Northshore Trout Unlimited Site Map:
The President’s Cast
By Chris Tompkins
Carcass Project Update
Special thanks goes out to all our Northshore Chapter members who
helped make our salmon carcass project a big success
this year. We delivered
approximately 10,000 lbs. of Coho carcasses to the three streams that
were chosen. The project goal is to enhance three tributaries
(Trout Creek, Lost Creek, and Troublesome Creek) of the NF
Skykomish with salmon carcasses for added nutrients.
Historically, adult salmon returned on their own and complete the
life cycle by reproducing and dying in the same stream where
they were born. Now, with fewer adult salmon returning to their native
streams, most Pacific Northwest streams do not have the nutrients needed
to sustain juvenile salmonids. Fish carcass distribution programs help
reintroduce some of those essential nutrients back into the food web.
The enrichment project is intended to bolster ocean-derived nutrients in
areas of the basin with these deceased adult hatchery salmon.
Research studies in other areas of the Northwest, Canada, and
Alaska have shown positive benefits to the aquatic environment
through this type of nutrient enhancement. Salmon carcasses provide a
significant amount of the nutrients, which feed stream life.
The process is especially important for young juvenile salmon and
steelhead. By using
hatchery carcasses, the Northshore Chapter will directly benefit wild
populations of stream-rearing salmon, steelhead, and resident fish, as
well as provide benefits to wildlife inhabiting the area.
It was great to get a good turn-out of members for these events
and there seemed to be a lot of excitement generated for the
outings. The job was a bit
smelly, but also fun. It’s great to know we are really helping wild
salmon and steelhead with these nutrient supplements. The chapter plans
to continue this program for the next five years.
We will be talking with the hatchery personnel and WDFW to see if
we can expand our project next year to include 2 more streams in the
area. For more information,
or to volunteer to help next year contact Chris Tompkins (206) 362-6358,
ctompkins@84hotmail.com.
An Interview With Outdoor Writer
Dave Vedder
By Jeff Voltz
Fishing enthusiast and author, Dave Vedder, has fished waters all around
the globe. Some of his more exotic sojourns have taken him to places like
Dakar, Senegal, on the west coast of Africa, or the island of Yap, near
Papua New Guinea.
Dave has experienced the
wonders of fishing for Sailfish, Giant Travelly, and Peacock Bass, but he’s plenty happy to just wing a dry fly to catch and
release little native Rainbows in our local waters.
Northshore TU: Tell us about some of your
earliest fishing experiences.
Dave Vedder: I’m hesitant to tell you
the year, but my earliest memory of fishing remains quite clear. My Dad had rented a boat and taken me out
fishing for Yellow Perch on Spencer Lake in Mason County. I watched that
bobber go down, and when my Dad yelled, “set the hook,” I yanked on that
poor little fish so hard, the line, bobber, and fish all ended up wrapped
around my Dad’s neck. I’ve been passionate about fishing ever since.
My Dad was a fishing fanatic. We were a working-class family and therefore
couldn’t afford a boat when I was young, but my Dad did buy a 5-horse Sea
King outboard. We’d load up the outboard and our gear in the ’49
Pontiac, then drive out to La Push, where we could rent a wooden boat for $7
a day. We putted out two miles to the Skunk Buoy, to catch Coho Salmon.
Seems pretty crazy thinking about in now.
I have fond memories of fishing for Surf Perch and Bullheads off the old
coal dock north of Bremerton, where I grew up. Fly-fishing attracted me about
midway through my fishing-life. I still get a rush from watching a 6-inch
trout smacking a dry fly on top of the water.
Northshore TU: How did you get into
writing?
Dave Vedder: Writing was a by-product of
Steelhead fishing. I had fished the Tolt River for 3 seasons and hadn’t caught a thing. I swore that if I
finally caught a Steelhead, I’d release it, then throw my rod and reel in
the river and never fish for them again.
I finally caught my Tolt River Steelhead and felt compelled to write a
humorous tongue-in-cheek story about my exploits, which I submitted to
“Fishing Holes” magazine. They printed it and paid me fifty bucks. I
said, “wow, I might be on to something here!”
Within a year or so, I submitted a story to “BC
Sportsfishing” magazine about the Vedder River titled,
“What’s In A Name?” There
was a good story to tell as this fabulous river is actually named after
Volkert Vedder, who I’m related to. Volkert settled on the Vedder River in
the late 1800s, after running a shipping business that delivered supplies
from Vancouver to the Cariboo gold fields.
After “BC Sportsfishing” ran the story, they invited
me (expenses paid) to a lodge on Rivers Inlet,
to write a story on fishing for Chinook Salmon. I’ve been traveling and
writing ever since.
Northshore TU: What do you think are the most
critical challenges facing our cold-water fisheries
today?
Dave Vedder: Electing honest politicians who won’t put special interests,
lobbiests, and getting re-elected
ahead of the needs of fish. We need to enforce current polices that are in
place to protect the fish and habitat, as well as making the necessary
policy changes based on new findings about the health of our fisheries.
I have spoken to this in a column I write for “Salmon,
Trout, and Steelheader” magazine. Someone
wrote a letter to the editor, accusing me of having dreadlocks and being a
tree-hugger. I don’t believe I have enough hair left to have dreadlocks,
but I am fond of trees. They provide a nice setting for my fishing trips and
also provide the necessary shade to keep our rivers and streams cool for the
trout. I want these fish to be here for our grandchildren’s children.
Let’s do what it takes to make sure that happens.