Frank’s 'Great Steelhead Gathering'

By Marty Seldon
April 14, 2009 -- Our friend Frank Bertaina had an idea to kick off the fledgling Russian River Wild Steelhead Restoration Society, by memorializing those he called the Russian River Immortals such as:  Bill Schaadt, Grant King, Bob Nauheim, Mel Krieger, Mike Fong, Andre Puyans, Myron Gregory, John Tarantino, Gary Rowen, Jimmy Green, Mel Leven, Kay Mitsuyochi, Kay Brodney, and Virgil Sullivan. Frank is intent on saving the remnant wild steelhead in the lower river tributaries and our living legends like Hall Janssen, Russ Chatham, Art Jim Adams, Lani Waller, many more, and their wives all pitched in to help and serve us everything.  Over 200 people turned out to celebrate this once mighty river and its magnificent fish. Quite a few of us hadn’t seen each other in many years, also making it a reunion. It was a great event with an important purpose, all at the Russian River Sportsman Club in Duncan Mills, right in front of where many had fished in better years.  Fishing International’s Bill Hutchinson was an excellent M.C.
 
Frank never does anything halfway and he really outdid himself. There was a good folk band, and great hors d’oeuvres. Art Dellosso, Mike MacWilliams and John Ryzanych helped the wine flow all evening to the point where all of us were glassy eyed and a little loud. I’ve forgotten the name of the chef but it was a good salad, parmesan pasta, and I can’t even guess how he turned out over 200 great prime ribs with garlic bread.  Lani Waller showed his slides of nearby Papermill Creek coho and steelhead, some which could not ascend the stream and others during spawning.  Russell Chatham turned things up when he outlined the serious offshore, and inland water and spawning habitat problems we face that are all compounded when science is held captive to politics. We must save the remaining wild steelhead and must get a lot better organized to do so. NCCFFF’s Mark Rockwell pointed out that individual citizens can still hold the power if we are willing to do effective lobbying for fish.
 
There were so many people that it was difficult to even take pictures. There was a good turn out of both FFF people and many we recognized as regulars on Dan Blanton’s Bulletin Board. I probably did not get pictures of many of these but also remember seeing: NCCFFF’s Mike Brinkley and John Ryzanych, Dennis Bodwin, Len Beardon, John Agnew (Sunset Line and Twine), Rod Rupert, Dave Sellers and his wife, Dorothy Zinky, Anne Vitale, Cindy Charles, Ben Taylor, and Peter Turnbull. Justin Coups and Taylor Palmer presented a sneak preview of the film “Rivers of the Lost Coast,” this is primarily the story of Frank and these immortal’s fly fishing quest. Artist Hall Janssen with other contributors brought out a large collection Bill Schaadt’s photo and tackle, even his outboard, anchor and line winder. Hall’s showing of Bill’s very heavily epoxied-together Hardy Perfect reel blew everyone away. Bill never threw out anything including massive mounds of junk.  Jannifer Puyans, Fanny Krieger, Christine Fong, and others brought out their archives to create the rest of the Wall of the Immortals Displays.  One of the Society’s goals is the establishment of a fly fishing museum on the river to highlight these great individual and the fishery.
 
The ceremonies were concluded with another surprise, two bagpipers in full regalia circling the hall, in memoriam. This was all capped all with shots of Jameson’s Irish and Harvey’s Bristol Cream. The work to save this fish has just begun, but we all came way with good feelings and lots of interest in helping.
 
My Photos and as a Slide Show can be viewed on Picasa at:
 
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=svflyfisher&target=ALBUM&id=
5324399394697432257&authkey=Gv1sRgCOj-wPOF-8GRUg&invite=CPSkhucH&feat=email