Salmon fishing season is in full swing and so is the campaign season. If you haven't been fishing yet, get out there. Tom Nelson and I enjoyed a red hot Chinook bite right after the season opener at Port Townsend, and only got to fish about 20 minutes for our two hatchery kings. That's fishing the way it should be!
Many of our P.S.A. Chapters are readying themselves for the salmon derbies, and lots of our members are preparing to fish in one or more of them. The derbies are really a lot of fun, and with a little luck, you can win some pretty awesome prizes. My dad and I fished in a couple of derbies every year when I was a youngster, and I remember the experience fondly. One year I won a small derby in South Sound. That was a long time ago. Introduce a youngster to the excitement of competing in a salmon fishing derby. It's a unique experience.
Governor Gregoire's letter to the Fish and Wildlife Commission Chair, Jerry Gutzwiler, has caused renewed hope within the Gregoire faithful that she will finally fulfill her fishing related campaign promises of four years ago. Gregoire detractors simply think her letter is more campaign rhetoric and suggestion of what many feel should have been directed to her commission when she first took office.
In the letter she asked Chair Gutzwiler for a status report and recommendations in four areas: Hatchery Reform, Selective Fisheries, Economic Benefits of both sport and commercial Fishing, and Tourism Experience. It will be really interesting to see if this report from the Fish and Wildlife Commission is submitted to the governor and made public prior to the election.
The Rossi campaign camp has been fairly quiet on fishing issues, at least so far. I would expect some kind of position statement from them about fishing before September. Rossi supporters haven't been quiet about the need for change in many areas of state fishing management and are eagerly awaiting some type of official position statement from his campaign. Perhaps outdoor recreation in general, and fishing specifically, will be more of an important campaign issue in the governor's race than it has been in the past.
Former Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Kelly White of Kettle Falls has thrown his hat in the ring, so to speak, and is running for election to the House of Representatives in the immense 7th Legislative District. If elected, Kelly would bring a wealth of knowledge to legislature with his background in outdoor recreation. He's an old friend of mine, and a really genuine good person. I hope he's elected.
I recently visited with the Seattle Poggie Club and invited them to join P.S.A.'s growing organization. They will take my invitation under advisement and discuss it during the next few months.
Keep up the great work in the chapters. I appreciate all the hard work and dedication that P.S.A. members continue to do. This is a great organization, and I am proud to represent you.
