Here are the times and game plan for the day.

Just a reminder, it is only a $10 entry by Paypal or mail. If Mike hasn't received your payment and forms by Saturday you will need to pay $15 the day of.


Dez and Myself will be at the boat launch for boaters, Mike and Gringo (Mark) will be at the State Park for all tubers, toons, canoes and shore anglers.

Extravaganza/Derby Schedule

6:00 Gates Open

6:20 Boaters Meeting

6:30 Blast-Off/Start Fishing
Late arrivals will have to check in at beach. Launch your boat and head over to the park beach if you show up later than 7:00.

1ish is when Mike will fire up the grill and start the BBQ

2:00 Weigh-In

2:30 Random Prize Drawings

3:00    2nd Place Awards
           1st Place Awards
           Random Drawing

*Casting Contest
will take place after all awards

All Anlgers - please review the rules and liability form before coming to the derby.

Roll Call (as of July 11)

1) Mike Carey
2) fishnislife
3) BigbassDez
4) RaMcVey
5) swedefish4life1
6) Steve F.
7) Jolie F.
8) BassinBomber
9) BF
10) Davidwat1
11) Fishing Machine
12) Gringo Pescador
13) Steven N
14) Joe P
15) sparky101
16) bassmasterderek
17) Trent Hale
18) Anthony B
19) Hayden C
20) Erik B
21) Bisk1tSnGraV
22) BassDodd
23) Dustin07 +1
24) EastsideRedneck +1 (bbq) – dessert
25) racfish – (bbq) – stuff pickled
26)
27)
28)
29)
30)
31)
32)
33)

 

fishnislife

Cost cutting moves are rapidly becoming bloody amputations at the Washington State Parks Commission.  The Parks Commission, like other state agencies, was told by Governor Chris Gregoire to reduce their budget by 23 percent this year.  They had already come up with a 10 percent reduction from the 100 million dollars budgeted last year that will result in the closure (or transfer of ownership) of 13 some parks and mothballing of others.  Along with this come a significant number of layoffs and a clear reduction in services.  These cuts arguably cut the Parks budget to the bone.  The latest round of cuts (totaling 23 million in all), are now cutting off limbs.  The limbs in these cases are some of Washington's most beautiful (and popular) parks.

The Washington Trails Association was able to obtain a list of the parks that will be mothballed.  These parks will essentially have the entrance gates shut and everything within shut down.  The public may enter these parks (on foot) but there will be no services available inside.  It is hoped that when money becomes available in the future, these parks may reopen.  However, a lack of maintenance (and personnel to stave off vandalism) inside these parks may hamper these efforts.

The 33 additional parks that will be closed under this plan include:  Jarrell Cove, Fields Spring, Federation Forest, Sacajawea, Rainbow Falls, Beacon Rock, Lewis and Clark, Alta Lake, Fort Columbia, Columbia Plateau Trail, Wallace Falls, Lake Easton, Yakima Sportsman Park, Maryhill, Illahee, Dash Point, Potlach, Twin Harbors, Ginko-Wanapum, Flaming Geyser, Peace Arch, Ocean City, Fort Ebey, Wenatchee Confluence, Lake Wenatchee, Fort Flagler, Mount Spokane, Millersylvania, Sun Lakes - Dry Falls, Larrabee and Fort Casey.

Some of these parks, Like Fort Casey, Larrabee and Sun Lakes, each receive over 650,000 visitors a year while others like popular Lake Wenatchee, Confluence State Park and Fort Flagler host anywhere from 317,000 to 447,000 guests each year.  Parks like Sacajawea, Fort Columbia and Lewis and Clark have historical significance while Dry Falls and Ginko State Parks offer unique displays of natural history.  The military fort parks (Flagler, Casey and Ebey) along Puget Sound are some of the most scenic parks in the state system and large parks like Lake Wenatchee and Mount Spokane also offer popular winter options.  The closure of these parks is a huge blow to people looking for low cost recreation in a time when money is tight for families.  It will also adversely affect the economies of the towns and businesses close to these parks.  Places near parks where visitors spend money (gas stations, stores, restaurants, sporting goods retailers, guides and outfitters) will surely feel the loss of income.  It makes you wonder how much (if any) economic sense these cuts make to the greater state economy.

Anglers should also be concerned.  Lake Wenatchee, Alta Lake, Sacajawea and Wanapum State Parks are just a few of the parks mentioned that have improved public boat launches commonly used by anglers. The Sun Lakes State Park has a number of good fishing lakes and one of the most scenic trout waters in the state, Dry Falls State Park, would become virtually unfishable if the road leading to the lake through the park closes.  Several other parks, like Potlach and Fort Flagler, are favorites for shellfish gathering. 

What can you do if you oppose these cuts?  We'll, you should first and foremost contact your local state representative or senator and make your feelings known.  You should also contact the Governor’s office (Tel. 360-902-4111) and the State Parks Commission by e-mail at   pao@parks.wa.gov . If you choose to do this, do so quickly.  The legislative session is almost over and chances to address this issue are running short.

The Washington Trails Association also weighs in on this topic - and on some potential solutions - on their web site ( www.wta.org ).   

John Kruse is an outdoors writer and the host of Northwestern Outdoors, a weekly radio show that airs on four Eastern Washington stations.  Check out his web site at www.northwesternoutdoors.com for further details.