Here is a quote from Ramon VB, spokesman for Washington Trout:

"Becoming the "eyes and ears" of a grassroots environmental organization like Washington Trout can help empower community..."

I can't say Ramon has ever defended WT as a fishing organization but others on this board have. I maintain that they are more of an extreme environmental/ animal rights type organization.

I have been reading alot of background to become more educated on WT and find a common thread with the Audobon Society and other special interest groups who seem to not want fishing to occur much if at all.

I thought that when Ramon was posting on the board the last time he made it pretty clear the WT was not in favor of fishing.

I'm not speaking for WT, but I believe I know enough about them to say this much.

They are not a fishing or fisherman led orginization and as such will not take a position for or against fishing because that is not their concern. They are for proper management of our ocean bound fisheries, but whether that involves fishing or not is inconsequencial. So if it came down to wild fish vs. fishing, they would choose the wild fish.

I think it was Rob Allen who was defending WT by saying they were mostly fishermen and so on....Like I said I don't think WT says that themselves.

I think CWU girl has it right. WT is for fish, which should, in the long run, help fishermen. Sounds right to me. If fighting for proper managment and protection of fish is wrong, I don't want to be right.
I am one fishermen who beleives WT is looking out for my long term interests. Thank you WT.

Here is what Rob A said in reference to WT:


"On the other hand maybe you can't find the various leadeing members of WT out fishing because you do not know them or anything about them.
But i do. they tell me about winter steelheading on the Skagit they fish in the sound for salmon and then writting magazine atricles about it. They plunk sandshrimp and a spinglo on Drano lake trying to harvest a hatchry spring chinook. Maybe you should take some time to get to know some of these members they are as much about saving sportfishing as you.. However they understand that to save the fishing you must first save the fish.."

They are as much about saving sportfishing as me? I doubt it very much....

You would be hard pressed to believe that WT does not have membership that includes thefisherman or woman. By the postings on this topic, many either are, or could be. I don't think this is an "absolute" agenda, such as PETA, that draws a line between the sportsman and the environmentalist. This is a lot more gray.

You mean like PETA? I doubt WT will be unveiling their "Fishing Hurts" campaign any time soon.

I'd say they're proponents of wild fish recovery, and their organization puts that as priority one.

I don't believe that WT is an animal rights orginization- however, their position on the trapping initiative doesn't do much to disspell any AR rumors. IMO, they shouldn't even have a position on it.

Anyway, there is a big difference between animal rights activists and environmentalists. An environmentalist is interested in the big picture, with preserving and enhancing the environment. An animal rights orginization is interested in preservation of individual animals, along with their overall welfare. They aren't concerned with the species so much, or the big picture. An environmentalist can see that management through fishing/hunting does work in many cases, whereas an AR activist can't see any benefit to killing any animals (usually).

I think many (won't go so far as most) fishermen and hunters are in some respects environmentalist or atleast interested in conversation. Personally, I'm far more concerned with the enhancement of wild fisheries than I am with preserving sport fisheries.

There are organizations like Ducks Unlimited and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation that do huge environmental improvements. They improve habitats for animals and fowl so they can both enhance their environment and also harvest them. Sounds like a contradiction but actually harvesting improves conditions of flocks and herds. I think it has been proven that many sports fishing and hunting groups do tremendous things for the environment and habitats across the country. Without their efforts many species would be far worse off.

Just a question: If we are working really hard to improve habitat and survival conditions for wild fish are we doing so to allow harvest or just because?

The Audobon Society which seems to be an affiliate organization of WT is very habitat oriented but not for harvest of any birds as far as I can see. Is this and many similar movements all about returning to Walden Pond? Back to the frontier days?

Can we allow harvest of animals and fish for food and still be acceptable to the "environmentalist" like Sierra Club, Aubobon Society and WT?

look at the washington trout website and look at the sponsers of there last auction, if they were not into sportsfishing why would they give out trips with guides and sportsfishing gear for prizes ?

Boater said;

Answer; for $$$$$$ to keep them going!

Sometimes big time drug dealer sell lots of dope but they never touch the stuff themselves! Now why would they do that?
Answer; for $$$$$$ to keep them going!

WT are not dugs dealers, but they do like their money and they will sell whatever it takes to make that money (that encludes fishing tackle and guided trips). Actually they are pretty smart. They are using the sport fishers own time and money to make them enough money to close down sport fishing. Not a bad idea from a business point of view.

Attacking WT will only make them madder and dig in even deeper. A wise person would make there attacks on the business that are supporting this group! Without funding, WT would surly dry up like every other organization does. They may exist, but without funding will be powerless.

I always wonder where WT was when the Cowlitz was being relicensed, especially since the Cowlitz has the largest hatcheries in state. Apparently they did not want to "take on the public" or pi$$ off thousands on sport fishers, the commercial gill netters, or maybe they were afraid of the power and money that Tacoma Power (the owners of the states largest hatcheries) has.

But like they say, sometimes it's a lot easier to bring in a bunch of "little fish" compared to bringing in the biggest one out there!


Cowlitzfisherman

Two things should be apparent to any who are willing to look. WT is for wild fish, not necessarilky fishermen. Many, if not all WT members are fishermen. The two are not mutually exclusive. I know for a fact that Ramon is an avid fisherman. But I suspect he would be willing to forgo some fishing opportunities to help the wild fish. As would I.

Here is the list of sponsors and donors from the Washington Trout website>


Sponsors:

Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters

Red Hook Brewery

Woodinville Print & Copy




The Pickering Barn

Donors:

Trish Alexander

Ancient Imagery

Angler Sport Group

Anglers Book Supply

Argosy Cruises

Armadillo BBQ

Arts Council of Snohomish County

Association of Northwest Steelheaders

Bastyr University

Milton Bard

Candace Beardslee

Brenda Beckett

Bellevue Club

Bellevue Storables

Boxhill Farm Nursery

Bunny’s Bath

Bushnell Performance Optics

C.C. Filson Co.

Café Lago

Calyx Natural Health Spa

Cascade Crags

Cascade Flyfishing Adventures

Cascade Springs Flyfishing Adventures

Center for Wooden Boats

Clear Creek Company

Columbia Sportswear

Connie’s Produce and Shellfish

Steve Conroy

Jack Cook

Creekside Angling Company

Dharma Works / Tim Harris

Douglass Lake Ranch

Peter Dow

Dr. Slick Co.

Duke’s Chowderhouse

Wilma Dulin and Mike Harves

Duvall Books

E.B. Foote Winery

Eagle Claw

El Gaucho

Empty Space Theater

Experience Music Project

John Farrar

Jean Ferrier

Fly Rod & Reel Magazine

Frank Amato Publications

G. Loomis, Inc

Gardens & Sunspaces Gallery

Gehrke’s Gink

Daniel Gellerup

Golden Witch

Good Wood / Bill Hudson

Kathy Gregory

Greycliff Publishing

Leah Hausman

Hilton Bellevue

Vicki Hoagland

Icicle Outfitters & Guide, Inc.

J.D. Love Guide Service

J.E. Sherry Company

Jim Teeny, Inc

Gregg Johnson

Kaufmann’s Streamborn

Richard Kennon

Kreinik Manufacturing Co.

Krieger Enterprises

Laughing Dog Enterprises

Hugh Lewis

Ralph Lloyd

Loon Outdoors

Main St. Massage / Dina Boom, LMP

John McKim Illustrations

Bill McMillan

Bruce McNae

Tim McNulty

Microsoft

Mindful Movement

Monroe Therapeutic Massage, PS

Mt. Rainier National Park

Ed Newbold

Northwest Angler

Northwest Fly Fishing

Northwest Outdoor Center

Northwest Women Flyfishers

O. Mustad & Sons

Overlake Flyfishing

Deloa Parrish

Daryl and Sherrie Parker

Pendleton Woolen Mills

Portland Trail Blazers

Radiance Herbs & Massage

Red Hook Brewery

Denny Redman

Red’s Fly Shop

RoofWorks Hair Salon

Doug Rose

Dale Russell

Sage Manufacturing Corp.

San Juan Safaris

Sanctuary Spa & Yoga

Scientific Anglers

Scott Fly Rod Co.

Seattle Art Museum

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Symphony Orchestra

Songstone Studios / Tanya Hill

Southern Chile Expeditions

John Sowinski

Sid Strong

Swiftwater

Avid Angler

Third Floor Fish Café

Thomas & Thomas
Joseph Tomelleri

Tree House Yoga

Pat Trotter

Marilyn and Craig Tuohy

Van Egan

Ramon Vanden Brulle

Vertical World

Wapsi Fly Co.

Watershed Watch/ Craig Orr

Wild Ginger

Ted Williams
Willows Lodge

Ken Winkleblack

Women’s Flyfishing

Woodland Park Wellness / Alicia Gonzalez-Schloredt, ND

World Publications, LLC

Bev Watts


Make up your own mind as far as what type of fishing is represented .

I know that the major fishing lodge sponsor slated for this year's auction pulled out after they were made aware of WT's policy towards hatcheries and fishing in general and when they realized how many sports fishermen protested WT.

Thanks Grandpa: I will try to frequent those fine folks whenever possible. It's great to see so many local companies willing to donate to help our wild fish.

Some great companies on the list. Most fishing related companies are fly fishing companies. The boat companies are kayaks, yoga , naturopathic medicine,..etc..nothing wrong with any of that at all. It is just a philosophy shared by most of the people on the list that does not reflect the majority of sports fishermen and women.. I called it boutique fishing in the past meaning that what is acceptable and "righteous" to them is a lifestyle and a very narrow definition of fishing. There is a big emphasis on catching and releasing wild trout and steelhead on a fly. Looking at the pictures on WT's website of the auction function you can see lots of wine sipping elitist yuppies but not too many fishermen like you might see at a sportsman's show. Nothing wrong with it if you're in that group unless you threaten the rest of the fishing world by trying to force your way of fishing ( or not fishing) on the rest of us.

You betcha AuntyM!! They raised $50,000 at the annual auction. That is about what the lawsuit against WDFW netted them.

Hmmm... is it that only fly fishing related companies were asked or fly fishing companies are more concerned with conservation? Rheortical question.. don't answer that..

I've yet to see where WT has acted to enhance fly fishing opportunities or taken it upon themselves to pick on other methods of fishing. They seem to pick battles that they feel will benefit WILD FISH, period. Maybe that's because they're not a fishing organization. So, when is this super secret "wine sipping elitist yuppie" agenda going to rear its ugly head?

Just because they're not sportsman show lovin' trailer trash, doesn't mean they're wrong. (used name calling only to get across that the extreme generalizations used about WT members are just as silly).

Aunty M:

You must have a crystal ball! I do donate directly to WT every year. I was thinking of cutting back as I am now retired and need to watch my pennies a bit more than I used to. But I see they need the money more than ever now, so I guess I will have to continue to help them out. Still, if I'm going to make a purchase of something one of their supporters provides I miight as well give them the business to show that I appreciate thier efforts.

surecatch///you are to be commended for sticking to your convictions. Don't forget to patronize Bastyr University ( a WT sponsor)....get a stool sample and bag it up and head on down to BU for an analysis...report back to us on the results. I'm sure they will appreciate your patronage and so will Ramon.