Columbia Runs for 2015?

2015: Huge Fall Chinook Return
...Below Average Steelhead Run
...Coho Only 28 Percent Of Average

Of Chinook:

The number of fall chinook passing Bonneville Dam continues to mount with nearly 1,000 more fish over the dam this week, increasing the record run to 954,376, or 212 percent of the 10-year average, according to NOAA Fisheries’ Paul Wagner at Wednesday’s Technical Management Team meeting.

Just last week, the previous record of 953,222 fish set in 2013 was exceeded when the count went to 953,541 fish as of November 12, the most fish passing the dam since it was built 77 years ago.

Unfortunately...

Best  wishes for a safe and  fulfilling holiday to all our friends at TVTU - take care and be well!

December 5 - put it on your calendar!

The INVITATION: Wild North Coast TU has invited members of the TVTU chapter to participate in a riparian planting project on December 5, 2015.

WHAT to EXPECT: We'll be collecting and installing willows and conifers around the riparian edge of the Forest Lake campground off channel wetland complex dike breach project.

WHAT to BRING: Bring waders, rubber boots, work gloves, layered clothing, and anything else you'll need for a few hours in the field on the coast in December. The work should be less than 3 hours and likely more like 2 if we have a good turnout. WNC will provide tools.

LUNCH and MORE: Then on to fishing and lunch at the Relief Pitcher Tevern for those up for a tuna reuben sandwich [a don't miss in Seaside!]. BRING YOUR PREFERRED FISHING GEAR!! Some of the very best steelhead drifts on the river are present at the project site, and Gary Freeman the landowner, has offered to let any and all volunteers fish from his property for the day - no fee!

Doug Ray, the event organizer, will have local beer available. We should have a good crew so if we get the work done quickly, fishing for early winter steelhead is on, and bobber and egg fishing for Chinook is possible as well.

WHEN and WHERE: We'll meet at Klootchy Creek County Park at 10:00 a.m. on Dec. 5 and caravan out to the work site from there. If you need more info, call Jon Pampush at  503-330-7934.

 

You might recall that TVTU provided some support and also made a $1000 dollar conservation investment in this project; besides loving the Necanicum system! So continue the tradition and work off some of that Holiday meal!

Early stages of the Forest Lake dike breach porject

 

Conservancy by indiegogo?

Our friends over at Western Rivers Conservancy are giving it a go to save Blue Creek in the Klamath Basin:

If the video doesn't answer your questions you can get more info from their website - includes a reasoning and additional bits of information....WESTERN RIVERS CONSERVANCY.

And if you are so inclined as to participate and help out the beleaguered salmon in our more southern Klamath system - their funding site: << HERE >>

Don't forget.....

Rainy day Saturdays and.....


FOR FUN!

WHAT: Pacific Northwest Fly Tyer Rendezvous
WHEN: Saturday November 14, 2015
WHERE: The Jackson Armory - 6255 NE Cornfoot Road, Portland
WHAT TIME: 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
WHAT to EXPECT: A great time for a rainy Saturday...over 40 tyers from around the Pacific Northwest will be at the tables for tying demonstrations and answering your questions; silent auctions and door prizes; manufacturer reps with new products for 2016.
Barbecue lunch available for purchase.

The funds from this adventure are shared among several conservation organizations - including TVTU - and are distributed in their names to conservation groups and projects of their choosing.

WHAT to BRING:  at least $3 to get you in the door...and a personable attitude with a penchant for expanding your horizons; consider some added cash for the auctions! And to grab a tasty BBQ lunch!

Eagle Creek Coho Closed [Clackamas system]

ODFW closes coho season on Eagle Creek
November 6, 2015

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife today adopted temporary rule closing the coho salmon season on Eagle Creek, effective Sunday, Nov. 8 and continuing until further notice.

The closure was adopted at the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which operates Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery near Estacada.  Coho returns to the hatchery are tracking well below brood stock needs for the hatchery.

“Based on reports through this week, returns to the hatchery are well below their production goals,” said Chris Kern, deputy administrator of ODFW’s fish division. “Unfortunately, this action is necessary to aid the situation.”

Steelhead fishing in Eagle Creek remains open. Fishing in the Clackamas River is not affected by the rule change.

More info at << ODFW >>

[Now back to the regularly scheduled MEETING NOTICE!!]

Reminder....

GENERAL MEETING - this week!

WHEN: Wednesday, November 11, 2015
WHERE: Lucky Lab Public House [Multnomah]
WHAT TIME: 6:30 p.m. Socializing; meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.
WHAT to EXPECT: Tom Wolf-"Comments on ODFW and legislature"
Tom Wolf, executive director of Oregon Council of Trout Unlimited, will cover recent changes at Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife and the Oregon legislature.   He will focus on ODFW - the budget and license fee increases, HB 2402 long term funding and reform, new simplified fishing license regulations, stream closures for temperature.

This is also the annual State of TVTU meeting and will include Board Elections and financial status

WHAT to BRING: appetites and friends welcome! Food and beverages are available for purchase - second floor banquet room.

As an ADDED BONUS - Ron forwarded a bonus preview of fundraiser auction items...

The items in the November meeting fundraiser raffle have a value in excess of $300!! Featured item: Camp Cook’s Double Boiler set; 2 non-stick aluminum pots in which you can stow your stove and fuel canister in a compact package - great for warming your soup for lunch on that COLD steelhead trip to the Deschutes!

Aarrrrrrrggghhh!!!!

Chubs may be back........

Tui chub found in Diamond Lake

November 3, 2015

ROSEBURG, Ore – Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists discovered one tui chub in a trap net during ongoing fisheries monitoring at Diamond Lake in mid-October. Fisheries professors at Oregon State University confirmed the fish was a tui chub, the first seen in Diamond Lake since the 2006 rotenone treatment that eliminated about 90 million of the invasive minnows.

ODFW believes that once again, tui chub were used illegally as live bait fish or were intentionally reintroduced into the lake.

“This is extremely frustrating when you consider the amount of time and effort put into the restoration of Diamond Lake by so many,” said Greg Huchko, ODFW Umpqua District Fish Biologist. Huchko said the chub was about seven and a half inches long and is likely a six-year-old fish.

November at TVTU?

Well, here we are back to the 'normal' Oregon - fall rains! Certainly blew in like a good October storm of old this past weekend - hopefully everyone's favorite rivers got some water and your basements stayed dry!

On a return trip Sunday from Eastern Oregon - one could certainly tell that Mt Hood - and especially the White River system was overwhelmed with rains - the mighty Columbia showed a mix of that famously white lower Deschutes water; it extended from the mouth all the way to The Dalles dam. It was an incredible flow....

Hope everyone's fall starts with a bang - and a coho or steelhead for you. Between the exciting river trips, here's what TVTU is doing this month.............