBQ, 1234 N. Argonne Rd, Spokane ValleyApril 11? Spokane Conservation District Annual Willow Warriors planting eventApril 25 - 9AM - 12PM - Forest Spokane hosted seedling planting at Sandifur Bridge. Sign up at www.justserve.orgApril 28 - Monthly Board Meeting April 30 - Spokane River Keeper Hosted - Wild & Scenic Film Festival at the Garland Theater.May 1 - Trout In the Classroom - Release Day 1. Contact Mike Keegan ([email protected]) to volunteer to helpMay 2 -Kids Fishing Event at Clear LakeMay 5 - Chapter meeting - Featuring a presentation from the Spokane Tribe of Indians on their Spokane River redband work.

Social time starts at 5:30 and meeting starts at 7:00. Longhorn BBQ, 1234 N. Argonne Rd, Spokane Valley. May 8 - Trout In the Classroom - Release Day 2. Contact Mike Keegan ([email protected]) to volunteer to helpMay 15 - Trout In the Classroom - Release Day 3. Contact Mike Keegan ([email protected]) to volunteer to helpMay 26 - Monthly Board MeetingMay 28 - Trout In the Classroom - Release Day 4. Contact Mike Keegan ([email protected]) to volunteer to helpJune 30 - Monthly Board Meeting July 28 - Monthly Board MeetingAugust 25 - Monthly Board MeetingSeptember 1 - Annual Chapter Meeting, officer and board elections

Tacoma Chapter #146 President Gene Harshman | [email protected]

Yakima Valley Chapter #094 - Yakima Fly Fishers’ Association 2015 President Fred Collier | [email protected] | 509-969-4985 Our Chapter meets monthly from September through May. Major events for 2015 include Fly Tying Classes, the Yakima Sportsmen Show, the Annual Kids Fish In Event and Yakima’s youth Kiddin’ Around program. Please go to our website to find details on all of our activities. yakimaflyfishers.orgOutings are planned throughout the year. This year we plant to go to Sun Lakes, Clear Lake, LeechLake and the Yakima River.April 25th- We, along with many other local supporters and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, will Annual Kids Fish In Event.

This event attracts 1000 local youth from the ages of 5 to 14. Kids fish in groups throughout the day and may take home two fish each. Over 5000 fish are stocked for the event. April 26th- Teach up to 20 youth the basics of fly casting, fly tying and give them the opportunity to catch a fish on the fly they tied. Kiddin’ Around is sponsored by the Yakima Greenway Foundation to promote a healthy and active life style for all youth. Last year nearly 8000 youth participated in one or more of the programs many events.

Yakima Rivers Headwaters Chapter #090 President Derek Young | [email protected] | 425-373-6417 Chapter meeting info - Third Wednesday of each month, 7 to 9 PM at The Brick in Roslyn, WA. Website http://www.tu.org/connect/groups/yakima-river-headwaters | Instagram - yakimariverheadwaters_tu Facebook https://www.facebook.com/YakimaRiverHeadwatersTU?ref=aymt_homepage_panel We use Facebook “events” to communicate meeting dates and ask people to RSVP, the events also hold meeting topic info,

etc. May 2nd- F3T (Fly Fishing Film Tour) at The Brick in Roslyn, WA.

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Our mission is to “CONSERVE, PROTECT AND RESTORE” cold water fisheries, their watersheds and eco-systems, as a means of maintaining our quality of life. We do this through projects that combine conservation, education, and fun. To become member of our organization and support our mission, join Trout Unlimited at TU.org. You will automatically be assigned to one of our chapters based on your zip code. Membership Dues: Adults start at $35/year. 18 years old and under are $12/year. Seniors 62 years and older are $20/year. Mailed applications may take 4-6 weeks to process. Please keep WCTU updated with your most current contact information and email address. This prevents you from missing out on member benefits such as newsletters, chapter meetings, outings and projects. Call 1-800-834-2419 or email [email protected] to update your contact information. Thank you for your continued support.

Washington Council of Trout UnlimitedPost Office Box 2652Issaquah, WA 98027

Fly Tying At The Sportsmen Show

~Photos Submitted By Tim Gavin

In February, the Yakima Valley Chapter/Yakima Fly Fishers’ Association hosted a booth at the Yakima Sportsmen Show to promote TU and give all who would like the opportunity to tie a fly. Fly tying is very popular and dozens of children and adults take the opportunity to tie a “Wooly Bugger”. They also staff the Fly Tying Theater at the Show where our members and guests tie flies for audiences each hour of the three day event.

Washington Council Of Trout Unlimited Chairs Rosendo Guerrero, Chair | [email protected] | 253-861-8964Dave Moazed, Vice-Chair | [email protected] Moore, Council Treasurer | [email protected] Scanson, Secretary | [email protected] Gavin, National Leadership Council | [email protected] | 509-966-7628Derek Young, Conservation Chair | 425-373-6417 | [email protected] Taylor, Membership Chair | [email protected] | 206-200-2840Bill Gerdts, Webmaster | [email protected]

To update Chapter meeting info and events to be published in the next issue of The Trout & Salmon Leader Newsletter Magazine, please contact WCTU Communications | Becky Jensen, Coordinator | 425-654-0115 | [email protected]

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