Angler West Cowlitz River Steelhead show

Banning of lead

All,  The politicians are at it again trying to ban lead in fishing.  It started with "just a few lakes" and now we are now after all lead under 1oz.  This bill covers any lead including jigs or hooks with less then a ounce in weight.  As you all know they take away in small portions but the end goal is total elimination.

I have attached the committee members, and this is the time to start telling them to dro this bill.  They will be meeting January 19th.  Please let them know you are opposed to this bill.  I would also suggest you contact your own legislators even though it is still in committee.

Just cut and past the group I made below if you want to send them all a group email.

Please forward this to anyone you think might help.

Bill:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2241&year=2011#documents


Committee:

Rep Dave Upthegrove (Chairman) Dist.33 (D) dave.upthegrove@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7868

Rep. Jeff Morris (Dist. 40) (D) jeff.morris@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7970

Rep. Shelly Short (Dist. 7) (R) shelly.short@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7908

Rep. Kirk Pearson (Dist.39) (R) kirk.pearson@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7816
Rep. Steve Tharinger (Dist. 24) (D) steve.tharinger@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7904

Rep. Luis Moscoso (Dist. 1) (D) 360 786-7900 luis.moscoso@leg.wa.gov

Rep. Paul Harris (Dist. 17) (R) paul.harris@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7976
Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (Dist. 34) (D) joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7952

Rep. Dean Takko (Dist. 19) (D) dean.takko@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7806

Rep. Larry Crouse (Dist.4) (R) larry.crouse@leg.wa 360 786-7820

Rep. Drew Hansen (Dist. 23 (D) drew.hansen@leg.wa.gov 360 786 7842

Rep. Sharon Wylie (Dist. 49 (D) sharon.wylie@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7924

Rep. Terry Nealey (Dist. 16) (R) terry.nealey@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7828
Rep. Laurie Jinkins (Dist. 27) (D) laurie.jinkins@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7930

Rep. David Taylor (Dist. 15) (R) david.taylor@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7874
Rep. Gerry Pollet (Dist 46) (D) pollet.gerry@leg.wa.gov 360- 786-7886

Rep. Matt Shea (Dist 4) (R) shea.matt@leg.wa.gov 360-786-7984


dave.upthegrove@leg.wa.gov, jeff.morris@leg.wa.gov, shelly.short@leg.wa.gov, kirk.pearson@leg.wa.gov,  steve.tharinger@leg.wa.gov,  luis.moscoso@leg.wa.gov, paul.harris@leg.wa.gov, joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov,  dean.takko@leg.wa.gov, larry.crouse@leg.wa, drew.hansen@leg.wa.gov,   drew.hansen@leg.wa.gov,  sharon.wylie@leg.wa.gov,  terry.nealey@leg.wa.gov, laurie.jinkins@leg.wa.gov,   david.taylor@leg.wa.gov,  pollet.gerry@leg.wa.gov,  shea.matt@leg.wa.gov

Keeper Sturgeon the past couple days

The life of a guide

Last week I flew to Denver Colorado to do a Sportsmen's show to find some more customers. I arrived a day early and had my brother who lives in fort Collins pick me up. The next morning I made the one hour drive into down town denver to the Convention center for set up. After a couple hours of packing all my show equipment into the building I had my booth set up. For the next 4 days I had to drive into Denver and work the 10 hour days at the show. I took a shuttle bus from the Coors field where they had us park and get on the bus to shuttle in. Friday night after the show I was on the first bus and thouight I was going to get out early and beat the traffic. Wrong, the bus broke down and it took them 45 minutes to get it fixed where they could drive it. A ramp for wheels chairs wouldn't go back up after they let it down due to the bus driver hadn't been orientated on the bus. Patience anyone, I have a lot of patience for some things and fortunately this was one of them. Saturday at the show I had a customer named Eric stop by my booth and visit with me. He was telling me how much fun his family had while visiting the Pacific NW and fishing with me for 3 out of the 4 days while they were in the area. He offered to take me out to dinner that night and I took him up on it. No bus ride and get to hang out in downtown Denver! During this time of year Denver is a fun place to visit with the town being decorated for the Holidays and there is lots of restaraunts and pubs to check out. We went to a Sports bar called Old Chicago which had lots of different flavor of beers and great pizza. The town was packed that night due to the Denver Broncos in the playoffs against Pittsburgh.  I had a great time with great company. It was nice to get away from my fast pace life like being back home. When you are self employed you never have a day off and you think you should always being doing someting productive to make money which is what I had to do when I returned home. Since my return I have been Sturgeon fishing on the Columbia River. It has been long days getting up at 4:30am and being ready for my clients by 6:30 am. The weather is cold and snowing but I have a top for my boat along witha a heater for my clients. However I do not because I am out ion the weather running the boat and rigging rods once we get to the fishing spot. The fishing has been great but the weatehr is challenging some days when you are fighting the wind for 8 hours. After I get my clients their fish it is time to pull the anchor and head to the boat ramp where I will fillet their fish. After I get them on their way it is time to clean up the mess. The top needs to come down and the panels need to get stowed away which is the easier part. I forgot to mention putting the top up in freezing temperatures in the morning when the top doesn't want to stretch. This part is not fun and it is a time when I wonder why am I here doing this job, oh yeah because everyone tells me that I am living the dream! Don't take it wrong I love my job but it takes a special person to be able and do it every day. I am going on 8 straight days of fishing and no day off in sight right now which I am not complaining. Usually January and February are my slowest months so I will take all the work I can if the weather allows it. Right now as I write this blog it is snowing hard and I need to get to the boat ramp in the morning. Thank god for my 4 wheel drive Chevy pick up. I couldn't do my job with out it.

Columbia River Walleye TV show with "The Joy of Fishing"

http://vimeo.com/8285900 Columbia River Gold tv show

Here is the link to my Tv show with the Joy of Fishing for Walleye on the Columbia River in the Spring of 2010.

We offer Fly Fishing trips for Steelhead

Steve's Guided Adventures offers fly fishing trips on the most premier rivers in the pacific NW for Steelhead. You will be fihsing with Pro Guide Steve leonard or one of his Professional guides that works with him. Our goal at Steve's Guided Adventures is to give you a great fishing experience and  memory of a lifetime. Steelhead are acrobatic fish that will give you the fight and thrill of a lifetime once they have taken your fly that you patiently presented to them. You have the option of swinging or indicator fishing for them depending on the water we are fishing.

    Our winter trips are on the Washougal, East Fork lewis and Kalama rivers in Washington. In Oregon we are fishing the Nestucca river on the oregon Coast.

   Summer trips are on the Klickitat river that runs through Washingtons Cascade mountain range. This beautiful river cuts it's way through the cascade mountains starting on Mt.Adamas glacier and flows for over 40 miles until it enters the mighty columbia river. The scenery is steep ridges covered with big pine, fur and oak trees. There is a abundance of wildlife in this area from Bald eagles, Ospery, Wild turkeys, Mule deer, Black bears and elk.  The Steelhead that migrate up the Klickitat  have traveled for over 160 miles up the columbia river to the mouth of the Klickitat before making their journey up this prestine river. Since they have such a long journey from the ocean these fish are very strong compared to other Steelhead.

   We offer Drift Boat and wading trips for Fly fishing.

Now Booking for Spring Chinook

We are now booking trips for our Spring Chinook season in 2012 that has a big forecast of over 300,000 fish returning to the Columbia River and it's tributaries again this year. We will start to target the Columbia river starting late March until it closes in April then we will move into the Willamette and Sw Washingtion tributaries. The Columbia river season isn't set yet and we will keep you posted when they do. These dates go fast so book your trip soon to assure you a great day on the water for these prized fish in the pacific NW.

Winter Steelhead TV Show with Anglers West TV

                                         Our catch of the day on the show!

   In December I was honored to do another tv show with my sponsor pro Cure. Pro Cure sponsors the show "Angler West TV"along with other big events to help with the Sportfishing industry. This show was filmed on the Cowlitz river in the middle of December and should be aring soon. I also have a walleye and Sturgeon show that is airing with Angler west TV. If you haven't watched their show, tune in to watch the great action!

Thank you Justin wolf with Anglers West TV and Pro Cure.

Winter Steelhead trips

                                A Happy client with a nice Winter Steelhead.
                            This could be you, quit wishin and let's go fishin!

   January through march we will be running Winter Steelhead trips from the Drift Boat on the Nestucca River in Oregon, The East Fork of the lewis, Kalama and Washougal rivers in Washington. Starting in the middle of February through march we will be offering jet Sled trips on the Cowlitz river for their "B" Run steelhead that average 12-16 pounds! Book your trip now to assure the date that works for you.

Winter Sturgeon season is open

January 1st Sturgeon season opened above bonneville dam for Keepers. This is a great fishery with big numbers of fish being caught per trip. I am getting booked up for this fishery and it is open every day of the week. If you would like to book as trip or need more information please contact us so we can assist you. It is a short season due to a 2,000 fish quota and will be open until the 28th then it will close so they can count the numbers and will  possibly reopen if quota isn't reached. Our boats are coverd and heated for your comfort during this time of year. Minimum 3 anglers $200.00 each 4 anglers $175.00 each for the full day of fishing.