Heroes on the Water 20 June

Heroes on the Water will be taking 10 Wounded Warriors from Madigan Army Hospital at Ft Lewis kayak fishing on 20 June at  Lake St. Clair.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=+Lake+St.+Clair+wa&sll=33.082343,-96.664099&sspn=0.009439,0.016565&ie=UTF8&ll=47.008821,-122.723293&spn=0.061453,0.132523&t=h&z=13

Danita Dahl, the Recreations Coordinator at the Warrior Transition Battalion and Sgt Brian Jackson, cadre at the WTB and a kayak fishing guide are organizing and running the trip. They need support of kayaks and fishing gear. PM me and I will get you their information.

This is a great chance to help those who have given so much. Thanks for helping,

Jim
Jim@KayakAnglersSA.org

i have my T-13 with paddle and PFD  and i have A T-15  but i have no paddle or PFD to go with that if someone could help me out then we would have a full 2 set ups for the soldiers. I am deffently in for this..

Jim sent me an email this morning, asking that I re-post up his email address.  Below is the quote from the email.

Hey Brian  --  I can’t get on NWKA. Could you post my email address, jim@KayakAnglersSA.org, and tell folks to email? I can’t get my PM’s.

 Thanks, Jim

He changed his listed email address, the site is requiring activation, yet he hasn't received the email..... 

To reach him, email to: jim@KayaKAnglersSA.org

Thanks Yakmonkey and WR. Back up now. Please PM or email if interested. Several folks have volunteered, but still need more yaks and fishing gear. 

Jim    I found out that american lake has kayaks and i am trying to work with them to see if we can get them. I doubt it. but they dont use them from what i am hearing. I have talked with Dinita already.

I am going to try and check out the area and see what the possible camping is there at Lake St. Clair or somewhere around there. so if you Oregon folks want to come up then it could be a whole weekend event for the soldiers one day maybe AOTY points the next.

YM... i think someone mentioned OK donating some kayaks. can you help transport if so. Or are you going to be able to help.

I can bring my yak, and exta older OK tandem (or solo) and enough fishing gear for 3 freshwater fishermen.  If someone with contacts and time were able to get rentals donated from the JO store in Ferndale, I'd be willing to haul as many as I can safely fit.  As things progress, and other needs arise, I may be able to help.

Just wanted to remind everyone that Heroes on the Water is coming up on June 20th... at  Lake St. Clair. In Yelm. 

Were still looking for volunteers and extra kayaks. for the Vets.

I went out there the other weekend the fishing is great. I think you all would like it. as well as the soliders are going to.

Marilyn

I can't make this one as I already have a trip planned to Ketchikan.  I'm checking with the OK rep to see if his demo fleet might be available.  If not, I'll check with Backpacker's supply to see if they might be able to supply some yaks.

-Allen

Can you check into having access to the rental fleet up north here at the factory retail outlet?  I can definitely grab a 'yak or 2 from up here.  Maybe a few more if I switch trucks...  I'd be willing to ask them, but wanted to see if you have better in-roads first.

Allen   Thanks -- I'm pushing the OK folks from this part of the country also. So they may hear from more than one person. I think Jeff (Birdnest) may be contacting them. Hopefully we'll get something done between all of us. I'll check with Danita to see how many more they need. She's looking for ten, total,  for the soldiers.  

Thanks for everyone's help.

Can you check into having access to the rental fleet up north here at the factory retail outlet?  I can definitely grab a 'yak or 2 from up here.  Maybe a few more if I switch trucks...  I'd be willing to ask them, but wanted to see if you have better in-roads first.

Thanks YM.  I'll check that if the OK Rep here doesn't work out, or if Backpackers doesn't.  It would be nice to have a whole fleet complete with gear available from one source.  Perhaps a couple extra hands for paddling tips.

-Allen

I am also trying to get a hold of a Gentleman by the name of Rick Tivet (misspelled i know) . Hes the director of programs for Northwest Adventures on Ft. Lewis i have been told he has some kayaks for programs i am going to see if he will let us barrow them also.

I have a full set up for 1 kayak and i have the kayak and seat and fishing poles for a second. i need paddle and PFD.

if i figured out right
YM        has      2
cobrak   has      2
SG        has      2

so were looking some what good. but yea more is better that way they can have one they are comfortable on and fits there needs.

             

Maybe we just count the extra kayaks?  I have 1 extra kayak....

YM.. understand. i didnt know whos all planning on getting in the water with them so i was just counting actual Yaks.

Marilyn

I have 2 yaks fully rigged.  This event will require 1 guide (instructor) to go out with a 5 man team.  I can guide a team but if someone has more experience on this lake by all means take my spot...

Here's an Idea of what we will be doing at the event.
(This is not the actual itinerary as we are tweeking a bit)

The soldiers will be divided into even groups based on their fishing experience.
1 guide will be selected for each group (we can work smaller teams/more guides if more yaks become available)  The morning session will consist of basic fishing instruction with the soldiers, safety concerns, fishing strategy etc..
We plan to have everyone fishing at about 0900 at the latest.
The guides will record on a score card the amount of fish caught per soldier, the species of fish caught and the length.  Scoring will go like this: 
1 point per inch, 10 point bonus for more than one species, 10 point bonus for limits(individual) 20 point bonus for biggest fish (individual)

At around 1130 ish everyone will come back to the docks to turn in their scores.  The guides can go over strategy etc  at this time for the noon session.
from about noon until 1500 the teams will again go out for more fishing.
At around 1530 we will add the final points and determine the winners for:
Most points..team
Most fish..individual
Biggest fish..individual
Most variety..(individual, ties broken by length)
All guides will receive a certificate of appreciation. Winning team guide will receive a additional certificate stating that they are awesome (we'll work on the exact wording)
This lake should be awesome for this event!! Anyone is welcome to show up and help the soldiers learn about our great sport.  We will be having a pre event meeting on June 18th at the Northwest adventure center (American lake) at 1500ish  We will be doing some demo's and downloading some basic fishing skills at that time as well. 
Thank you for your interest everyone!!  And thank you for any help you can provide to Hero's On the Water.
Brian Jackson