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August 30, 2010
Fishing
& Hunting Report
TUCANNON LAKES & RIVER
LAKE STOCKING
Rainbow: 3000 catchables
Blue Lake: 2000 catchables
Watson Lake: 2500 catchables
Spring Lake: 2000 catchables
Deer Lake: 1100 catchables
Curl Lake: 2800 catchables
Big 4 & Beaver stocked earlier in season!
Lake stocking done for the season!
Tucannon River: Opened
June 5th for general Trout Season!
Fishing on the river is hot. Great action on flies and
spinners!
Snake River: Steelhead opens Sept 1st!
Warning
The State of Wa is having discussions to possibly close a
number of the Tucannon Lakes And possibly the Tucannon River to fishing in
the future, 2012?? Lake closures are due to maintenance work being
needed on lakes to make them meet safety / environmental codes. It's cheaper
for the state to close them than to do the work. The River closure is
related to endangered species: Salmon and Steelhead issues
Public meetings will be held and you must attend to voice your support. We
have to let our elected officials know how much we value the areas
recreation and also the positive economic impact on the entire surrounding area
these fishing opportunities provide.
What you can do
1-The best way to stay informed is to become a
"Fan" on our facebook page (link is on our homepage). As soon as we get
info, date of public meeting... we can send a notification to all our
"fans". Public input is important. Public meeting is due to be scheduled
before any decision is made.
2- Spread the word to friends, fishing clubs...
3- Contact Columbia County Commissioners and
voice support for lakes / river remaining open to fishing and economic
benefits to the county.
4- Contact Wa Dept of Fish & Wildlife in Spokane
for our region, #1, 509-892-1001 and raise some noise!!!
Hunting
Big game cooler will be available!
Bow Season: It's almost here! Get out and start flinging sticks and
scouting. You should already have been making contact with land owners to
secure permission!
Fire in Tucannon
Valley: Sept 27 -28 near mile post 11. Started in what we call
Big Buck Canyon and traveled NE across Tucannon Rd. towards Oliphant
Rd. Approx 11,000 acres of scrub / farm land burned. A little rain and lush
grass will be popping and Deer will be all over it! Better come early and
check out if "your" hunt'n spot was affected
Online Wind Farm access forms
Construction of the Lower Snake River project is underway to the N. East of our
park near Hwy 12 and East of Marengo grade. During 2010 construction the access
to this area will be closed. Area will re-open to access at completion of
project. We will have maps of the area available as will PSE offices in
Dayton & Pomeroy. Please plan ahead!
Sign up online
to
hunt wind farm property!!!! Don't wait in line for 45 minutes or more to
fill out form. You fill out form online then just stop into our store with
your photo ID and pick up your permit. I would highly recommend doing this
as during busy periods (Deer season) you can wait up to an HOUR or more. Do yourself a
favor and sign up online by using the links below!!!!!!! Make sure you read
and UNDERSTAND rules and maps. If you don't have time to pre scout do
yourself and other hunters a favor and don't show up opening morning
expecting to know where to go. These areas have a mixture of lands that are
open / closed to access and you can get yourself into trouble trespassing in
a hurry! PLEASE read all info about access programs. You can fill out ONE
online form on either PSE or PacifiCorp website and you will be
covered for BOTH properties. Please respect the landowners property, this is
a privilege to access this area. NO PERMITS AVAILABLE DURING HUNTERS
BREAKFAST! Only during normal store hours!!
Wind Farm Online Access Form:
Hopkins Ridge
Wind Farm Online
Access Form: Pacificorp
Hopkins
Ridge-Puget Sound Energy (PSE)
Has been open to
public / hunter access since 2006.
Marengo Wind
Farm-Pacific Power
Marengo wind farm access available as of 10/09/08.
Stop by store for permit, maps...
NOTICE
Puget Sound Energy / Hopkins Ridge Kings Grade area. Thank them for
access program.
e-mail
anne.walsh@pse.com
PacifiCorp / Marengo Wind Project
Area
between Turner Rd & Hartsock Grade. Thank them for working on an access
program for 2008.
e-mail mwphunt@pacificorp.com
Dayton Chamber: Let them know you appreciate hunting opportunities at
wind farms & Dayton area, you spend $ in local economy and you hope future
wind farms are open for access!
I am
doing everything I can to keep these areas open and working on getting new
areas open as well.
PSE & PacifiCorp ACCESS
Access to PSE & PacifiCorp area may be gained by coming to The Last Resort During
regular store hours or online. You MUST
have: photo ID, Hunting license, and license plate number of vehicles you
will be driving! These permits are available at no cost. More info below.
Puget Sound Energy /
Hopkins Ridge Wind Farm Access Program
What is Hopkins Ridge: A wind farm for generating electricity was
constructed in the Northwest of the Tucannon valley and surrounding farmland
in 2006 and is operated by Puget Sound Energy (PSE).
Why have access controlled: The landowners involved are in a
lease agreement with PSE to have the turbines on their property. These
turbines provide additional income to the farmers and their families as well
as providing energy that is "home grown". The landowners involved in the access program have NO obligation
to keep their land available for access (hunting) but have chosen to allow
hunting through this access program. Many land owners do not allow hunting
these days as I am sure you are aware! We should all thank the land owners, PSE and Fish & Wildlife for coming up with this program.
Why is The Last Resort involved: When word of this project first
came up I heard from a lot of you hunters concerning access to this area.
Many acres of land involved in the project boundary had been feel free to
hunt through land owner generosity. I attended public meetings and tried to
encourage others to do the same. After talking to my neighbors and
landowners I realized that many wanted to allow hunting to continue but they
did not want to deal with the hassle & paperwork of a controlled access program.
Imagine these
scenarios: You have been on a combine for 12 hours and finally got home for
a shower and some food when the phone starts ringing; or you are out in the
field working and 3 strangers come up your driveway when only your wife and
kids are home. Now multiply this by 50 or 100 hunters looking for permission
and you can see why the landowners did not want to deal with this. The Last
Resort caters to hunters and many of you have become our friends. We are
open 7 days a week with extended hours during hunting season. Since we are
already here and "taking care" of hunters it was a natural for us to
volunteer to handle the paperwork, inquires and foot traffic that will be
generated by this access program. I hunt too and in a perfect world we all
would have 500,000 acres to hunt on but fellas that ain't reality. We
should all go out of our way to thank the landowners, PSE and Fish &
Wildlife for this program.
How it works: This program is as simple as we could make it. You
come to The Last Resort during store hours and fill out and sign an
agreement each person getting permit MUST be present with drivers license
or photo ID (excluding minors), license plate # of hunting rig, and wild ID number from your hunting license), watch a
3 minute DVD on safety in the wind farm area, pick up a
map of areas available to hunt and you are
good to go until March 31st the following year.. A new permit will then be available and
valid from April 1 to March 31st on a regular basis (just like your hunting
& fishing license is now). I hope everyone realizes how much work and time went
into this and appreciates what a privilege it is to have this land
available. Maps to areas open for hunting will be provided. YOU are
responsible for following rules and knowing where you are. Signage will be
posted in various areas indicating what areas are available for this
program. It would be a GOOD idea to take a little time to scout and
familiarize yourself with the area.
For more
info or questions call The Last Resort
509-843-1556
e-mail
thelastresort@columbiaenergyllc.com
If
e-mailing make sure to place "signage or PSE" in subject line or e-mail may
be sent to spam and deleted!!!
For area maps and
specific rules, please go to PSE website.
Puget
Sound Energy
509-382-2043
www.psehopkinsridge.com
Marengo Wind Farm / Pacific Power
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