Spencer enjoys outdoor adventures
Clifford Friday passed away recently. His daughter, Diane, was a member of the Moses Lake High School Great Class of 1965 and a friend of mine. She sent along this photo of Clifford from four years ago. Diane asked her brother about the fishing trip, "My Dad and my brother went trolling all over the lake and were between the Hallmark Inn and the I-90 Bridge when Dad hooked the trout. It gave him a good fight." She also sent along the following poem, which is appropriate for this occasion: An Angler's Prayer I pray that I may fish until my dying day, and, when it comes to my last ca…
The Spencer Report
By Spencer (Awesome Kid) Kimbro:
"Hi Dennis, This week's report... I went with my dad when he went on a damage control hunt for elk. I didn't do any hunting myself, but I got to ride quads and watch for wildlife. We didn't get an elk, but we did get to see some large elk in the Hanford reservation area. That was pretty cool.
"My mom and I looked over the Washington fishing and hunting Web site for registration and information on the hunter's safety class. That site has so much information.
"The bald eagle trip is a great idea, we actually do that every year. Another great outdoor adventure is the Oak Creek Feeding Station outside of Naches on White Pass. If you are lucky you will get to take the truck out into the field when they feed the elk.
"I would really, really like to be on your radio show. That would be cool!
"Well, that's all I have this week, Sincerely, Spencer"
Great report, Spencer.
Spencer Kimbro is the first youth to participate in the newly organized Youth Outdoors Unlimited program. I have asked him to submit a report each week to inform readers about his current activities.
Already he is producing suggestions for ways others can explore the outdoors. The bald eagle trip is one for everyone to consider. Take the entire family to the Steamboat Rock State Park area for a wildlife viewing trip. There should be a bunch of deer, bald eagles and sometimes a golden eagle or two.
We haven't been to the Oak Creek Feeding Station yet, but should make it a priority.
From Cindy Carpenter:
"Youth Outdoors Unlimited is a Columbia Based non-profit corporation organized to take terminally ill and disabled youth on hunting and fishing trip and other outdoor adventures.
"This is not a one person organization, but a group of hunters and anglers who just want to promote and share their love for hunting and fishing in the great state of Washington. Volunteers are welcome to join the fun of helping youth with outdoor adventures."
"Our Board of Directors consists of Bob Bersanti, Kandi Bersanti, Curt Carpenter, Chris Newhouse, Don Sell, Joe Carpenter and Cindy Carpenter. Together as a Board we are committed to providing the best experience possible for extraordinary children dealing with extraordinary medical conditions.
"We are now accepting applications for youth from the State of Washington who qualify and would like to go on an extraordinary adventure. Applications can be obtained by contacting any of our Board Members or by emailing you@youthoutdoorsunlimitedwa.com. Until our website is up and running the most up to date information can be viewed on our facebook fanpage at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/YouthOutdoorsUnlimitedWa. Brochures, applications and donation information can be mailed upon request.
"A big thank you to all of our current sponsors. We will be naming them as our organization grows.
First fund raising dinner and auction
"We are having our first official dinner and auction at Sporty's Steakhouse on Thursday, March 31st. Dinner starts at 6:30 and auction to follow. Tickets are available at Sporty's and are $40 per person with $25 being donated to Youth Outdoors Unlimited. 100 percent of all auction proceeds to benefit Y.O.U. If you would like to donate an auction item please contact Cindy Carpenter at (509) 431-1604.
"Together we can make a difference one child at a time. Contact Cindy at 509-431-1604 for information about YOU, donation of product or monetary donations.
From Fish and Wildlife
Bottom fish limits reduced
The aggregate bottom fish limit is now reduced from 15 to 12 effective immediately. It is unlawful for any person to retain or possess more than 12 bottom fish species for personal use per day. The 12 fish in the aggregate limit of all species may include no more than 2 cabezon per person per day in addition to current daily sub-limits for rockfish, 10, and lingcod, two. The location affected is Marine Areas 1, 2, 3 and Marine Area 4 west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line. The reason for the action is the new rule conforms to federal action taken by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.
Lingcod season to begin a week earlier in three coastal areas
Most of the Washington coast will open to recreational lingcod fishing March 12, a week earlier than the date listed in the state's 2010/2011 sport fishing rules pamphlet.
Heather Reed, coastal policy coordinator for Fish and Wildlife, said the opening date for the lingcod fishery in Marine Areas 1-3 south of Cape Alava was changed to conform to federal rules.
The fishing season in those areas is scheduled to run through Oct. 15 as previously planned.
The season dates will remain unchanged in Marine Area 4, which will be open for lingcod fishing from April 16 through Oct. 15.
There is a 22-inch minimum size limit and a two-fish daily catch limit for lingcod in Marine Areas 1-3. In Marine Area 4, there is a 24-inch minimum size limit and a two-fish daily limit for lingcod.
Three agencies propose legislation to maintain recreation access on state lands
Dennis note: Expect an outdoors column on this subject in the near future.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the state departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife have announced they are co-requesting legislation that will reform state land management and maintain public access to state recreation lands.
SB 5622 addresses the growing demand for recreation opportunities and the impacts of recreation on natural resources and wildlife by developing a reliable source of funding and improving law enforcement on state lands managed by the agencies. All three agencies have seen sharp declines in their budgets to provide adequate maintenance, improvements, and enforcement for recreation. The Governor's proposed budget removed state General Fund support for recreation on state lands in favor of a user-supported funding approach.
A companion bill, HB 1796, has been introduced with one of the key components of the bill being an annual $30 pass that will enable the public to visit state lands managed by all three agencies with just a single pass.
The bill, as introduced: Creates an annual, singular pass, called the Discover Pass, that will enable the public to visit lands managed by Parks, WDFW, and DNR. The pass will cost $30 per year per vehicle or $10 for day use.
Also, Improves public safety, by giving law enforcement officers from each agency the authority to issue natural resource infractions on land managed by any of the agencies.
Provides a free annual pass to volunteers who donate 40 hours of their time working on volunteer projects sanctioned by the agencies, aligns DNR's recreational immunity with that of the other state agencies and specifies how each agency must spend the revenue generated by the Discover Pass.
Revenue from the sales of the pass will be split among the three agencies in the following manner: DNR and WDFW will each receive 7.5 percent and State Parks will receive 85 percent. Both DNR and WDFW would receive an estimated $5.5 million per biennium and State Parks would receive $61 million. Revenues in excess of $71 million would be distributed evenly among the agencies. The pass proceeds would partially offset reductions in state General Fund support to all three agencies.