Evenin', everyone.

I just sent out an e-mail to some of our comrades in arms in steelhead protection...here it is. I'd have sent it to everyone if I had everyone's e-mail address.

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Gentlemen,

As many, or all, of you know, WDFW has requested that NOAA Fisheries approve a THREE-FOLD increase in allowable mortality on wild ESA listed steelhead in the Columbia River for the non-tribal commercial "tangle net" spring chinook fishery. If approved, this allocation of mortality will be set in stone for the next three seasons.

The request is to up the allowable from last year's 2% to 5%-7% for the next three seasons.

I doubt that there's anyone among you who think that the 2% was acceptable to begin with, and the requested rates are triply unacceptable.

In an effort to ramrod the process, the request was made public just yesterday, the one and only WDFW hearing on the request will be Saturday, and the decision is reportedly slated to be made during the week next week.

First, I'd encourage everyone to not only go down to the hearing Saturday, but to encourage everyone else you know to do it, too.

For my part, I have a van that can seat myself and seven others, and I plan on driving it down. Anyone from the Seattle area that wants to go with me is welcome, until the van is full, of course. All I would ask is that everyone kick in $5 to cover the gas.

We could spend the hour, hour and a half, strategizing and pooling our information and resources to present some sort of a unified front. The more folks representing the most groups, the better.

Thanks, everyone, and please forward this to any lists or BB's that you would like to make sure that my van is full and that the freeway is full of others driving down there. We really need to take it to 'em on this.

The meeting is at 10 am at the Natural Resources Building in Olympia, 1111 Washington Street.

I can be reached at 425-281-0571, or at c_n_r_nates@hotmail.com .

Fish on...

Todd Ripley
VP Political and Legal Affairs
Wild Steelhead Coalition, http://www.wildsteelheadcoalition.com

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TTT

Come on, guys!

With all the outrage being expressed on this board about allocating more springers and more ESA steelhead to the commercials for the NEXT THREE YEARS on the Columbia, you'd think a few folks would want to go down and express a bit of that outrage at the hearing.

Is arguing over Vision hooks and whether or not Sportco is a good store to shop at really more important than actually working to get more fish in the river? Without the fish, there's no need to argue over which store to go to and which hooks to buy once you get there.

Fish on...

Todd.

I will be proud to meet both Todd and Aunty M at the meeting.

I'm going to tell them that if the commercials would use Vision hooks bought from Sportco that there would be no problems.

I plan on bringing as many buddies as I can round up on Saturday. I live in the area so I am hoping they'll postpone fishing till Sunday. By the way....it would be great to get all the fishing groups together and create a lobby to combat the commercial effort. Greasing a few palms seems to work!

AuntyM,

I can't believe you forgot that you'd have to be fishing out of the back of a North River jet boat, too...

Fish on...

Todd.

Todd- Here, Here!

See you all there tomorrow! I also wrote my legislative rep, and I got a good response. It helps that he is a close friend from work.

If people are not willling to get off thier back-sides and show up, the have no right to whine about the outcome!!!

Be there or be fishless!!!

SA

To Funny,
See you guys in the morning, We should all wear Oakland Raider attire and intimidate them!!!!!!
Peace
Superfly

I feel better knowing that Eddie and AuntyM are going to Olympia today. I will be at the boat show sitting next to the WDFW guys all day. I will be helping kids get excited about fishing....You folks in Olympia are the best hope we have for the future fishing opportunities for these kids. My little grandson is only 19 months old but he is so excited about fish already I can't believe it. His PA PA is working his butt off to make sure he has quality fishing in his future...Thanks Todd , Steve Ng, AuntyM and Eddie and all the others going to the meeting to be heard.

Be short and direct in your comments and very specific as to why the TRIPLE mortality permit requested by the commercial netters is a BAD IDEA for the fish.

Eddie..don't forget the aluminum foil...those commissioners but out some damaging vibes at times.

Grandpa, I now travel nowhere without a good supply of foil "Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean that they really aren't out to get you."

Glad to hear it Eddie...Don't forget to remind everyone interested in speaking their piece at the meeting to immediately sign up to be heard. They will take comments in order from those who fill out the form at the table when you enter the room. They will want to know who you are and what you intend to say so they can censor you...no just kidding...They are mandated by law to listen whether they like what you have to say or not. Most of the commercial fishing advocates on the commission will have their minds made up in advance in favor of whatever benefits commercial netting interests but your job is to lay out the folly of their bias with facts...

saa all of you at !0:00 am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peace
Superfly

All of you attending that meeting have my "proxy gripe", so chew on them a bit for me too.

Grandpa...see you at the show. After today I'll be a member of PSA and am looking forward to getting involved. Got an idea to help the hatcheries, and fishermen, that I would like to run by you.

Mike