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2005 Tucannon Rd.

Pomeroy, WA 99347

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Spring 2010

Fishing & Hunting Report 

          

TUCANNON  LAKES & RIVER

All lakes stocked for opener!!!!!

 

LAKES STOCKING

Rainbow: 3000 catchables, 100 jumbos

Blue Lake: 4500 catchables, 150 jumbo

Big 4: 2000 catchables, 300 jumbos

Watson Lake: 3000 catchables, 100 jumbos

Spring Lake: 2000 catchables, 100 jumbos

Deer Lake: 700 catchables

Beaver Lake: 500 catchables

 

      Big 4 & Rainbow have some ice but plenty of open area to fish. Good chance that warmer weather this week should have 'em ice free for opener.

    

Tucannon River:

 

Record run of Steelhead are making for great fishing. Call Lyons Ferry Marina  to check out the action on the lower river: 509-399-8020.

 

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-Check  our website often for meeting date / locations. Public meeting is due to be scheduled soon! Even better beocome a fan on our Facebook page and you will be notified of meetings, info...

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 

 

Spring Turkey: An early Spring has the Tom's gobbling already. We will be having a youth Turkey hunting clinic at the end of March. Check out the "whats happening" link on home page for details.

                                  

Online Wind Farm access 

New for 2010! 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

 

       
 
     

The Last Resort Camp Store & Blue Mountains KOA Campground

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