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Sign up for a CCA Derby Today!
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July marks the beginning of derby season for CCA Washington with three events on the calendar this summer. We will be hosting the Wenatchee Salmon Derby, the Summer Steelhead Challenge (Kalama), and the Baker Lake Sockeye Shootout, which offer three great events for you to participate in and win quality prizes. For online entries or more information, visit our CCA Washington STAR Tournament Series webpage.
Wenatchee Salmon Derby (Pete Flohr Memorial Salmon Derby)
The 7th Annual Wenatchee Salmon Derby is set for July 20-21 with multiple weigh-in stations and over seven thousand dollars in prizes. One of the premier fishing derbies in the Pacific Northwest, the CCA North Central Washington chapter does an incredible job organizing and hosting this event with anglers coming from across the region to participate. With a solid run of summer Chinook predicted for the Columbia River this year, fishing should be quite good come derby time.
Summer Steelhead Challenge
Our 6th Annual Summer Steelhead Challenge is scheduled for July 27-29 with two weigh-in stations at the Port of Kalama and the Willow Grove boat launch in Longview. Quality prizes, exciting angling on the Lower Columbia River and its tributaries, and prime tides await derby participants. The CCA Lower Columbia chapter has seen the derby grow over the years and we look forward to much better steelhead fishing this year.
Baker Lake Sockeye Shootout
The 3rd Annual Baker Lake Sockeye Shootout, is also scheduled for the July 27-29 weekend and is hosted by the CCA North Sound chapter. Baker Lake offers incredible scenery and provides a family friendly fishery that doesn't require a big boat or sophisticated fishing gear. This is a great opportunity to win prizes while participating in one of Washington's best up and coming fisheries. Did we mention that Baker Lake sockeye are great eating fish too? This derby is limited to 100 entrants, and we are already half way sold out so get your tickets soon! |
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Conservation Prevails Against Gillnets... Again
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Despite the continued efforts of the gillnet industry and Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission, gillnets will not be allowed on the Washington side of the lower mainstem Columbia River during the 2018 summer Chinook season. In June, the Washington Fish & Wildlife Commission voted, 5-4, to continue keeping non-selective gillnets out of the river. This common-sense conservation victory will most certainly benefit wild summer Chinook, which have struggled to meet spawning escapement goals, along with ESA-listed sockeye salmon and steelhead.
Several CCA members offered powerful testimony at the meeting, and many more sent in their comments and concerns to the Commission. Eastside anglers are particularly affected by the management decisions made on the lower Columbia. The testimony submitted by Stan Brogdon of the CCA Tri Cites chapter highlights the lack of progress in fully implementing the Columbia River Reform Policy, along with the continued, concerning attempts by Department staff to justify returning gillnets to the lower Columbia River. |
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U.S. House Passes Sea Lion Legislation
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Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2083, the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act by a vote of 288-116. This represents a major victory in the effort to address unnatural levels of sea lion predation in the Columbia and Willamette River basins and wouldn't have been possible without the efforts of lead sponsors Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Battle Ground) and Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Canby), and the lobbying efforts of CCA, our coalition partners, and members like you - thank you! It is making a difference!
In addition to Reps. Herrera Beutler and Schrader, the legislation also received the support of all U.S. House Representatives from Oregon and Washington. Be sure to thank your congressperson for their support of this important bill.
The focus now turns to the U.S. Senate, where last week Senators Jim Risch (R-ID) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced companion legislation (S. 3119) - another sign of the growing bipartisan support that exists for this important legislation.
Reps. Herrera Beutler and Schrader issued a press release following the vote, which includes a quote from CCA and links to video of Herrera Beutler discussing the legislation on the House floor. |
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WDFW Selects New Director
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WDFW has a new director in Kelly Susewind, formerly of the Washington state Department of Ecology, after a unanimous vote by the Washington Fish & Wildlife Commission on June 16th. The Department had been operating under an interim director, Joe Stohr, since Dr. Jim Unsworth resigned last January.
Susewind, a Grays Harbor county native, has been with the Department of Ecology since the early 1990s, most recently as the director of administrative services and environmental policy. He will take over as the head man at the Department on August 1st. CCA looks forward to working with the director's office in promoting common-sense conservation policies across the state. |
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No Fishing Zone off Southern Vancouver Island Established for Orcas
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Citing concerns over salmon availability for threatened southern resident orcas, the Canadian Government recently released new fishing rules, regulations and conservation measures for Southern BC Chinook salmon in an effort to provide food for southern resident orcas. The map above shows the no fishing zone between the red marks on southern Vancouver Island. Effective June 1 to September 30, 2018 there is no fishing for finfish in parts of Area 20, located on the Canadian side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the Salish Sea. This closure is yet another example of the need for reduced chinook harvest in northern waters. We remain hopeful that Alaska, Canada, and Washington will commensurately reduce commercial harvest, as the vast majority of salmon destined for Oregon and Washington are killed in these non-selective commercial fisheries. |
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