How to Fish Responsibly: 22 Tips for Minimizing Harm to Fish and their Habitats

January 27, 2021

How to Fish Responsibly: 22 Tips for Minimizing Harm to Fish and their Habitats

Oregon’s North Coast steelhead returns were below “critical abundance” thresholds in 2018 and 2019, and though 2020 returns increased some, the long-term decline is concerning. The threshold is defined by ODFW as the point at which “the conservation of the population could be in jeopardy if the downward trend continues.” We must each do our part to ensure the protection of North Coast steelhead. Read our tips for responsible angling!

February 3, 2021

Oregon Senators Wyden and Merkley Introduce Bill to Designate Over 4,700 River Miles as Wild and Scenic

Today, Senator Wyden (D-OR) introduced the River Democracy Act, an amendment to the The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System Act to include an additional 4,700 river miles throughout Oregon. Congress originally passed the Act in 1968 to provide an additional level of protection for free-flowing rivers with remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, or historic values.

February 5, 2021

Tim Lenihan Urges Oregon Legislature to Pass Bill for Veterans Group Fishing Licenses

On February 9, Northwest Steelheaders Board Member and combat veteran Tim Lenihan will testify before the Senate Committee on Veterans and Emergency Preparedness to advocate for SB 320, a bill that would authorize group fishing licenses for nonprofits serving veterans. This would eliminate a significant barrier to entry for many veterans and active-duty military: the cost of an individual fishing license.

February 6, 2021

2021 Oregon Legislative Session: Northwest Steelheaders Priority Bills & How You Can Help

The Oregon state legislative session began last month, and it is already shaping up to be a busy year. Our Board of Directors has identified an ambitious list of bills to track during the 2021 legislative session, so we need your help!

February 15, 2021

1,000 Casts? More like 410 Days: A Steelheader’s Journey

How long did it take you to bring home your first steelhead? A few days, weeks, or months? It took me over a year… 410 days to be exact, and not for lack of effort. My adventure began on Black Friday, 2015. I walked into Fisherman’s Marine and bought all the gear to float fish for salmon and steelhead, but none of the store employees warned me how difficult the challenge ahead would be.

February 22, 2021

Angling For Advocacy Fundraiser Kicks off March 1st to Support Salmon & Steelhead Conservation

From March 1st through 7th, the Association of Northwest Steelheaders will be raffling 13 world-class fishing trips with premier Northwest guides to support angling advocacy. Our guides have generously donated their time and expertise to help you learn new techniques and develop a deeper understanding of Pacific Northwest fisheries and why their conservation is so important. If you win one of our trips, we can guarantee that it’ll be the trip of a lifetime! Our guides include Jordan Knigge, Big Dave, Chris Vertopoulos, Jack and Brandon Glass, Kevin Anderson, Damon Struble, Bill Taylor, Trevor Storlie, Herman Fleishman, Kevin Larson, Ciara Lambert, and Bill Woods. Find the details for each trip at the button below.

March 24, 2021

Sandy River Chapter Nominates Still Creek for Wild & Scenic Status in Draft Bill

Last year, over 2,500 Oregonians submitted river and stream nominations for inclusion in Senators Wyden and Merkeley’s River Democracy Act, which is intended to add about 4,700 river miles to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Co-President of the Sandy River Chapter Greg Reed and Board Member Norm Ritchie advocated for the inclusion of Still Creek, a tributary of the Zig Zag River in the Sandy River Basin, and succeeded in adding it to the list of streams in the bill.

April 13, 2021

Coeur d’Alene Press Opinion: Support Simpson Proposal

Kevin Brown is an Association of Northwest Steelheaders member who recently published an opinion piece in the Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls Press on April 9, 2021 The piece emphasizes the need for the recreational angling community to engage in Representative Simpson's effort to restore Snake River salmon and steelhead populations.