ON THE WATER FOR FEBRUARY ( 2K11 )

ON THE WATER FOR FEBRUARY 2011

Well, January is over and, quite frankly, I am looking forward to February.  It was with great anticipation that many of us awaited the Duck's appearance in the National Championship game. I am usually really pumped up for a Duck game however, the night before, one of our founding Brothers and my good friend and neighbor Bill Nichols was found deceased.  Bill was taken from us in his prime at the age of 65.  Yes, I like most of the rest of you watched a very good football game.  Kudos to the Ducks for making it to the championship game.  It was a close lose (wait until next year).  They certainly did not embarrass themselves or the State of Oregon.  Then came the big rains to the Central Oregon Coast.  Later that week with over 5" of rain in 24 hours (and nearly 8" in 48 hours) our soil could not handle that amount of rain.  As most of you know, we had the evacuation of several home in Longview Hills due to a landslide.  In the end, two of the homes were lost.  Then there was another landslide forcing the evacuation of the Port Dock 4 condos.  We can certainly be thankful for the dangerous & necessary work that our Fire Department deals with.  They had a very wet and very busy day.  And then if that were not enough tragedy, Officer Steve Dodds of the Lincoln City Police Department was shot several times while he was on a routine traffic stop.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Dodds and his family as well as with all of his fellow officers that risk their lives on a daily basis to protect all of us.  We certainly hope that this fugitive can be apprehended and brought to justice.  Another thanks should go to our member ALAN CANFIELD for his effort in passing out flyers on the fugitive (many of us saw Alan on TV).  As a side note, Alan founded the Citizen's Patrol in Waldport in an effort to reduce crime in his area.

As for your Fishing Club, January began with a great Breakfast Meeting and a wonderful turnout at the Agate Beach Cafe.  KEVIN McCARTHY walked away with the biggest fish (35#) in our Salmon Derby and all that caught salmon were awarded a Salmon Nation salmon pin (if you did not get your pin be sure to let Frank or myself know so we can get the pin to you).  Professional Fishing Guide and club member PHIL REED made the generous offer of donating 6 guided steelhead fishing trips on the Siletz River.  By drawing, one trip will be awarded at each meeting through March. The first trip was won by WALTER CHUCK.  We also had a little fun with a Surprise Roast of Past President JOHN SPANGLER.  Then the following Saturday we were led by our Beach Mistress ELLIE LEMASTER on a successful Beach Cleanup on Beverly Beach.  We had a large turnout of 14 member litter pickers and the weather was nearly perfect for the event.  The second meeting of the month was a very informative meeting with a presentation by Lisa Mulcahy of the Midcoast Watershed Council.  Now we know the important work that the Council does supporting fish and the protecting the environment on the Cental Oregon Coast.  We welcomed our newest club members ELMER AND SANDY AMSDEN (Elmer has already made a Schooner Creek trap trip).  Then came drawing number 2 of 6 for the trip on the Siletz with GUIDE PHIL REED.  The lucky winner was ELLIE LEMASTER.  We hope Ellie had a great trip.  Then to end the month we hosted the Longview Hills Social Club breakfast.  We had a great turnout of about 45 hungry people. This event was organized by LARRY DALE and FRANK STOUT.  A big "THANK YOU" to all that supported this fun event with a special "THANK YOU" to those that helped out to make this a great breakfast.  A very special thanks to BOBBY DEAN for taking the lead on the cooking.

As we turn our attention to February, we will have our breakfast meeting on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD at the AGATE BEACH CAFE (at the Agate Beach Golf Course).  Be there by 9 am to join us in the festivities.  Drawing number 3 of 6 will be held for that great Steelhead Trip courtesy of PHIL REED.  Be sure to be there for your chance to win this drawing.  Then at 9 AM on Thursday, February 17, be at the Longview Hills Clubhouse for an informative meeting on how to catch those fighting Steelhead. PHIL REED will show us how to bring one home for dinner!  Then we will have drawing #4 of 6 for that GUIDED STEELHEAD TRIP.

On a final note, your Fishing Club has an annual Garage Sale held on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend in WAYDE & BARBARA DUDLEY'S driveway.  Dues are not necessary,as with other many other organizations, to support the activities of the club.  We have been collecting some really great items.  TOM & JEANNINE ROEDERER cleaned out their garage and made a generous donation of some great tools and other items for the sale.  So, as you do your Spring Cleaning, keep in mind to donate those unwanted or unneeded garage sale items to Your Fishing Club.  Let us know if you need any help or a pickup to haul away your donated items.  

Big Fish