Woodland Creek Community Center 6729 Pacific Avenue SE, Lacey, WA 98503
Club News and Current Events
SSCPSA President's Monthly Newsletter August 2021
WE ARE BACK IN BUSINESS! It was wonderful to see over 70 members and guests at our welcome back barbeque on July 7. I want to extend my sincere thanks to all who volunteered to make this very enjoyable event a great success. However, I must extend a special thank you to Dee Glenn. Not only was the welcome back barbeque Dee’s idea, but she also arranged for the venue, made all of salads we enjoyed, did the shopping for the raffle items and coordinated the entire event. I don’t know what we would do without her.
We are returning to our normal general meeting schedule on Thursday August 5 at 7:00 PM. The speaker that evening will be Steve Andrews. Steve is a very successful angler everywhere he fishes, but especially in Area 13. He will share his knowledge of hot spots in the local area and the techniques he uses.
This is especially timely as our annual Chapter Member and Guest Derby will be on Saturday, August 21. Tickets for the derby are $30.00/person and will be available at the August meeting or from Mike Silvers (setthehook55@gmail.com), Dee Glenn (deeglen2@comcast .net) or me (ramorrow@pacifier.com). This year’s prizes are first place $400, second $200, third $100 and $75 for the mystery fish. In addition, this year every entrant will be entered into a drawing for additional prizes. Any legal salmon may be entered. The weigh station will be open at the Boston Harbor Marina from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
As has been the practice in the past $5.00 of the derby ticket price will be donated for pancreatic cancer research in honor of Terry Rudnick. With that in mind Terry has recently announced that on August 21 his annual breakfast on the water will return. He says, “Covid put us out of business last year, and will have some impact on this year’s event as well. We’ll be serving lattes, hot coffee, juice and muffins, but the grill will be closed this year. The raffle we added a few years ago keeps getting bigger, and we’ve added lots of new stuff for this year.” I am sure more information regarding this event will be forthcoming.
I have seen several reports of successful trips at Westport and local waters in recent days. One of the things I enjoy most about my membership in this organization is the opportunity to learn from others. Please continue to share your fishing reports. You can do so by sending an email to psa-mailing@googlegroups.com. If you are on the water good luck and be safe.
SSCPSA President's Monthly Newsletter July 2021
At long last we will have an in person meeting. We are going to celebrate this by having a barbeque dinner and raffle on Wednesday July 7 at the Lacey Community Center. There will be a social hour beginning at 6:00 PM with dinner being served at 7:00. I look forward to seeing everyone that evening.
On Saturday June 12 we had a very successful boat show which was coupled with an opportunity to have a safety inspection performed by a representative of from the United States Power Squadron. Fourteen members brought their boats and demonstrated how they have them rigged for types of fishing. I know I came away with some different ideas that I plan to try this summer. In my mind the most important part of the day was the safety inspection. I was pleased to learn that all 14 boats passed with flying colors and received a decal showing that fact. The decal is important because if you have one you usually are not subject to vessel safety checks by the Coast Guard, WDFW or local law enforcement. I want to acknowledge and thank Viki Sharp, who gave up her Saturday to perform the checks. For those who couldn’t make it to the show, Viki is willing to come to you and do the check. Her contact number if 360 866-7134 (leave a message).
Don’t forget our annual garage sale on Saturday, July 17. This event is a major fund raiser for the club. Sale items need not be fishing related. We are looking for any item you might want to donate other than clothing. You can drop off the items you wish to donate at Mike Silvers’ house (4554 14th Ave SE, Lacey, WA) at any time. We will be setting up the sale on the afternoon of July 16 and would appreciate any help at that time as well as on the day of the sale.
One of the things that makes organizations like ours work is the involvement of volunteer members. We have been lucky to have them throughout the years. One such member, Chris Salp has done fantastic job of editing our newsletter for several years. Unfortunately, for us he has recently moved and is no longer able to continue in that role. Therefore, we need a replacement. Please let me know if you are interested.
We will resume our normal meeting schedule on Thursday August 5. Steve Andrews, a very experienced South Sound area angler, will be the speaker at that meeting. He will share his knowledge of hot spots in the local area and the techniques he uses. This is especially timely as our annual Chapter Member and Guest Derby will be on Saturday, August 21. More information on the derby will be forth coming.
June 12 -
2021 Boat Safety Inspection and Boat Show Puget Sound Anglers has scheduled a Coast Guard inspector to inspect boats and issue 2021 Safety stickers for their boats. While we are there, we decided to have our annual Boat Show. Come get your boat inspected by Coast Guard for safety and see how we have our boats rigged for fish, cruising, shrimping and just to spend a day on the water. Location/time: Swan Town Marina parking lot Saturday 10:00-2:00 June 12, 2021. See downloadable safety checklist document at the bottom of this page.
SSCPSA President's Monthly Newsletter June 2021
It appears that the year long suspension of our in person meetings is nearing an end. There is still a possibility that we might have a zoom meeting on June 3 if we can solve some technical issues that have plagued us for the past year. In any event we do plan to have a welcome back general meeting on Saturday July 10. The plan is to hold the meeting in the late afternoon at the Lacey Community Center picnic area. There will be a barbeque dinner and raffle. More information regarding the timing of the
event will be forthcoming. Regular monthly meetings will commence on the first Thursday in August and continue for the rest of the year.
The next event will be our annual garage sale on July 17. This is a significant fund raiser for our club. In the past we have sold not only fishing gear (which most of us probably have more unused items than we need), but also washers, driers, a travel trailer, a boat and many other items someone had laying around the house. The only restriction we place on donations is NO CLOTHING.
Although many of us have been fishing throughout the winter, June is considered by many the start of the boating season. Many of us are already using our boats in lakes for trout and the salt for halibut and
shrimp. Salmon season will soon be upon us which means that we will be spending more time on the water. So, if you haven’t already done so, it is time to get your boat out of storage and make sure it is ready to be used. Even if you have, the first thing we all need to do is to refresh our knowledge of boating safety practices. The next thing to do is to check all your safety equipment to ensure that is serviceable. You should especially look at the expiration dates on your flares and fire extinguisher and replace those that are no longer valid. Finally, make sure the boat and the trailer it has been sitting on all winter are sound mechanically. If all these items check out, have a great summer on the water.
Another upcoming event is the annual member and guest derby set for August 21 if the WDFW reopens Area 13 for salmon fishing. John Ignac who has done a great job as chair of this event for the past three years has resigned but has agree to work with his replacement this summer. We need someone to step up and take on this task.
Finally, Chris Salp our Newsletter editor has moved to Port Angeles and has asked to be replaced. If you are interested in assuming this responsibility for this important function pleas let me know.
The past year has been a very trying time for our club. The inability to have regular meetings
has made it seem as if we have gone out of business. That is not true in fact we have had a
number of events throughout the year. These events include:
1. A rockfish/crab outing to Westport in July. Six members brought their boats and around 15
members had a day on the water. Unfortunately, the weather and fish didn’t cooperate, but we all had a good time. That month we also had a surf perch and wienie roast outing at Grayland attended by 25 members and guests. It was a great day for all.
2. We started the month of August with our annual garage sale. This is one of our primary fund raisers for the Kid’s Fishing Program and our general operating expenses. We did not know what to expect given the current COVID 19 conditions. To our surprise it was the best year ever. We almost doubled the amount earned over last year. This successful result
solved budgetary concerns facing the Board. I want to thank everyone who contributed items for the sale and helped out.
3. Our third annual derby on August 22 was a great success if you consider that there were 59 tickets sold and that it was a perfect day to be on the water. However, it was not a very successful day for those of us who measure fishing success by the number of fish in the box. There were only 2 fish brought to the weigh station.
The winner was Ben Bower with a 10.4# King with second place going to Bob Boes at 9.1#
4. In October eleven members had a great day digging clams and enjoying a wienie roast.
5. In early November we took several GIs from JBLM on a bobber dogging chum fishing expedition.
6. Another November outing was a trout fishing excursion to Mayfield Lake. Seven of us enjoyed a great fall day on the water. However, as seems to be the case on our outings the fish didn’t cooperate. Only three trout went home for dinner.
7. On the 19th of December we had a very successful crab outing to Willipa Bay. Ten members all came home with their limit of delicious crab.
8. After some unexpected snags we were able to hold a unique Kids Fish-in on April 17, 2021. The City of Lacey at the last minute told us that we couldn’t hold the planned event Long’s Pond due to COVID concerns. This was long after we had advertised the event and had accepted registrations
from over 100 kids each of whom expected to receive a free fishing pole, some instruction on water safety and how to use their new tackle and an opportunity to catch a fish. After considerable discussion the City agreed that we could use the parking lot and hand out the rods on a drive through basis as long as there was no formal instruction. There was also an agreement that they kids could fish on their own in Long’s Pond which had recently been stocked with 2,000 trout by WDFW. We managed to get 110 rods in the hands of deserving kids and saw several manage to catch a fish.
9. On May 8, 2021, we participated in WDFW’s “Hand-Raised Trout to Home-Cooked Meal” live virtual event. This was a program that started in the hatchery and followed the development of the fish to being caught in a lake and subsequently eaten. Our participation was how to set up fishing gear to catch these newly planted lake trout. If you are interested the program is available on WDFW’s You Tube site.
As you can see there have been activities involving the club throughout the year. In every case we have tried to get advance notice out to everyone prior to the event with the exception of the last event (WDFW limited us to one participant due to COVID restrictions). We do have several events on the calendar during the summer months. It is our hope that the COVID restrictions will soon be done away with and we can return to our normal monthly meeting schedule.
UP COMING EVENTS
June 6
Surf Perch outing to Grayland. The plan is to leave the Mud Bay Park and Ride at 10:00 AM. More info will be forth coming
June 12
2021 Boat Safety Inspection and Boat Show Puget Sound Anglers has scheduled a Coast Guard inspector to inspect boats and issue 2021 Safety stickers for their boats. While we are there, we decided to have our annual Boat Show. Come get your boat inspected by Coast Guard for safety and see how we have our boats rigged for fish, cruising, shrimping and just to spend a day on the water. Location/time: Swan Town Marina parking lot Saturday 10:00-2:00 June 12, 2021
June 16
Board Meeting Dee’s House
July 7
A welcome back general meeting at the Lacey Community Center. There will be a barbeque and raffle
July 16 and 17
Garage Sale set up on July 16 and sale on July 17. This is a significant fund raiser for our club. In the past we have sold not only fishing gear (which most of us probably have more unused items than we need), but also washers, driers, a travel trailer, a boat and many other items someone had laying around the house. The only restriction we place on donations is NO CLOTHING.
July 21
Board Meeting Dee’s House
August 5
General Meeting Lacey Community Center
August 18
Board Meeting Dees House
August 21
Annual Member and Guest Derby
Event by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Online Event
Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 10 AM PDT – 11:30 AM PDT
Price: Free · Duration: 1 hr 30 min
Public · Anyone on or off Facebook
We will be broadcasting live from Lakewood Hatchery and American Lake to highlight what goes into raising rainbow trout for planting in Washington lakes.
We’ll be joined by friends from Puget Sound Anglers, who will share tips and strategies to catch rainbow trout. Representatives from Trout Unlimited will detail how to safely handle catch-and-release fish.
WDFW staff will show you how to navigate the agency’s website and the Fish Washington mobile app to find current fishing information. The event will conclude with a demonstration of how to clean and cook freshly caught trout.
SSCPSA President's Monthly Newsletter May 2021
Unfortunately, it appears that COVID does not want to go away without a fight. Consequently, we will not be able to hold our May meeting. In my comments for the last couple of months I have asked if the you are interested in a Zoom meeting. The results have been mixed at best. I think we should try to have one beginning with the June meeting. More information regarding the meeting will be forth coming. In the interim, it appears the best way for us to get out of this mess is for us all to be vaccinated. Now that everyone over the age of 16 is eligible that day should come quickly. Thank you if you have been vaccinated. IF NOT, GET IT DONE!
After some unexpected snags we were able to hold a unique Kids Fish-in on April 17. The City of Lacey at the last minute told us that we couldn’t hold the planned event Long’s Pond due to COVID concerns. This was long after we had advertised the event and had accepted registrations from over 100 kids each of whom expected to receive a free fishing pole, some instruction on water safety and how to use their new tackle and an opportunity to catch a fish. After considerable discussion the City agreed that we could use the parking lot and hand out the rods on a drive through basis as long as there was no formal instruction. There was also an agreement that they kids could fish on their own in Long’s Pond which had recently been stocked with 2,000 trout by WDFW. We managed to get 110 rods in the hands of deserving kids and saw several manage to catch a fish.
We are planning for a number of events beginning in July. The first is a barbeque meeting on Saturday July 10. We plan to hold this event at the Lacey Community Center Park. This event will be followed by our annual garage sale on Saturday, July 17. Now is the time to sort through your stuff and identify items that you no longer need, use or want. Clothing items are the only thing that we do not accept for the sale. Finally, on the great hope the we will be back to normal we have reserved the meeting room for the first Thursday of every remaining month in 2021.
As I write these comments WDFW still hasn’t announced the final Salmon and Crab season for Puget Sound and Coastal waters. They have announced seasons for Halibut and Shrimp. As respects Shrimp on Hood Canal be aware that the Skokomish Tribe’s closure of popular Potlatch boat ramp is still out there. If you are taking advantage of these fishing opportunities be safe.
Sometimes the best laid plans do not come to fruition. The City of Lacey on Tuesday said that we can’t have our 2021 Family Fish-in event scheduled for April 17, 2021 due to COVID 19 concerns.
After discussion with the City we did receive permission to have a small number of our members at the park to hand out the promised fishing poles to the 100+ kids that had been registered for the event. This will be accomplished by members of the Board.
WDFW will still plant the Pond with 2,000 trout however there won’t be a netted area. Lacey has also agreed that we can encourage the kids to try their luck. We will have bait available for those who want to do just that.
An email has been sent to all those registered advising them of this change of plans.
I want to thank everyone who had agreed to take part in this event. It is unfortunate that this decision came at such a late date. Hopefully, next year we will be back to normal and will be able to hold a full fledged kids fish-in.
Allen Morrow, President
South Sound Chapter Puget Sound Anglers
SSCPSA President's Monthly Newsletter April 2021
April will be the 13th consecutive month we have been unable to have our monthly meeting. Hopefully, this prohibition against large gatherings will be lifted soon and the City of Lacey will allow us to use the Community Center. In the meantime the Board is exploring the possibility of holding a meeting on Zoom. In my comments last month, I asked you to let me know if you thought that was a good idea or not. To my surprise I only got two responses. One yes and one very resounding no. I am asking again do you think a Zoom meeting would be nice. Please let me know at ramorrow@pacifier.com.
We do have some events on the calendar. The first is a return of our annual Kids Fish-in at Longs Pond in Lacey, WA. The event this year which will be on Saturday April 17, 2021 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM is being self-sponsored by our chapter. This event offers kids 4 to 14 years of age an opportunity to learn how to fish, be safe on the water and finally to catch a fish. Each participant will receive a fishing pole and terminal tackle at no cost. We plan to place a net along 400’ of the shoreline of Longs Pond planted with 2,000 rainbow trout provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The netted area will be marked with 8’ spacing providing up to 50 participants an opportunity to try out their new fishing pole. Each participant will be allowed to fish for one hour or until they catch two fish within the netted area. We will need at least 20 to volunteers to pull this event off. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST WEAR A MASK AND MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.
In addition, to this event we a planning a barbeque meeting on July 10 assuming that the latest estimates that such events will be permitted after July 4th are right. We also will hold our annual garage sale on July17 so start collecting items you want to donate. Finally, we hope to have the annual Member and Guest Derby on August 21. With that in mind we need a volunteer to be the derby chair. John Ignac, our prior chair who has retired is willing to assist the new chair. If you are interested again please let me know at ramorrow@pacifier.com.
If you haven’t paid you dues yet please do so by sending a check to South Sound Chapter PSA, PO Box 1002, Olympia, WA 98507-1002. All of the events we are planning are contingent on the country gaining control to the COVID-19 virus, so if you are eligible and haven’t been vaccinated get it done.
March 2021
For the 12th consecutive month it appears that we will not be able to have an in person meeting in March. From what I read in the paper as I am writing this it doesn’t appear that the current rules barring large gatherings will be relaxed for some time. In reading the club comments in the Reel News I noticed that several other chapters are now meeting on Zoom. That is an option that I think we might want to consider. Personally, I have found Zoom meetings to not be satisfying and sometimes difficult to access. I also am aware that many of us are either unfamiliar with Zoom or lack the necessary computer and software to use it. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to have such a meeting if there are enough members interested to justify the time it will take to set one up. Please let me know by the middle of March if you think we should or should not explore a Zoom meeting in April at ramorrow@pacifier.com. This is a critical time for us all to watch what is happening that will affect our opportunities to fish for salmon and steelhead. I recently forwarded to everyone the schedule for the North of Falcon meetings and an invitation from WDFW seeking public input into the process. These meetings are where the salmon seasons and allocations are established. Other issues that we need to watch are the law suit brought by Fish NW against WDFW alleging mismanagement of our fisheries and potential lawsuit brought by Wild Fish Conservancy against WDFW baring the release of summer steelhead smolts in the Skykomish River. It is critical that we all watch what is happening and make our feelings known to the decision makers. The Board and I are trying to come up with some outings that will meet the COVID 19 restrictions. A clam dig would be great if the Domoic Acid would just go away. We are currently working the Lacey Parks Department trying to come up with a way we can have some sort of a Kids Fish-in in April. It probably won’t be a traditional program, but we hope to be able to have something that will allow kids to fish in Long’s Pond with a new rod and reel. Finally, thank you for everyone that has paid your 2021 dues. If you haven’t paid them yet, please send a $35.00 check payable to South Sound Chapter PSA to PO Box 1002, Olympia, WA 98507. Also, if you are fishing and successful please send pictures of your catch to spsanewsletter@gmail.com.
February 2021
At this point it is apparent that February will be another month without a meeting. I hope this message finds everyone healthy and coping well with everything occurring in our world. We not only are facing a pandemic and political issues, but now are faced with a number of threats to our ability to fish. Recent decisions by WDFW to allow the use of gill nets in the mainstream of the Columbia and banning fishing from a boat and the use of bait or scent in coastal rivers will significantly limit recreational fishing opportunities. If that wasn’t enough, Wild Fish Conservancy is in the process of filing another law suit aimed at stopping steelhead hatchery production on the Skykomish River. This organization has the admitted goal of forcing the closure of all fish hatcheries which would essentially close all recreational fishing opportunities. We as an organization must join together to fight these actions. We can do that by making our view known by letting the decision makers know how we feel. Please take the time to respond to “Voter Voice” calls for action you receive, by communicating directly with WDFW on issues you are concerned about or more importantly by letting your legislator know how you feel.
On a more positive note, I understand that there are fish in some of the local rivers. The Skookumchuck is fishable unless we have just had one of the heavy rains. The word is that it is very crowded especially on the weekends. I am sure that the situation is the same on other local rivers. Another available opportunity to catch a fish are the several year around lakes in our area. Most offer a chance to catch
trout and several bass. Just be sure to check the rules before you go as they seem to change more frequently and quickly than in the past. It is my hope that we will be able to have another clam dig or crab outing if the Domoic Acid Toxin problem clears. It is somewhat promising that might happen as WDFW has allowed the commercial
crabbing season to reopen north of Point Chehalis. Finally, I want to thank those who have already paid their dues. If you haven’t paid them yet you an do so by sending a check to Puget Sound Anglers, PO Box 1002, Olympia, WA 98507.
January 2021
It will most likely be the end of 2020 before you read this message. In my mind that couldn’t have come soon enough. Unfortunately, it appears the start of 2021 will not be a significant improvement at least in the early part. There will not be a general meeting in January. Based on what I hear on the news, it probably will be at least March before restrictions on gatherings are relaxed enough for us to meet.
The board has tried to find activities that are permissible for us to get together. Since April we have had an outing to Westport for bottom fish and crab, a very successful garage sale, one of the best attended club member and guest only derbies, a surf perch outing, a couple of clam digs and an outing to Mayfield Lake. We had a number of other clam digs scheduled for December and hoped to have more after the first of the year, but the Domoic Acid Toxin put an end to them. Please let me know if you have any ideas for an outing while we wait for everything to open again.
In light of the lack meetings the board has voted to ask the current officers to serve for an additional year. All have agreed to do so with the exception of vice-president Pat Leahy. Pat has moved to Port Orchard and the commute to Olympia for meeting is more that he wants to make. I want to thank Pat for his service to our chapter during is term. So, we are looking for a candidate for his position. If you are interested please let me know.
Dee Glenn recently sent out an email outlining how you can pay your 2021 dues. Among other things the dues are the source of funds we use to pay for the Reel News, the club newsletter, insurance and some other general expenses. If you didn’t get the email please let me know.
If you have a chance to go fishing do so safely and if you are successful please share that fact with all of us.
December 2020
For the eighth consecutive month I have to announce that there will not be a meeting. It seems like forever since we have been able to have a meeting, but I hope the current steps will bring an end to the drought. It is especially troubling to cancel the December meeting as that is our annual holiday party. I hope this message finds everyone safe and healthy and that we all will continue to be so in the future. One of the things I miss most from our meetings other than the companionship is the sharing of fish tales. It is always enjoyable and beneficial to hear about successful and sometimes unsuccessful fishing expeditions. Under the current rules there is no reason we all can’t be fishing and why we can’t be sharing that information with the membership. I and I am sure many others would like to know where people are fishing and how they are doing. The best way to share your stories is to send an email to the membership. Simply do an email and send it to psa-mailing@googlegroups.com
. We are planning a couple of outings in the month of December. The current rules allow gatherings of up to 5 people so we will strive to ensure social distancing at each outing to maintain compliance and safety for all of us. The first will be a crabbing outing to Willipa Bay on December 19. The exact details have yet to be determined, but if you are interested please let Mike Silvers (setthehook55@gmail.com) or me
(ramorrow@pacifier.com) know. The second is a clam dig on December 31. The New Year’s Eve outing is a club tradition not only for the opportunity to harvest razor clams, but to see what has always proved to be some spectacular firework displays. Hopefully, the domoic acid toxin will be gone and we will be able to hold this event. Location and time will be sent out later. Finally, we are nearing the start of a new year which means that you will need to pay your dues. Dee Glenn, Treasurer will be sending out an email shortly how you can make payment in era without meetings.
Have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.
PREVIOUS NEW LETTERS:
There will not be a November meeting. In fact, it appears that we will be unable to have any meetings until sometime next year unless there is a dramatic change in the Covid-19 pandemic. That means that there probably will not be a Christmas banquet this year. We are trying to find ways to allow us to get together that comply with the rules. One such event was on October 17 when eleven members had a great day digging clams and enjoying a wienie roast. We hope to have other outings in the near future. Tentative outings and dates are:
1. The third annual bobber dogging outing for chum salmon in early November.
2. Clam digs in November and December.
3. An outing to Mayfield Lake for Trout and Tiger Muskies in November.
4. A second annual crab outing to the Willipa in December.
More specific information regarding these events with dates and times will be sent out shortly. If you have suggestions for additional outings, please let me or any board member know. On a more serious side there are a number of issues on the horizon that threaten recreational fishing as we know it today. Issues like the Orca problem in the Salish Sea, gill nets in the main stream Columbia River and Willapa Bay, the Puget Sound Chinook Harvest Management Plan, predation by seals, sea lions and birds continue to threaten the future of recreational fishing in our state. It is essential that we all monitor proposed action by WDFW, to insure that recreational opportunities aren’t lost as decisions are made. You have been and will continue to
receive messages from PSA, CCA and other interest groups encouraging you to attend meetings with WDFW or to at least send your comments regarding the proposals to the interested parties. So when you receive an email asking for your support please don’t ignore it. Rather you need to make your position known to the powers that be. Remember that the more noise we make the more likely our position will be considered. I hope this message finds everyone safe and free from Covid-19. If you are and have the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoor activities available this time of the year please share your experience with the rest of us. You can forward pictures and reports sspsanewsletter@gmail.com and we will see that they are shared with everyone. If you are fishing be safe and have a good day on the water.
THERE WILL BE NO OCTOBER MEETING
The COVID 19 prohibition on large gatherings continues to keep us from having a general meeting. Hopefully, this will change in the near future. In the interim, the Board is trying to find ways to get us together and still comply with the rules. For example, we are planning surf perch/clam dig outings on Saturday October 17, Saturday November 14 Saturday December 12 and Thursday December 31. The specific location and time for these outings will be sent out shortly before each event. Other potential events are a joint trip to Mayfield Lake for trout and maybe tiger muskies in early October, a crab outing to Willipa Bay in December and our annual Bobber Dogging outing for chum salmon in early November. We need your help in identifying ew opportunities. If you have any ideas please let me at ramorrow@pacifier.com or Mike Silvers at setthehook55@gmail.com
know.
Our third annual derby on August 22 was a great success if you consider that there were 59 tickets sold and that it was a perfect day to be on the water.
However, it was not a very successful day for those of us who measure fishing success by the number of fish in the box. There were only 2 fish brought to the weigh station. The winner was Ben Bower with a 10.4#
King with second place going to Bob Boes at 9.10#. John Ignac has served as derby chair the last three years and says it is time for someone else to assume the duty. If you are interested in assuming this role please let me know at ramorrow@pacifier.com . John promises to help the new chair for the first year. The lack of a meeting doesn’t mean that there aren’t opportunities to learn new things. For example, Forrest Gill has sent out several links to sites offering suggestions for new ways to fish. Another good source of information is LeeRoys Ramblings (www.leeroysramblings.com). There is a wealth of information about many subjects on this web site from fishing and hunting to boat and motor maintenance.
I hope you all remain healthy and am looking forward to seeing everyone soon. If you are fishing “good luck” and be safe.
SEPTEMBER WILL PROBABLY BE ANOTHER MONTH WITH NO MEETING
Efforts to contain the COVID 19 crisis continue to bar our ability to have a general meeting. The rules as I am writing this message bar any meeting of ten or more persons and the news that I hear do not suggest a change before our scheduled September third meeting date. In an attempt to provide opportunities for us to meet the Board has scheduled several outings in recent months. In July we had a rockfish/crab outing to Westport. Six members brought their boats and around 15 members had a day on the water. Unfortunately, the weather and fish didn’t cooperate, but we all had a good time. That month we also had a surf perch and wienie roast outing at Grayland attended by 25 members and guests. It was a great day for all.
We started the month of August with our annual garage sale. This is one of our primary fund raisers for the Kid’s Fishing Program and our general operating expenses. We did not know what to expect given the current COVID 19 conditions. To our surprise it was the best year ever. We almost doubled the amount earned over last year. This successful result solved budgetary concerns facing the Board. I want to thank everyone who contributed items for the sale and helped out. The other event is August will be our annual Club Member and Guest Derby. This event will occur in late August after the deadline for this message in the Reel News. With the understanding that outings where we can have social distancing are our only way to get together these days, the Board is considering scheduling more events in the next several months. Please let me or any boards member know if you have any ideas for an outing. I hope everyone stays safe and look forward to a return to normalcy in the very near future.
AUGUST:
Unfortunately, we will not be able to have our scheduled August meeting. The current rules limiting activities to groups of 10 people or less and Lacey’s decision to close the picnic area make it impossible for us to get together. It is my hope that conditions will change soon and we can get back to our monthly meetings.
I want to thank everyone who contributed items for our very successful garage sale. I also want to thank and acknowledge those who donated not only items but also their time and energy to this endeavor. First and foremost Mike Silvers for organizing the sale and providing the location and Dee Glenn for agreeing to handle the money. Others who participated are Darwin Kumm, Steve Andrews, Jay and Eli Evans, Jim Wood, Bill Leuschen, Jason and Tracy Anderson, Bob Jamison, Dave Reynolds, Jerry Williams, Martin Chen, Dan Cloverdale and Alice Beals. Hopefully, I haven’t missed any one.
The Member and Guest Salmon Derby on August 22 is a definite go. If you have already purchased your ticket I hope to see you on the water that day. If not, they are available from Dee Glenn (360-491-0431), Allen Morrow (360-515-1482), or John Ignac, (360-581-8904). The word I have is that fishing in the local area has been good so lets get out there and catch some.
Allen Morrow, President
South Sound Chapter Puget Sound Anglers
WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN AUGUST MEETING (Cancelled)
Thurston County has now entered Phase 3 of the COVID 19 recovery. Originally that meant that groups of up to 50 people were permitted with some restrictive precautions. In light of those requirements, we planned to meet outdoors at Long’s Pond Picnic Area 1 on August 6 at 7:00 PM. Unfortunately, the Governor has just issued a revised order limiting gatherings in phase 3 counties to 10 or fewer people. Hopefully, this restriction will be lifted before August 6 and we will be able to have our first meeting since March. The next planned event is our annual Members and Guests Fishing Derby on Saturday August 22 from sun-up to 3:00 PM. The derby is limited to Marine Area 13. Prizes are higher this year. $400 – 1st;
$200 – 2nd; $100 – 3rd; $75 – Mystery Fish.
Any legal salmon can be entered. Tickets are $30 each ($5 goes to pancreatic cancer research) and will be available at the August meeting, if it happens. We must sell at least 30 tickets by August 19th have a Derby. You can purchase tickets by contacting John Ignac (cou121gar@comcast.net), Dee Glenn (deeglen2@comcast .net) or me (ramorrow@pacifier.com). This is our third annual derby and the winning fish in each of the previous years has been entered by Paula Corcoran (who has already bought her ticket for this year) and Valentina Maughan respectively. Do you see a pattern here?
Guys, we all need to step up and play our “A” game to stop this trend.
At its June meeting the WDFW Commission released the latest draft language of a policy that would reverse the 2013 Oregon-Washington gill net reforms in favor of a year-round return of non-selective gillnets to the lower Columbia River. The
Commission has released the draft policy and is asking for your input. Anyone who cares about the future of our fisheries understands that subjecting imperiled salmon and steelhead to non-selective gill netting is a really bad idea. The Commission plans to act on this proposal at its August meeting. If you agree that this is a terrible idea comments can be sent to the Commission at Commission@dfw.wa.gov and the Governor’s office at
I will keep you posted regarding the possibility of a meeting on August 6. If it happens, there will be a $50.00 prize if you are there and your name is drawn from the hat. Jim Word was at the March meeting and went home $150.00 richer.
Allen Morrow, President
South Sound Chapter Puget Sound Anglers
Outings, Events and Announcements
Happy thanksgiving everyone.
A couple of us are planning a fishing expedition to Mayfield Lake for trout on Black Friday (November 27). So far we have 2 boats committed and are looking for those without boats who would like to fish or those who want to join us with their boat. If you are interested please let me or Mike Silvers know by Thanksgiving day. You can reach me at ramorrow@pacifier.com and Mike at setthehook55@gmail.com.
Details will be finalized and announced once we have an idea of the number people interested in this outing.
Allen Morrow, President
South South Chapter Puget Sound Anglers
AT THIS TIME WE WILL BE HAVING LIMITED OUTINGS. PLEASE STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY AND CHECK BACK LATER FOR ANY UPDATES TO OUR EVENTS. Thank you!
Who wants to go Razor Clam Digging?
We are digging Twin Harbors this Saturday. We will have a bon fire at our normal location behind Grayland Beach State Park. Instead of taking Cranberry Road to gain access to the beach we will be using Grayland Beach Road then turning South about 1 1/2 miles. Drive until you find fresh water running onto the beach. We will be parked there. Cranberry Road was a little soft last dig.
We will be leaving Mud Bay Park & Ride at 4:30 PM. Hot Dogs will be furnished. The Hot Dog sticks ate 3 1/2' long so we should be able to keep our distances.
I don't think I'll be fishing for Surf Perch this time. The surf is 3.5' and the wind is supposed to die down. If you do go fishing, don't go by yourself, make sure there is someone with you. Let me know if you are going and I will try to hook you up with someone else.
Let me know if you are coming and there will be hot dogs waiting for you. If you want to car pool from Mud Bay let me know. If nobody wants to car pool I will probably go down a little earlier.
I'll see you there.
--
Mike Silvers
Puget Sound Anglers South Sound Chapter
setthehook55@gmail.com
cell/text (360)951-5160
As you can see from some of the pictures on the first page, some members have had good success chasing kings, silvers and halibut. WDFW has opened up several clam dig dates. Check their website for more details.
Our annual bragging rights derby in August, had only two fish turned in for weighing. Better luck next year!! It was a beautiful day to be on the sound fishing!
Other things in the works include the Skookumchuk river clean up and possibly bobber doggin' for chum. Stay tuned for more information.
On JULY 11 we will have a rock fish and crabbing outing in Westport. Members will leave the Mud Bay park and ride at 9:45 and caravan down. Members need to let Mike (360-951-5160) or Allen know if they are going so they can have adequate boats for everyone.
Clam Dig Saturday, February 22. At Twin Harbors Beach, Grayland, Wa. If you want to caravan down, please meet at the Mud Bay Park & Ride by 2:30 PM.
Our Bobber Doggin' trip(s) were a success, for some!
Went fishing for Chum's in Little Skookum Inlet on Saturday. Four of our boats took 8 Gi's out. Only 2 Chum's to the net. But everybody seemed to have fun. My boat had 2 on but didn't get any to the net.
Went back on Sunday with 2 more GI's. We put 6 in the net by 12:30. 1 set of doubles. FYI - It is hard to net 2 chum with 1 person that had never caught a salmon before, 1 person that never fished before, two salmon swimming in opposite directions and one of those wrapped up in the stringer with 2 salmon on it. Was very interesting for awhile. Sunday the concentration of fish seemed to disappear about 1:30.
Bobber Doggin’ November 9, 2019
Our plans for a bobber dogging outing for single soldiers at JBLM are coming together. The plan is to take single soldiers from JBLM on a chum fishing outing. We have made contact with an organization called Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) at JBLM and they are excited about this opportunity for their members. The plan is to meet at Swantown Marina with our boats at 10:00 AM on the morning of Saturday November 9 go to Mill Creek in Hammersley Inlet or Little Skookum in Totten Inlet (depending on the where the chum are to be found) returning to Swantown around 4:00 PM. We are planning on taking 2 soldiers per boat so the more boats we have the more we can take out. The plan is for us to provide all the fishing gear and for the soldiers to have a license, appropriate clothing and something to eat and drink.
If you are interested and want more information please let me know as soon as possible so I can let the folks at BOSS know how many we can accommodate. When you do respond it will be helpful if you could let me know how many people you can take on your boat. Contact info is ramorrow@pacifier.com
Allen Morrow
PSA SSC will have a clam dig at Twin Harbors Beach on October 25th. If you do not know where this is, we will leave the Mud Bay Park and Ride at 1 PM to caravan out to the site. Or you can find us on the beach between Grayland Beach Road and Cranberry Beach Road. Low tide is about 6 PM with a surf perch fishing oppotunity before the dig commences.
We had our annual kid's fish-in last Saturday, April 13, 2019. Rain in the morning and wind in the afternoon but the kid's and the volunteers stuck it out. A good time was had by all.
35 volunteers helped 454 kids fish on 2,000 Rainbow Trout. A couple of big carp thrown into the middle of the event brought smiles all around. I went back to Long's Pond on Sunday and a young lady was there fishing and had to show me a picture of the big Carp that she had caught at the event. She said that it tried to pull her in.
It was another successful PSA event
Thanks everybody for all of your time and effort in helping these kids fish.
See you next time.
Come join for a "bobber dog-in" event on November 10. We will be out on the Puget Sound chasing Chum Salmon. Contact Mike Silvers at Mike Silvers [setthehook55@gmail.com] to see if we have an open seat for you or to find out details about the outing. Hope to see you there! (See pictures below)
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On October 13 members participated in a clam dig/surf perch fishing/bon fire event at Rooseveldt Beach. All got limits of razor clams 5 surf perch were caught by one member. Good time had by all!
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At the Puyallup Fair, the Master Hunters out did themselves this year. Master Hunters volunteered for 13 days with 57 shifts and a total of 396 volunteer hours to help 4,355 kids catch fish at the Puyallup Fair. Because of the volunteers we fished 315 more kids this year than we did last year and did it with less fish.
Thanks for all the help!
--
Mike Silvers
On July 14th, Cub Scout Pack 462 had a ball catching Rainbow trout. After the scouts each caught two it was open to their siblings. The fish cooperated, sort of. All caught fish. The South Sound chapter of Puget Sound Anglers volunteers had a ball and a fabulous lunch provided by the Pack. Pack 462 is JBLM based. They have 62 cub scouts! A wonderful program and pleased we could help. Thank you Mike Silvers Mike Servey, Dennis Knutz, Kevin Fast, and John Ignac for your time.
Thanks to all the volunteers, the May 30, 2018 Kid's Fish-in at Mason Lake was a great success. You made some lasting memories for many a kid and I heard a lot of "Thank You's" from the parents.
We had at least 80 kids catch fish. Some kids (with teacher permission) took the fish back to the school to be grilled and eaten! Happy fishers at Mason Lake (Shelton, Wa) Kids Fish-In. See pictures below and Click here to watch some of the fun!
Our South Sound Chapter of PSA received a $5,000 grant from Cabela's in Lacey Wa, on May 26, 2018, for us to give kids rods and reels.
MEDIA ALERT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
June 1, 2018
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s to donate 50,000 rods and reels in nationwide effort to get kids outside this summer
Gone Fishing movement kicks off with National Donation Day at Cabela’s in LACEY, WA
WHAT: Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris is challenging families to put down their digital devices and get outside to discover the joys of fishing. To kick off Gone Fishing, the nationwide movement that gets kids and families connected to nature each summer, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are donating 50,000 rods and reels to nonprofit organizations that help kids from all backgrounds connect to the great outdoors.
Media are invited to Cabela’s in Lacey, Washington on Thursday, June 7 for a special ceremony featuring Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) receiving the donations, The WDFW helps get kids outside with programs like “Fish Washington, Kid Fish Events”, receiving this donation of rods and reels will help increase the number of kids that participate in events throughout the year.
During the family-friendly Gone Fishing events taking place over the next two weekends (June 9-10 and 16-17), kids of all ages are invited to catch their first fish with free catch-and-release ponds, take home a “First Fish” certificate and beginner’s guides, and participate in free seminars, free crafts and free photo downloads.
The effort is part of the company’s mission to inspire future generations to enjoy, love and conserve the great outdoors. In the past five years, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s have donated more than 300,000 items to youth-focused nonprofit organizations across North America.
WHEN: Thursday, June 7, 2018, 4 P.m.
WHO: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (Insert name(s) of local nonprofit representatives attending the event)
WHERE: Cabela’s
MEDIA CONTACT: Tracy Hatton
360-252-3535
Tracy Hatton
Events Specialist
Cabela’s – Lacey, WA
(360) 252-3535
4136-8046 (internal)