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Pomeroy, WA 99347

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   July 18, 2008

Fishing & Hunting Report 

           

TUCANNON  LAKES & RIVER

LAKES STOCKING

Stocked in June

Rainbow Lake: 1000 catchables

Spring Lake: 1000 catchables

Blue Lake: 1000 catchables

Watson Lake: 1000 catchables

Curl Lake: 10000 catchables

Catchables average 1/3 of lb, above lakes stocked with jumbos last week!

Deer Lake: stocked earlier in May

Beaver Lake: stocked earlier in May

Big 4 Lake: stocked in April

Lake fishing remains surprisingly good. I think its due to a cool June and lots of cool water in the river flowing into the lakes.

Tucannon River:

The river has been fishing VERY well as of late. Lots of water this year. Flies have been deadly in the past week ( Adams, Coachman, Bead heads) with lots of dry fly activity. Spinners have also been working well, try a Wedding Ring or Dick Night spoon in Chartreuse. Remember bait is allowed on the river downstream of Marengo otherwise it is a selective fishery: NO bait, 1 hook, No barb!

 

Hunting 

 

BOW SEASON:

Archery season is coming. Start [practicing and scouting now. This is the time of year to make land owner contact. Remember, these farmers are haying and putting in long days, be considerate!

 

Special Tag Holders:

For you lucky tag holders NOW is the time to make a reservation especially if you need a cabin. The cabins are very nice and will go fast!

   

 

           NOTICE                 

Over 600 permits were given out for wind farm area for fall 2008.Not very many e-mails have been received thanking these companies for the hunting program! Hunters you need to send e-mails thanking these companies, do it TODAY!

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.

 

Wind Farm access

Hopkins Ridge-Puget Sound Energy (PSE)

Has been open to public / hunter access since 2006.

Marengo Wind Farm-Pacific Power

Opening on hold as of this time.

 

Access to PSE area may be gained by coming to The Last Resort During regular store hours. 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

The process is underway to open up some areas, hopefully for 2008. I dont have any firm info as of yet and will not post anything until it is a DONE deal. Remember this is private land and we will just have to be patient until the details are worked out. DON'T complain to the land owners!, If you want to complain yell at me I have big shoulders.

       
 
     

The Last Resort Camp Store & Blue Mountains KOA Campground

509-843-1556  |   Email Us   |  2005 Tucannon Road  |   Pomeroy, WA 99347