Whenever I lose faith in government, I default to episodes of the early 2000’s TV hit, The West Wing. I know it’s not reality, but the show has offered me some level of solace when things are going sideways at the national level, and they’re going sideways. From the President’s barbed State of the Union…
All posts tagged Soapbox Update
Soapbox Update: 2020 is Perfect Vision January 17th, 2020
Mine is actually 20/30 according to my last eye exam, a necessity every 5 years to renew my US Coast Guard 6-pack license for my professional fish guiding business, or at least what’s left of it. It’s been a hard couple of years in the fish guiding business. Last year, we had a decent return…
Soapbox Update HR 200 is Bad for Our Fisheries July 5th, 2018
Seven Fish, Five Fish, Four Fish, More Fish. Where Do We Go From Here? Not even one year ago, the bag limit for rockfish was seven fish. Today, it’s four. As we experience a downturn in our salmon and steelhead stocks, bottomfishing is only becoming more popular. Professional fishing guides that normally stay within the…
Soapbox Update: Sound Fisheries Policy is Under Attack!
Besides walking Capitol Hill on the legislation on sea lion predation on our Northwest stocks of salmon and steelhead, myself (Bob Rees) representing the Association of Northwest Steelheaders, and two representatives from the NW Guides and Anglers Association chatted with Oregon and Washington house and senate staff about H.R. 200 and the damaging implications on…
Let’s Talk About Fish and Fishing! By Bob Rees June 14th, 2018
Do you want the good news, or the bad news? OK, bad news first. How would you feel about DRASTIC AND DRACONIAN CUTS to hatchery production for spring Chinook, summer steelhead and rainbow trout in the Willamette River and Willamette Valley, courtesy of the US Army Corps of Engineers? Yeah, I thought so. It’s still…
Soapbox Update: Every Day Should Be World Oceans Day by Bob Rees June 7, 2018
World’s Oceans Day is Tomorrow, Let’s Honor Our Greatest Resource It’s always a mixed bag of emotions when I fly east to Washington DC. I’m headed east to talk about a range of fishery related issues I work on, on behalf of the Association of Northwest Steelheaders and the Northwest Guides and Anglers Association…
Soapbox Update: Our Migration West by Bob Rees May 18th, 2018
Baby Salmon Aren’t the Only Species Migrating West After 20+ years on the Oregon Coast, a depleted stock of sturgeon that contributed to the loss of a huge component of my guide business and an opportunity to work for the Association of Northwest Steelheaders, I find myself in disbelief as to the state of our…
Soapbox Update: Invest in 100,000 Willamette River Spring Chinook!
Quest for 100K and the KastKing Rod launch on Saturday, May 12th. DON’T MISS IT! You still have a chance to invest in the return of 100,000 spring Chinook salmon by coming to the 2018 Willamette Salmon Quest! We still have guides available, and of course you can self-guide for just $75/person for a team…
Soapbox Update May 3rd, 2018 GET YOUR QUEST ON!
Big pitch Quest flier
Soapbox Update: Do you want to see 100,000 spring Chinook back to the Willamette? By Bob Rees April 19th, 2018
We won’t get this across the finish line without you. NOW is the time to join the Association of Northwest Steelheaders. The Steelheaders and member of the NW Guides and Anglers Association spent all day on Capitol Hill last week, making the rounds to all of Oregon’s members of Congress, talking fish conservation, including an…
Soapbox Update: Time to Join our Team by Bob Rees, April 12th, 2018
We won’t get this across the finish line without you. NOW is the time to join the Association of Northwest Steelheaders. The Steelheaders and member of the NW Guides and Anglers Association spent all day on Capitol Hill today, making the rounds to all of Oregon’s members of Congress, talking fish conservation, including an appropriate…
Soapbox Update April 5th, 2018 Salmon Quest is Coming!
Many anglers have become aware of the Association of Northwest Steelheader’s Quest for 100K campaign. Launched on January 9th, the Q4100K is an initiative to bring back 100,000 spring Chinook to the Willamette Basin each and every year. To do this, we’re focusing on four critical steps to make that happen: Amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act…
Soapbox Update: Fishing for Invested Anglers by Bob Rees, March 29th, 2018
Fishing For Invested Anglers Anglers from across the nation converged in Washington DC this week, this angler included, for the National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Summit to discuss gains and losses that the sportfleet has experienced in recent times. The take-away, recreational fishermen care about the future of this fragile resource. Of course no “summit” no…
Soapbox Update 3/22/18
Don’t worry, we’ll be brief: Brace yourselves – Columbia River seasons are currently being discussed through the North of Falcon process. Prepare for draconian measures for fall seasons this year, as upriver brights and tule Chinook are in a notable downturn. A fond farewell – Legendary outdoor writer and historian Tom McAllister passed away early…
Soapbox Update: The Building of a Conservation Army by Bob Rees March 15th, 2018
The Building of a Conservation Army The Association of Northwest Steelheaders just completed their 3rd annual Family Fish Camp at beautiful Camp Angelos on the banks of the Sandy River in Troutdale, Oregon. Of course we ordered up a nice batch of weather to go along with some monster trout donated by Desert Springs Trout…