Chapter Contact: President Bill Hedlund, (503) 815-2737 or billh@ifish.net

Report by Chapter President Len Clarke on the October 20-23 Trask River Hatchery Volunteer Project:

"At the October North Coast Chapter meeting, Trask hatchery manager Jim Skarr told the group that with record returns of coho this year they were in fear of being overrun at the hatchery after the first heavy rain.  It would take 2-3 days for the fish to make their way upstream to the hatchery after they tasted their home river water.  Thousands of surplus coho would need to be processed in preparation for distribution to the hungry through foods banks around the state. 
  
The rain came on the following weekend with the email sent out Monday morning.  Jim Skarr was overrun with phone calls at the Trask hatchery.  "We took over 40 calls from Steelheaders wanting to help.  We sent some folks to the North Fork but over a dozen showed up at the Trask - we could not have processed the fish with out them.  Many "Thanks" go to the Steelheaders." 
 
Some could not attend during the required timeframe but during the 3 day period over 2 dozen Steelheaders participated at the hatchery.  Most fish were sent to the food bank after the required eggs for the hatchery were processed.  Carcasses were then distributed back in to upper stretches of the North Coast rivers by members of the Tillamook Anglers.  Several other groups also sent volunteers. 
 
There is no way that the hatchery employees can handle huge volumes of fish - the volunteer effort is most satisfying for those who can participate and hopefully this can be an annual event for Steelheaders."