Former Washougal man given British Columbia award

QUALICUM BEACH, British Columbia — Washougal native Bill McMillan has been presented the Roderick Haig-Brown Award from the Totem Fly Fishers of British Columbia.

McMillan was given the award last week. His is only the second person from outside of British Columbia to win the award.

Totem is British Columbia’s oldest flyfishing club.

McMillan now lives in Concrete, along the Skagit River. He has spent his lifetime as a advocate for wild salmon and steelhead and protection of their habitat.

McMillan is author of Dry Line Steelhead, published in 1987. In 2012, he contributed to The Skagit Report, detailing the decline in wild steelhead to the Skagit, Baker and Sauk rivers.

Also in 2012, McMillan coauthored with his son, John, another book entitled May the Rivers Never Sleep.

The late Haig-Brown, a British Columbia judge, author, naturalist and angler, is legendary among writers, anglers and conservationists.