$15 for 15...

2016 mark's the 15th anniversary of the Wild Steelhead Coalition, and today we're kicking off a fundraising campaign to mark the occasion

We’ve come a long way since a diverse group of conservation-minded anglers decided to join forces in 2001 following the closure of North Puget Sound steelhead rivers. Now, led by a dedicated board and backed by thousands of passionate members, we are a formidable force for the protection of wild steelhead throughout the waters of the West Coast.

Take a peek at some of what we consider our top 15 accomplishments that our ragtag bunch of volunteers and advocates have accomplished.  Despite that, our work is far from over.

In the coming months alone, wild steelhead face a number of critical management decisions that will have a monumental impact – most notable is the decision on whether the Skagit Watershed will become a Wild Steelhead Gene bank. Please help us continue our fight to protect wild steelhead and ensure the Skagit becomes a WSGB by donating 15 dollars today

Just like how the WSC started small, donations on the smaller side can continue to build the groundswell that is happening in anadromous fish recovery

Of course, there's a little carrot to dangle out there make it fun

Make a donation of  $15 or more and 3 lucky winners will be randomly drawn to win these prizes from our amazing sponsors

Echo Classic 11ft 8 weight switch rod

Korkers Devil’s Canyon Boots

Fisherman’s Priest by The Confluence Rod Company

Thank you in advance, click HERE to donate.

The Ragan Experience

What a night...

Chuck Ragan can flat out belt out a song and play a guitar.   Along with a pedal steel guitar backing him up,  it was a real treat to watch him amongst the other 150 others who came out to support the Wild Steelhead Coalition at the new Filson flagship store in downtown Seattle this past Friday night

After it was all said and done, the biggest feeling I came away with is gratitude

To the people who came out and shared the evening with us

To Filson, who donated the space to us for free

To the board members who ran point on the event and did all the heavy lifting to make it all run smoothly

To Georgetown Brewery who donated the delicious beer

For those who opened their wallets and gave generously to help us raise critical funds that help support the mission of recovering Wild Steelhead across their historical range

Most of all, to Chuck Ragan and his bandmate Todd Beene for donating their time and talents and kicking ass on stage.    Their music resonates with soul, truth and honesty.

Surely I am missing others that helped in the event, it takes a community to make nights like this go

Thank you to all and we cant wait to do it again.

WSC Year End, With A Carrot...

It's that time of year that every non profit that you interract with is going to putting out their year end appeal for donations, and rightly so.  Tax benifits aside, the impact of year end giving to non profit groups is the lifeblood that keeps the good work going

The Wild Steelhead Coalition is no exception to the rule.  We are a volunteer driven organization that does the best it can to provide the most amount of impact for the small budget we have.


In 2015, we spent zero dollars on office space, staff, or fishing retreats. Instead, we used every dollar you graciously provided to fight for wild steelhead. And boy, did we get some great stuff done. 

With your support, in just 12 short months together we:

Scored a huge victory for struggling steelhead stocks on the Olympic Peninsula by successfully championing a years-long effort to reform antiquated sportfishing regulations, including finally ending the sport fishing harvest of wild steelhead in Washington. 

Spearheaded a campaign for the creation of much-needed Wild Steelhead Gene Banks (also known as wild steelhead management zones) on the entire Skagit, Elwha, and Puyallup watersheds.

Convinced the federal government to more extensively study the impact of hatchery steelhead on threatened Puget Sound wild steelhead.

Served on numerous steelhead advisory groups sent countless letters to state and federal government entities, and hosted a handful of successful events.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg…

We'd love your support to continue our work this coming year, and we're going to dangle a nice little carrot your way

Starting from November 15th through the end of the year, anyone who donates over $50 is in the running to win an ECHO Glass 7129-4 spey rod, courtesy of the good folks at ECHO Fly Fishing themselves

DONATION LINK

Thanks in advance for the support, and we look forward to giving are all again in 2016.

#WildSteelheadMatter Instagram Contest

Who wants some sweet schwag?

Head on over to Instagram and get in on this great contest with Rep Your Water, the Wild Steelhead Coalition and yours truly.

Follow both the Wild Steelhead Coalition and Rep Your Water, post your best steelhead/ing picture and use the hashtag #wildsteelheadmatter to get into the running.

Three winners will be chosen by 5pm pacific on Monday the 7th.    Two winners will receive a a couple custom Millsfly Bugs and a Wild Steelhead Coalition Rep Your Water Hat, as seen in the pic above.  The big dog winner will get the same and a RYW belt buckle to boot.

A couple hints.  #keepemwet is highly encouraged, gills in the water.  Any wild fish pics out of the water is an instant loss.   The biggest fish doesnt always win, but capturing a moment is key!

Good luck

Flotilla of Hope...

Sitting on the shore with my two boys, 200+ boats of all shapes and sizes begin the flotilla up to Lower Granite Dam was an inherently emotional and impressive sight.

Yesterday's #FreetheSnake Flotilla on the Snake River was a smashing success.  Organizers came together and put on a flawless event that was full of logistical challenges and safety concerns

The end game of dam removal is going to be a huge, long, drawn out and contentious political process but this event and it's participants were a clear message to all involved.  They mean business.

Dozens of different stakeholders.  Organizations, Native Tribes and everyday people alike.   All saying the same thing.

It's Time.  Let the Snake River run free.

Stay involved, via Free The Snake's web site and their Facebook Page

Celebration of Wild Steelhead Ver 2.0

This year, it's going to be bigger.  Much Bigger.

September 13th and 14th at McCoy Park in Portland its on.    Soul River continues to bring more and more to our sport, especially when it comes to introducing more new faces to the crowd.

More info about the event

Once again, Soul River is delivering another fly fishing extravaganza to the city. Bring the Soul we'll bring the river to you. The Celebration of Wild Steelhead! Spreading knowledge of Mother Nature and the art of fly fishing to your community. Armed with the goal of introducing youth and veterans to the positive experience of fly fishing along with the funk and soul of Speaker Minds this will be an event that can't be missed.

This event will not only celebrate the iconic wild steelhead of the Pacific Northwest, but also build upon strong community ties and raise awareness of conservation, fly fishing, and local arts in an all ages, accessible, friendly atmosphere. Like always, this event is FREE and along with our sponsors, we will be giving out 200 free fly rod packages to the first 200 youth in attendance. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy the experience, and embrace the Celebration of Wild Steelhead!

Come learn.  Come cast.  Come tell lies like fishermen do. 

Come learn about conservation.  Most of all, come have fun.

Learn more about the event HERE.

Tell NOAA To Get It Right...

So a lot of the hubabalou regarding steelhead conservation in the past year or so over has been in the conflict of NOAA and WDFW not getting their federally mandated shit together.

Now NOAA is taking the low road in not putting a fully completed Biological Opinion together in lieu of a Cursory Environmental Review of hatchery programs and their impact on native fish populations in the Puget Sound.

It's a colossal junk show option akin to poking your head in the door and saying, "yep, looks good to me" instead of going in the door and looking in all the rooms of the house.

We have to get it right.

Read more about why this shift in strategy is not good by clicking HERE  and after you're done with that, tell NOAA directly via email why you support sound science by clicking HERE.

Get er done ladies and gents, comments and emails are due by May 4th.

Steelhead Summit Coming April 18th...

Interested in learning about the state of Steelhead, especially in regards to the Skagit River Basin and it's current recovery?  Then make plans to be at the  April 18th Steelhead Summit in Seattle at  the Center for Uban Horticulture building 

The Wild Steelhead Coalition, Wild Steelheaders United and The  Wild Fish Conservancy will be on hand along with noted speakers and biologists John McMillen, Dick Burge Bill McMillen and many more.

The focus will be on the continued recovery of the Skagit River and it's Steelhead stocks.

Get more info on the days agenda by clicking HERE

Give for Wild Steelhead

Looking for a place to make a year end donation?  How about the Wild Steelhead Coalition..

A few years ago I made it a point to find a way to get involved in conservation.  It was an overwhelming feeling that I couldnt just keep taking from the resource and do nothing to help ensure that our sport would be there for my children.    Fast forward to now I am a proud board member of the WSC we've had another great year working to help in the conservation and recovery of wild steelhead.  Here are a few of the highlights of this year's work

--As part of the WDFW workgroup, played an integral part in establishing Region 5 Wild Steelhead Management Zones (WSMZs) that include the Wind, East Fork of Lewis and North Fork Toutle and Green Rivers

--Organized an eight-city West Coast tour of the wild steelhead documentary film “Wild Reverence” to advocate and deliver attention to the plight of wild steelhead to a wider audience and eventually the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)

--Continued participation and partnership in the Elwha River lawsuit to end hatchery plants in the newly restored Elwha River basin

--Researched and formulated six rule proposals to WDFW, which were recommended as part of the lower Columbia Basin stream strategy to enhance wild steelhead recovery

--Successful inclusion of arm hook squid—a main staple of steelhead diet—into the PEW Foundation’s forage fish initiative, based on WSC-sponsored research

--Participated in the Steelhead Cutthroat Policy Advisory Group (SCPAG), as well as continued engagement with WDFW and presence at Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission hearings commenting and arguing for progressive measures to recover wild steelhead

--Secured grants for habitat restoration of Skagit River watershed, targeted for Barnaby Slough restoration and Lyle Creek restoration

We did this with well over 3,000 volunteer hours in 2014 from board and committee members

The organization is 100% volunteer run we greatly appreciate any tax deductible donation you'd like to contribute.  We strive to put as much of your donated money direction into conservation efforts as possible.

Click HERE to make your donation and thank you very much from all of us at the Wild Steelhead Coalition.

Seattle....You're On For Wild Reverence

After months of planning, the final date of the Wild Steelhead Coalition Wild Reverence Fall Tour is upon us.

Seattle, you're on notice.   This Thursday at 630pm, join us at the Uptown SIFF in the Queen Anne neighborhood in Seattle to be a link in the chain of steelhead recovery.

We've had our ups and downs with the tour.  Some great dates, some where you are wondering where the hell are those people who say they are steelhead advocates

You can only be a part of the solution if you get your butt off the couch,  off the chat boards and see what you can do.

Come fill the theater Thursday night.  No excuses, just be there.

Get your tickets before the event HERE.

Dont be on the outside of a sold out event (fingers crossed!)

Wild Reverence Fall Tour

Wild Reverence is hitting the road this fall.

Join the Wild Steelhead Coalition in showing the amazing film by filmmaker Shane Anderson

Two years in the making, this feature film chronicles the state of steelhead across their entire historic west coast range.

Steelhead are not just fish, but emblematic of so much more. The rivers they swim in, the people who fish for them, and everything in between is wrapped up into Wild Reverence.

Check out the trailer here
http://vimeo.com/ondemand/17698/64766893

7 cities deep, here are are the links the different city's event pages on FB

Spokane Sept 12th

Bozeman Sept 16th

Boise Sept 17th

Reno Sept 18th

Tahoe Sept 20th

Portland Sept 28th

Seattle Oct 2nd

Please if you can come out and see this film.  It does a tremendous job at explainig the state of wild steelhead throughout their west coast range and offers great ideas and solutions for recovery.

And while you're at it, bring your friends, and bring your kids

Wild Reverence Available On Demand

This film is amazing.

Shane Anderson from North Fork Studios has released his finalized edit of Wild Reverence and you can download it for the price of a couple of morning coffees.  Do it.

Wild Reverence is a labor of love for Shane, pouring his life and money into the project for the past two years.  There's so much education to be done on the state of steelhead and we all hope this film lights a fire amongst all stakeholders in the fight to restore the resource.

Also, stay tuned for a Keep the Wild Wild Tour this fall that will bring this film to cities across the west.

Stand Up Again For Wild Steelhead

Here's another opportunity to let your voice ring out in support of wild fish management and to make sure public officials know it's time to continue to reduce our dependence on the hatchery teet.


The Washington State Senate Natural Resources & Parks Committee will hold a hearing on July 29, 2014 at 10:00AM to discuss the recent Puget Sound steelhead hatchery litigation and settlement between the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC).

The hearing was called by the committee chair, Senator Kirk Pearson (R – Monroe) and will include presentations from WDFW, WFC, Puget Sound Tribes, NOAA Fisheries, recreational fishers, and fishing businesses. Please take a moment to tell the Committee that you support rivers managed for wild fish, not hatchery fish, and the improved sport fishing opportunity.

If you live in the area and can attend, here's the info

When: Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at 10:00 am

Where: Senate Hearing Rm 1

J.A. Cherberg Building

304 15th Ave SW

Olympia, WA 98501

Cant attend, then send your feelings via email by clicking HERE

Wild steelhead advocates will be meeting up after the hearing at the Fish Tale Brew Pub in Olympia (515 Jefferson St. SE, Olympia, WA 98501) so come unwind with some food, drinks and like-minded people post-hearing.

The Wild Fish Conservancy office will be coordinating ride sharing, so if you need a ride or can provide space in your vehicle, please contact their office at 425-788-1167.

Also, get more information at The Wild Steelhead Coalition web site

This ongoing battle seems like it's going to heat up again.  Hopefully science based policy will continue to prevail.  

The last round of conflict in the hatchery vs wild groups, in this hacks opinion, got way way way too personal.  I think the middle ground is that we all want fishing opportunity.  We all want the ability to take our children out and have them experience what we love so much

But while we continue to argue,  the trend line continues to go lower.  Become an advocate for the sport and fish you love and get involved...someway, somehow.

Big Time Booyah For Wild Steelhead...

After a long and contentious process, the Wa Department of Fish and Wildlife designated 3 lower Columbia River tributaries as "Wild Steelhead Gene Banks"

Aside of hatchery strays, the East Fork of the Lewis, Green/North Fork of the Toutle and the Wind River will no longer receive hatchery steelhead plants.

This is big time for wild fish.   We're going to let nature heal itself and it's my hope, and others, that these Wild Steelhead Gene Banks will serve as a blueprint for recovery.

Read the entire release HERE 

The Angling Community Is A Giving Bunch--Waypoints Conclusion

We had people waiting at the door 25 minutes before opening.  From that point on I knew we were in for a great evening.

The Spokane premier of Waypoints to benefit the Wild Steelhead Coalition is in the books, and watching folks generously open their wallets for conservation is a really special thing to see.

And they kept doing it to the tune of over $4300.

A big thanks to the Kalispel Tribe of Indians for their major donation of the banquet room at Northern Quest Resort and Casino.   The substantial room fee was donated free of charge and allowed us to net a much greater sum of money.

The event wouldn't have had the draw without the guides who donated their trips and the companies that freely gave product donations.  They substantially add the event's draw and in turn the money raised.

(Yours truly trying to sound coherent)


The three city benefit for the WSC went off without a hitch.   So a gigantic thank you from this humble blogger who is just a small part in the conservation machine of anglers, guides and companies that made Spokane premier of Waypoints a gigantic success.

We'll be at it again this spring.  Stay tuned

Nov 8th.....It's Your Duty To Join Us

Just a gentle reminder that your Friday Nov. 8th plans have been taken care of.

Come join us watch beasts like this tamed at the Spokane premier of Waypoints at Northern Quest Resort and Casino.  Doors at 6, film at 7pm

The schwag pile continues to grow, highlighted by some pretty sweet pieces of gear and guided trips around the west.

All money raised will be donated to the Wild Steelhead Coalition.

Keep yourself apprised of any ongoings by joining the FB GROUP for the Spokane Showing.  We will be detailing the raffle gear as well as the trips that are being committed by some top flight guides

So if you're within 75 miles, you have no excuses.  See you there!

Wild Steelhead Coalition Benefit Nov 8th In Spokane

We're at it again!

Nov 8th, in coordination with other cities around the US and Canada, we are hosting the Spokane premier of Confluence Films newest offering WAYPOINTS to benefit the Wild Steelhead Coaliton

In 2011, we screened Connect and it was a blast with about 175 attendees

Last year in showing Low and Clear, we broke over 270.

This year we upgraded our venue to Northern Quest Resort and Casino and with your help, we'll break 300.

The industry is coming through with awesome donations for our raffle.  Reels, lines, bags, hats, sunglasses, shirts...on and on.

So far we have a few guide trips lined up to give away to some spectacular water.

The film is top notch.  The cause is next level.  You and all your friends should be there.

RSVP on our FACEBOOK EVENT SITE.....and we look forward to sharing a beer and watching WAYPOINTS on Nov 8th.


Trailer: Waypoints from Confluence Films from The Fly Fishing Guide Directory on Vimeo.

I've Got Plans For Your Nov. 8th

Trailer: Waypoints from Confluence Films from The Fly Fishing Guide Directory on Vimeo.


We'll call this a bit of foreshadowing.....maybe what they call in the biz..."a teaser"

But here's the deal.  Let the Misses know that you and her have plans that night.

As for now, just remember I and the Wild Steelhead Coalition call dibs on November 8th in your calendar

Whiskey For Wild Steelhead...

Want more of these guys swimming around for year's to come?

and do you dig top shelf food from on of the top restaurants in the Northwest?

and love some of the finest spirits in all the land?

Then you belong at what I think is the most unique culinary event this spring in Spokane.

The Dry Fly Dinner at Sante Restaurant to benefit The Wild Steelhead Coalition. April 21st and 22nd in Spokane.

Chef Jeremy Hansen and crew are producing on hell of an event, taking their spin on "bar food done better"

From the event web site:

Dry Fly Distillery and Sante Restaurant are proud to announce an event dinner benefitting the Wild Steelhead Coalition.  Come enjoy an evening of Bar Food Done Better, while supporting on of the great conservation grous in our state

The two night event will feature a four-course dinner prepared by Sante’s Chef/Owner Jeremy Hansen and the entire crew at Sante.  Each course will be paired with a custom Dry Fly cocktail

This event will take place on Sunday April 21^st and Monday, April 22^nd.  Each night has a limited number of tickets available, so purchase yours today to ensure your seat.  Tickets are $60

--

Grab your seat at this much talked about event by clicking HERE and buying your tickets today.

A portion of the proceeds of this dinner will go directly to help wild steelhead conservation efforts through the good work of the Wild Steelhead Coalition

See you there!

The Biggest Thank You I Have...

You know that feeling you get when you're so stinking happy, you kind of feel like your floating.

Yeah, that was Tuesday night the 19th at our Spokane Premier of Low and Clear to benefit the Wild Steelhead Coalition.

The fishing community came out in force for a great night of fun, conservation, a stunning film and a great cause.  Also, to win a piece of the mountain of gear and trips that were generously donated from across the fly fishing industry.

To put things in perspective as to how much of a success it was, in our first year holding a fundraiser for the WSC,  approximately 150-160 great people showed up to our event and helped us raise $2,000.

This year, we blew it out of the water.  Somewhere in the 260-270 packed the Lincoln Center and opened their wallets and gave to the tune of $6500.  Actually the amount was more towards $7500 but in throwing an event like that, you do have a few expenses like venue rental, printing costs and the like.

It has turned into more of a regional event as people came from Vancover, Portland, Moscow/Pullman, Missoula, Chewelah and other towns that dot our area.  Friends referred friends and brought new fly fishing enthusiasts to the show.  Children came and in some cases, won a ton of schwag which made us all happy and excited to watch their faces light up as they claimed their raffle prizes

Bob Margulis, the new Executive Director of the Wild Steelhead Coalition came from Seattle and was grinning ear to ear the whole night.  I think he was still smiling at our breakfast wrap up meeting the following morning.

Old friends and new friends and people I dont know from Adam had a great night.  The film, if you havent seen it, is absolutely enthralling and captivated the audience to the point where you could hear a pin drop in the room and then erupt in laughter when the time was right.  It's so different to any other fishing film and truly, it speaks to the duality of all of us when we fish.  Do we do it the easy way or do we continue in the face of failure to do it the hard way.....the way you want it to happe?

To all my volunteers, to my family who was ready to help in any way, to my wife who put up with me taking time away from the family to plan the event...

To the vendors, the guides, the conservation organizations who all played a part

To anyone who shared this with their friends, promoted it via their web sites, to the reporters and artists,

To my great friends at the Silver Bow Fly Shop for their support and help getting the word out

To the little girl who saved up 8 quarters for her two raffle tickets and anyone who came and opened their wallets to the degree they could

The biggest thank you I can give.  Times a thousand.

I am still on cloud 9

To next year, we're going to do it again!