Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Restoring the Tucannon River fishery



President Diane called our meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
We had 24 members and guest in attendance.

Prior to the evening’s meeting everyone is invited to dinner being served (Dutch Treat) from the menu, while tales of fish tails are being shared.  Ex-Pres Dave passed out door-prize-tickets (for a box of flies) to all. We also have a second round of tickets being sold (1 for $1 –or- 6 for $5) for club raffle-fund-raiser which wins a second fly box for the evening.  

Diane welcomed all to our meeting and introduced our visitors.
She then ask Secretary Dale to give his report.

Dale gave a synopsis of last month’s meeting and program. He mentioned the club’s online reference points he maintains – the club blog site (as seen here) and a Facebook page. He also mentioned that he had posted on the Facebook page an invitation to all area US Veterans to join in, with our ongoing Project Healing Waters meetings being held at the Walla Walla Vet Center on Popular Street. 
All Project Healing Waters activities are FREE for all vet who wish to participate.
Dale also mentioned that due to the record breaking winter snowfall, that he had not yet picked up the club's 9' pontoon boat from Tom, nor had he and Dave gone out to Waterbrook Winery to check on having a June Fly Fishing Fair day.

#12 March Brown

Dale did mention that he was logging to the club's Facebook site, the river flow and the flies that he was collecting at his home, overlooking the Walla Walla River at Stateline, on particular days so there would be some record "chart" of this 2019 season's hatches, with changing river flows.





Treasurer Harold reported that the club now has a little over $1300 in our checking account. 
Those that wish to pay your annual membership dues may do so at our club meetings or by mailing your dues to Harold Saxby – PO Box 218 Walla Walla, WA 99362.
Membership dues are - $15 for individuals and $20 for families

Dave (in Tom’s absence) gave a report of the upcoming 4-H Super Saturday activities. He reported that it appeared that Tom would have plenty of help from club members for the event.

The first drawing (by a guest) was made for the evening’s Door Prize fly box.


The second drawing for the Raffle fly box was made just before our evening’s program.

Heidi, announced that several women of our club had a ladies only fly fishing group forming.  This group would be to promote the camaraderie of area women fly fishers and train more women to become fly fishers. Heidi told us that she was working on the first ladies outing (to develop rod/reel casting skills) to be held at Tietan Park with a follow-up mid-week “Meet and Greet Tea" at Clarette's Restaurant - 15 S Touchet St, Walla Walla
Heidi also mentioned that she and VP Tyson are continuing to work on cataloging the club's library, and it will be available soon for member's check-out of a lot of fly fishing information... literature and video works.

Dale asked the group this evening to keep their ear on the rails, and if anyone hears of Bennington Lake being filled and stocked... please spread the word.
Dale says he will keep the club posted on any upcoming stillwater fishing trips being planned by the Pendleton fly fishers. We have an open invitation to join them to fish NE Oregon with some nice stocked triploid rainbow, to be caught there.
7100' elevation -Anthony Lake - rainbows

Diane brought up the idea of developing a Casting for Recovery group in our Walla Walla area – to be discussed later.

This evening our program PowerPoint presentation was made by Eric Hoverson. Eric has been fisheries biologist that has been working with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) for the past 27 years.
Effective the first of this year Eric resigned from the CTUIR, became the President of our local Walla Walla Valley Trout Unlimited Chapter.
Eric’s position with the CTUIR was the manager of stream / river habitat restoration of the Tucannon River.

As mentioned his presentation was of Power Point slide and since a picture is worth a thousand words, this writer will use his pictures to recap Eric’s program.













Progress in the works
It is a tough job, and Eric gets to work with dreams of a job well done and fisheries restored.

Eric, Thank You for this evening's program and a job well done with improving / rehabilitating the salmon, steelhead and trout habitat of the Tucannon River. A lot of people fish that river for trout from the upper ponds, to the mouth of the river for steelhead.

Our meeting was adjourned at 8:35.

Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain
Club Secretary

Our next meeting will be held at Smith's Family Restaurant on W. 9th Street in Walla Walla --
  Wednesday
17th April 2019
6:00 pm Dinner and Social
7:00 Call-to-Order Club Business







Judy McDole – Co-President
Diane Briggs –  Co-President
Tyson Kopfer – Vice President
Harold Saxby – Treasurer
Dale McKain – Secretary - Blogmaster

Dave Stemmer  PROJECT HEALING WATERS Coordinator