Pikeminnnow program extended
Anglers in the Columbia River northern pikeminnow reward program will get an extra 10 days to make money.
The program, which pays a bounty of $4 to $8 per pikeminnow, will continue through Oct. 10. It was scheduled to end on Sept. 30.
Fishermen are catching a bumper crop of the predators, with the harvest 30,000 fish ahead of the 2009 program at this time. The reward is paid to remove pikeminnow from the Columbia and Snake rivers to lessen the predation on young salmon and steelhead.
One angler has caught 12 of the specially tagged fish worth $500 each. Thousands of the tagged fish still are available. One angler has earned more than $51,000, giving him a chance to top the all-time earnings mark of $58,000.
For more information, go online to www.pikeminnow.org or call 1-800-858-9015.
Boating series starts Sept. 9
PORTLAND — A series of 11 seminars featuring various aspects of boating safety will begin Sept. 9 at Columbia Crossings Marina, 865 N.E. Tomahawk Island Drive.
Offered by the Fort Vancouver chapter of the U.S. Power Squadron, the seminars will begin at 7 p.m.
The topics will include Sept. 9, nautical charts; Sept. 23, hand-held GPS navigation of the Washington coast; Sept. 30, sail trim; Oct. 7, boat handling; Oct. 14, trailering large boats; Oct. 21, anchoring; Nov. 4 rivers and locks; Nov. 11, weather; Dec. 2, marine radio, and Dec. 16, radar.
The cost is $35 per person or $40 for a couple sharing materials. Advance registration is encouraged. Seminars may be cancelled if attendance minimums are not met.
Contact rolyat2@netzero.com to register.
Helped needed to fix trails
Volunteers are needed for a work party on Saturday to restore sections of Silver Star trail No. 180 and Ed’s Trail on the north side of Silver Star Mountain in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
The effort is organized by the Washington Trails Association.
Help also is needed on the Hardy Ridge trail in Beacon Rock State Park on Sept. 9.
To participate in either event, call Ryan Ojerio at 360-722-2657, e-mail to ryan@wta.org or register online at www.wta.org/volunteer/trail-work-parties.
