Second Annual Gathering of Steelheaders Restroom Restoration

Volume 1, Issue 1
March 2010
Mission Statement: The Russian River Wild Steelhead Society is a sportsman’s organization
dedicated to the preservation, protection and enhancement of wild Russian River Steelhead
and the Russian River watershed.
Dear Member,
This is your inaugural RRWSS newsletter. Through this quarterly publication, we intend to keep you
updated on our events and progress as we establish our non-profit status and develop our strategy for
our contribution to the Russian River watershed.
Second Annual Gathering of Steelheaders
On Saturday, April 17, we will host the second annual Gathering of Great Steelheaders at the
Russian River Sportsmen’s Club in Duncan’s Mills. This evening of fellowship will run from 3:00
until 7:00 PM. Existing RRWSS members will be given a discount of $10.00 from the regular ticket
price of $45.00.
We welcome all of you to join us for this fun-filled evening and to rub elbows with some of the finest
steelhead fishermen around. All donations and proceeds will go toward funding our education and
restoration programs in the Russian River watershed.
For tickets please call (707) 869-2156. This event will sell out!
RRWSS Members who would like to volunteer please contact:
rrwildsteelheadsociety@gmail.com or call King’s Sport at (707) 869-2156. - Steve Jackson
Restroom Restoration
The Russian River Sportsmen’s Club has very generously allowed the RRWSS to hold meetings and
events at their facility. To show our appreciation, we have replaced much needed restroom fixtures
with labor contributed by board members Chris Aff, Dan Tensfeldt, Howard Binney, Steve Jackson
and Frank Bertaina.
Thank you to the Russian River Sportsmen’s Club and to the volunteers that helped make this
possible! - Chris Aff
Russian River Wild Steelhead Society – March 2010
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Steelhead in the Classroom
With the help of Trout Unlimited and the Department of Fish and Game, the Russian River Wild
Steelhead Society has been able to sponsor two local schools for the Steelhead in the Classroom
program. The program involves 5th grade-level students with raising steelhead from eggs to fry
followed with the release of the steelhead fry back into the wild. The Warm Springs Fish Hatchery
gives each class 30 eggs initially and each class “incubates” these eggs in a 10 gallon aquarium that is
chilled to 52 degrees. It takes about 7 weeks for the fish to mature to the fry stage where they are
large enough to be released.
During the time that it takes for the fish to grow, the teachers educate the students on the Steelhead
life cycle including the threats the fish undergo and the value of good habitat and habitat restoration.
The kids learn the real value of our wild fish through fun activities and hands-on experience. Not
only does this make our children good stewards, it also enables them to communicate with their
parents and to educate others. Although the children are raising hatchery fish, the knowledge and
understanding they gain about how our ecosystem works is priceless because, if our children never
become aware of our fishery, how can we expect to change the outcome of its future?
If you would like to participate, or know of a school that may be interested in participating in next
year’s program, please email me at: Nick Wheeler - nickrussianriver@gmail.com As someone who
participated in this program as a child, I can tell you that it makes a huge difference. Also, if you
happen to catch a hatchery steelhead and would like to donate it to a good cause, some of the schools
are looking for steelhead to dissect in the classroom.
- Nick Wheeler
Please consider this newsletter an invitation to join if you are not yet a member!
If you are a member, please take this newsletter and share it with a friend.
Invite them to join! We need your support.
Members – If you have an article or something interesting to submit for our next newsletter, please send
it to: rrwildsteelheadsociety@gmail.com
Russian River Wild Steelhead Society – March 2010
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Trout in the Classroom
I Am an Angler
I’m an angler. Fishing is a passion in me seeded by imaginary trips with my grandfather: a picnic
table as a boat, a lawn as a lake and a bucket as the fish. Luckily, my father understood the obsession
when his nine-to-five permitted; yearly vacations to Lake Champlain or, to satiate my spring fever, he
would drop me off at creeks or at a Lake Ontario bay as soon as the ice broke. Years passed and
every spring I still had dreams of fishing. Such diseases can’t be placated by beer and youthful
Berkeley students in t-shirts and boxer shorts in the middle of March, or even the hustle of San
Francisco streets intermingled with an occasional journey down to the Piers or Lake Merced.
Why?
Because for me it’s not so much the fishing for fishing sake, but the “being out there”. It’s a choice
about experiencing nature as Nature intends. It’s fishing.
My wife and I moved to the Russian River for a multitude of reasons: price, transportation,
environment, nature. But fishing…………fishing called me.
Every day, that is any day that I can be, I am out there on the Russian River. From Monte Rio to
Cassini, I know every hole, every run, every riffle…yet I know nothing as the river is always
changing. I know where the otter troop lives; I know the logs that the seals sun-bathe on, where the
minks den and the osprey roost, and I still know nothing. There are so many fishermen who know so
much more than I do, with years and experience that I can only hope that I might someday achieve. I
listen and I observe and take in because the river is calling.
But I ask, how do you know when the steelhead run? What bait to use, fly to tie, color Cleo to use,
plug to run at the Narrows? How do you know that the seal is near in muddy waters, or that the
cormorants are eating the smolt? Why are you only out there for two weeks out of the year? Why not
go right now, bring your son, daughter, your nephew, niece, your neighbor or a friend? Don’t you
feel the fish calling? The Hardheads, the Bass, the Shad…………and the Steelhead?
We are anglers, the obsessed fishermen and women. Get out there, ‘cause I’m seeing trails in the
water, steelhead are streaming, and I don’t see you.
- Andrew Ahn
Russian River Wild Steelhead Society – March 2010
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Frank Bertaina (1944 – 2010)
We will all miss Frank’s energy and drive. It was his vision that brought the Russian River Wild
Steelhead Society into being and we will strive to make his dream a success. Frank will be dearly
missed by all who knew him.
RRWSS Productivity
The RRWSS has met on a monthly basis for several months, electing officers and getting to the
business of satisfying the non-profit status requirements. It is not an easy thing to do, and it isn’t the
fastest process either. The Bylaws have been created and the process of registering as a “Not for
Profit” 501(c) 3 is underway. The board asks that, as members, you generously give of your time to
your organization. We need your help to get the word out to prospective new members, to get them to
join us and to volunteer for our RRWSS activities as they arise.
For members that would like to get more involved, we still have two openings on the Board of
Directors. Please be prepared to dedicate yourself to the Wild Steelhead Society, if you are interested,
by attending and actively participating in our board meetings. It’s not all fun and games but we do
always share some laughs. Board meetings are normally the second Tuesday of each month at the
Russian River Sportsmen’s Club starting at 7:00 PM.
Oktoberfest
The Oktoberfest was more successful than we had anticipated. Your participation helped raise
$6,275.63 for the RRWSS startup costs and to initiate conservation projects. Thank you to all of the
volunteers, wineries, vendors, casting instructors, fishing guides and attendees for contributing to the
success of this event. Also, a big thanks to the Russian River Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited and the
Department of Fish and Game.
Tim Rajeff’s Spey casting demonstration
Great Oktoberfest attendance, woohoo!!!
Russian River Wild Steelhead Society – March 2010
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Russian River Wild Steelhead Society
Application for Membership
Name______________________________________________ ____________ Date____________
Mailing Adress___________________________________________________________________
City / State / Zip__________________________________________________________________
Phone # Home_____________________Cell___________________Work___________________
Email “This helps us keep in touch”_________________________________________________
Occupation _____________________________________________________________________
Are you willing to serve on a Committee or Board? ____________________________________
Do you have any skills that would be a benefit to the organization? _______________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Membership Levels
 “Smolt” - $40.00 “Comes with Sticker and quarterly news letter.”
 “Half Pounder” - $80.00 “Comes with Sticker, quarterly news letter and RRWSS Hat.”
 “Blue Back” - $120.00 “Comes with Sticker, quarterly news letter, RRWSS Hat and Shirt.”
 “Chromer” - $300.00 “Comes with all of the above plus a Certificate of Appreciation
(If your membership level comes with a shirt please specify size “M. – XXL.” _____)
Lifetime Memberships “Trophy”
 Bronze - $1,000.00
All lifetime members receive a Sticker, quarterly news letter,
 Sliver - $2,500.00
RRWSS Hat and Shirt, a Certificate of Appreciation, and also
 Gold - $5,000.00
one year membership to the Russian River Sportsmen’s Club.
If you’d like to make an additional donation
over and above your selected dues, write in the
amount: ______________________________
Mail and make check payable to:
Russian River Wild Steelhead Society
16129 Main St. Unit B
Guerneville, Ca 95446
I acknowledge in this agreement, and fully understand that it is a release of liability. I further acknowledge that I am waiving any right that I may have to bring
legal action or to assert a claim against Russian River Wild Steelhead Society (RRWSS) for its negligence. Any member who invites a non-member (including
member’s spouse and family) agrees that such guest is bound by the same conditions and agrees to so advise the guest. I have read this statement and agree to its
terms as a condition of my membership in the Russian River Wild Steelhead Society. This agreement is valid for all RRWSS sanctioned events, (restoration
projects, events, meetings)*
Signature________________________________
Email: RRwildsteelheadsociety@gmail.com
Office Use Only:  DEP_______  PACKAGE_______  ROSTER_______
To Preserve Protect & Enhance
Russian River Wild Steelhead Society – March 2010
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Russian River Wild Steelhead Society
PMB # 211
16129 Main St. Unit B
Guerneville, CA 95446
A beautiful Russian River buck caught by Guy Roland
Russian River Wild Steelhead Society – March 2010
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