Members of the Association of Northwest Steelheaders were recognized for their contributions to important Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife(ODFW) programs, Angler Education and the Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program(STEP) at 2025 ODFW Hunter and Angler Education Conference in Canyonville, Oregon. The Angler Education Program integrates education and recreation, introducing beginner anglers to fishing in a safe, fun, and responsible manner. The program relies heavily on volunteer contributions of time, resources, and knowledge. The Oregon Legislature created STEP in 1981, recognizing that volunteers could play an important role in the restoration of native salmon and trout. STEP volunteers have completed stream habitat restoration work, conducted surveys, helped with education projects, and hatched and reared several million salmon and trout eggs—all because they care about fish and fish habitat. The recipients were nominated by ODFW staff and recognized on stage at the conference. Awardees also received unique plaques form ODFW for their outstanding volunteer service. We could not be more proud and grateful for the contributions Rob Bitney, Bernie Hoene, Jack Morby, and Ken Johnson have also made to the NW Steelheaders and our organizational culture of volunteerism. Below are the official nominations for each award winner.

Rob Bitney, Sandy Chapter President and Association Vice President

Awarded for contributions to Angler Education – Nominated by Amanda Boyles, ODFW

Rob was born in Oregon but was raised in Montana. After serving his country with the Navy, he decided to come back to Oregon because, according to him, “the fish are bigger” here. Like you all in the crowd, one of the passions in Rob’s life is educating others about the things he loves most. He has been a member of ANWS since 2010 and a Certified AE Instructor since 2017. He has gone above and beyond in both of those, stepping up to lead positions with his local ANWS chapter and then with the association as a whole. He has worked to bring ODFW AE and ANWS together by leading multiple Steelhead 101 Workshops across the state to teach folks how to fish for steelhead and coordinating with me to host trainings to certify ANWS members as AE Instructors. Rob is constantly working to encourage others to volunteer and mentor new anglers and he’s persistent in driving the ANWS chapters to boost their memberships and activities. Rob doesn’t only have ambition and good looks; he is one of the most kind and fun guys I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with in Oregon. I am incredibly proud to have Rob on my team and have Rob as a friend.

Bernie Hoene Tualatin Valley Chapter

Recognized for contributions to Angler Education – Nominated by Amanda Boyles, ODFW

I met Bernie at one of the first AE Certification Trainings I ever hosted when I first got this job, and as much as I love to badger him and tell him otherwise, I’m eternally grateful I met him. Bernie spent 30 years with the Las Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy sheriff after he served our country in the army. Once he got his fill arresting people in California, he flew helicopters providing sight-seeing and transportation services. After he retired and moved to Oregon, he got his feet wet volunteering in the community and started his own guide service, Bait N Wait Fishing Charter, providing affordable fishing trips for everyone including disabled vets. Bernie has been the president of Take a Veteran Fishing (TAV) for 10 years, which is an official 501c3 organization dedicated to taking veterans kokanee fishing at Odell Lake in July. He invited me and AE to work with him and take veterans’ families fishing at that event 4 years ago, and we’ve been partners since. While he can fly a helicopter better than he can work a computer, he’s my go-to safety guy and kid wrangler at fishing events we run together, and he has a heart the size of Texas. I am incredibly proud to have Bernie on my team and have Bernie as a friend.

Jack Morby, Sandy Chapter

Recognized for contributions to STEP – Clackamas, Nominated by Buddy Phibbs

Jack continues to go out of his way to ensure that our angling trailer is not only stocked but arrives to all the fishing events on time. Jack picks the trailer up early the morning of the events and then returns it the same day to the Clackamas district office, which is out of the way for most fishing events. These are just events from this year, and I may have missed some that took place prior to my start date this year as STEP Biologist.

• 4/20/24 - Canby Pond fishing event.
• 4/27/24 - Trojan Pond family fishing event.
• 5/4/24 - St. Louis Ponds fishing event.
• 5/31/24 - Huddleston Pond fishing event.
• 10/12/24 - St. Louis Ponds fishing event.

Jack is patient with the youth anglers and parents attending the events and is always willing to demonstrate and explain fishing tactics. Jack also has donated countless hours to tying up fishing equipment for these fishing events as well as troubleshooting tackle messes at the events themselves. Jack has also helped with the Fish Eggs to Fry program out of the NW Watershed District for decades now. Jack mentioned that I am the third STEP Biologist that he has worked with over the years. I am very grateful to have Jack as a volunteer, and I think he deserves all the recognition we can give him.

 

Ken Johnson, Emerald Empire Chapter

Recognized for contributions to STEP, Letz Creek Hatchery - Nominated by Christine Clapp, ODFW

Ken Johnson has been the President of the Emerald Empire Chapter of the Association of Northwest Steelheaders and manager of the Letz Creek STEP facility for roughly the last decade. He fixed a lot of reporting problems that we had with the previous volunteer hatchery manager and has improved the facility tremendously during his tenure. He has been an amazing partner to ODFW, putting in the time to make many upgrades to the facility including to the water supply system, hatch house, rearing tanks, adult fish trap and acclimation pond. Ken also coordinates volunteers from ANWS to help with hatchery operations and maintenance to support the 15,000-winter steelhead smolts released each year. Ken captures brood stock, spawns adults, removes mortalities, feeds fish, tracks fish growth, monitors fish health, medicates fish when needed, and collects and transports samples to the Fish Health Lab in Corvallis. This past winter he worked with the rural Crow school district to get them involved in the STEP Fish Eggs to Fry Program. Ken also works with the Eugene community to support fishing events for kids with cancer and military veterans. Thank you, Ken, for your support of the ODFW STEP Program, and we hope to continue working with you for many years to come!