Ardent steelhead angler, wild fish advocate, and fisheries biologist, John McMillan, to Speak at June 10 Club Meeting
John McMillan grew up on the banks of the Washougal River and has angled for steelhead and salmon for as long as he can remember. His passion for anadromous fish led him to study fisheries biology, and he became the 2008 recipient of the Flyfishers’ Club’s graduate student scholarship at Oregon State University in 2008.
Now, John comes back to where he got his start when he presents at the Flyfishers’ Club June 10 meeting. John’s topic is: Steelhead and Salmon Recovery at a Crossroads: Why 40 years of effort have failed and what history tells us will work.
The basis for McMillan’s presentation is grounded in his master’s degree research, followed by 20 years of active work to recover anadromous fish runs. Currently the executive director of The Conservation Angler, John has also studied salmonids and worked on their recovery with the US Forest Service, Hoh River tribes, Wild Salmon Center, NOAA and Trout Unlimited.
John has also been among a team of biologists studying steelhead recovery following the removal of the dam on the Elwah River, and he has some interesting observations to share.
Through his years of effort to recover fish runs, McMillan says he has developed a keen understanding of what has worked and why and what hasn’t worked and why. And, that understanding is the basis for his approach to salmonid recovery.
Attend the June 10 dinner meeting and learn why there is real hope for the recovery of steelhead and salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest, and what it will take to pull that recovery off. Sign-up here for the meeting or go to the “Events” section of the Club’s website.
Paul Franklin
The Club Holds a Successful Happy Hour for New Members
Over 20 people have joined the Flyfishers’ Club in the past new months, significantly enhancing our membership rolls.
As a group, the new members come from varied backgrounds, including their experience in fly fishing. Some are new to the sport and very enthusiastic about learning how to fly cast and fish. Others have some experience and want more, and still others are seasoned veterans. Together, they bring great new energy to the Flyfishers’ Club of Oregon.
The Club held a Happy Hour for new members on Tuesday, May 12 at the University Club. Eleven of our new group showed up for the Happy Hour and enjoyed meeting and visiting with each other and also with Kevin Quinn, Mike Radakovich, Caroline Fitchett and Paul Franklin, the Club members who worked on the event and hosted it.
New members learned of the various ways that they can become involved in the Club and completed a form on which they identified their areas of interest – from helping find speakers to dinner meetings to working on website improvements to doing clean-up at the annual Club picnic.
The result is that we have a group of new members who are excited to be involved in helping to make Club activities happen.
Paul Franklin
Revived Sandy River Spey Clave a Success
The Sandy River Spey Clave was reconvened on May 9 and 10 at Oxbow Park after several years of dormancy, thanks to Marty and Mia Sheppard of Little Creek Outfitters, Swing the Fly, and the help of many others. Hundreds of people came to the event during its two day span, and it was a phenomenal success.
There were dozens of flyfishing manufacturer representatives with booths, showcasing many new products and concepts for fly fishing. There were casting lessons on dry land and many “how to” instructional sessions on the river led by fishing guides, fly shop owners and staff, and veteran members of the fly fishing industry. There were some exceptional presenters, including spey legend Dec Hogan.
The Flyfishers Club of Oregon had many members present and our Flyfisher Foundation happily provided $1,000 to help revive the Sandy River Spey Clave.
Janet Arenz