Outdoors Roundup

Robert “Bob” Bugert

COURTESY OF WASHINGTON RCO

BOB BUGERT APPOINTED TO THE WASHINGTON RECREATION AND CONSERVATION FUNDING BOARD

Leavenworth resident Bob Bugert has been appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to the Washington Recreation and Conservation Funding Board.   According to Joshua McKinney with the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), “The board awards about $200 million in grants every other year to tribes, nonprofits and government agencies to create parks, trails and other outdoor recreation opportunities. The board also awards grants to conserve the state’s natural resource heritage by protecting working farms and forests and wildlife habitat, including places inhabited by plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.”

Bugert has quite a bit of experience in the field of conservation, previously serving as the Executive Director of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust which greatly expanded the trail system in the Western foothills of Wenatchee as well as enacting policies to protect mule deer in this area during the winter. Bugert also spent eight years serving on the Washington State Salmon Recovery Board and recently served as a Chelan County Commissioner.  In his spare time, Bugert enjoys time in the outdoors hiking, biking and kayaking.  

A TURKEY HUNTING OPPORTUNITY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS:

Craig Dowdy, the owner of YJ Guide Service near Davenport, is giving away six guided turkey hunts this April on the 20th and 21st to first responders as a way of showing appreciation for the work they do.  These will be guided hunts, lasting two days, and all meals and accommodations are included. The only cost for participating hunters will be travel to and from Davenport along with the cost of a hunting license and turkey tag.

This is open to both current and retired first responders. To apply, contact Craig and his wife Melodie by email at melodie@yjguideservice.com.  Simply give your contact information (name, address and cell phone number) along with a very brief description of your service as a first responder to include whether you serve in law enforcement, the fire service or in EMS.

SPOKANE RIVER/LAKE ROOSEVELT FISHING REPORT

In other news, Craig Dowdy reports he was fishing the Spokane River until the cold snap froze things up to Porcupine Bay. Once the ice melts he’ll get back to fishing for burbot and walleye.  The fishing was very good right before the cold snap, especially for burbot. Book your trip at www.yjguideservice.com  

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE FISHING

Catch and keep sturgeon fishing may be closed in the Bonneville and The Dalles pools of the Columbia River but as of Jan. 17 it remains open in the John Day pool east of Rufus. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, “Angler effort was light because of inclement weather conditions in the John Day Pool most of last week. Anglers have landed approximately 45 percent of the annual catch guideline through Jan. 16. Sturgeon fishing is open seven days per week until the quota is achieved, but anglers should check weather and road conditions before planning a trip through the Gorge.‌”

Catch and release sturgeon fishing continues to be open for anglers on the rest of the Columbia River.  Checking in with Gorge Outfitters Supply in Rufus on the 18th, they reported nobody has come into the store with any fishing reports since the cold snap of Jan. 11. When temperatures moderate though, the walleye fishing below John Day Dam should be good.

WASHINGTON STATE PARKS IS HIRING

It’s the time of year that Washington State Parks recruits for seasonal park aides.  This year, they are looking to hire 300 park aides and senior park aides who will work in state parks from April through September.

Park aides perform a variety of duties ranging from registering campers, maintaining trails, cleaning campgrounds and maintaining facilities. They also staff park offices, assist visitors and help with interpretive and educational programs. Park aides work in one large park or cover an area with several small parks.

According to Washington State Parks, “This opportunity is ideal for recent high school and college graduates, retired workers looking for an encore, military veterans transitioning to civilian employment and mid-careerists taking time to reinvent themselves. Most park aides appreciate the flexibility of seasonal outdoor work and the mix of public interaction and physical labor.” 

Park aides earn between $16.90 to $20.33 an hour, depending on their experience. Senior park aides earn up to $23.40 an hour. You can find out more and apply at  www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington. Type in the key word Park Aide into the search bar to find the available opportunities.    

VISIT ME AT THE WASHINGTON SPORTSMEN’S SHOW – I’ll be exhibiting at the Washington Sportsmen’s Show at the State Fair Center in Puyallup from Jan. 31 through Feb. 4.  We’ll be giving away some knife sharpeners from Work Sharp to some lucky attendees and I’ll also be giving a seminar about places in the Pacific Northwest you should be fishing at in 2024.  That seminar takes place Saturday the 3rd in the Blue Fishing Theater from 11 a.m. to noon.  You can find out more about Washington State’s biggest sportsmen’s show at   www.thesportshows.com/shows/washington/

John Kruse – www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com