Dave Hu, who serves as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) National Fisheries Biologist, will discuss “modernizing government fisheries programs; services provided; funding challenges; social perceptions; and maintaining local community relevance.” Dave is also a big supporter of the Fisheries for Veterans Project, which is an innovative service relationship using public lands fishing as a tool to encourage social, mentoring, and networking that emphasizes health and life cycle management and serves as a unique community driver connecting veterans and their families, local communities, government programs, and non-profit organizations.

• Where: McLean Community Center – Stedman Room, 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA 22101
• When: May 25, 2016 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00 for socializing)

About David Hu

Dave Hu, who serves as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) National Fisheries Biologist, will speak to the PRSC meeting on May 25. Dave is responsible for BLM-wide fisheries program administration and staff support. He previously worked for the US Forest Service as a Fisheries Program Manager on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Vancouver, WA. Prior to that, Dave worked as a Habitat Restoration Coordinator for the USFWS Anadromous Fish Restoration Program up and down California’s Central Valley and previously in his home state with New Mexico Game and Fish working on cutthroat, native fish inventories, and fish museum collections.

Dave grew up in southern New Mexico fishing for catfish in the Rio Grande (when still flowing) and agricultural diversion ditches for carp and sunfish. Discovering the bait collecting power of a kitchen strainer taped onto the end of a broom handle, and that catfish can swim in a bathtub with a young boy sitting in it, just shows how tolerant Dave’s mom was of his young interest in fish and fishing.

Dave describes himself as a “spincast guy.” He uses flies, but hates fly rods. He prefers rubber jigs, spinners, and spoons. Dave loves to fish the shad run at Fletcher’s Boathouse. He does most of his fishing out of a kayak, mostly hitting the Triadelphia Reservoir in Maryland, which is near his home. He also spends quite a bit of time kayak fishing the Shenandoah near Front Royal, “and every state when I get out there on business.”

Asked to describe the state of fishing across the country, Dave responded: “Hmmn … wearing a national hat … the general state of sport fishing popularity continues to decline. Not a lot of recruitment of new generations fishing, a large reduction in retention, and fewer and fewer people are renewing licenses. However, a rising national trend right now is kayak fishing. General aquatic habitat and water quality continue to decline. Warm water/cool water fishing appears to be doing OK to good, and I expect will continue to expand and do better provided water quality is maintained. Very cold water fish are getting squeezed pretty good and are expected to crash and burn.”

Dave’s topic of choice will be to discuss “modernizing government fisheries programs; services provided; funding challenges; social perceptions; and maintaining local community relevance.” Dave is also a big supporter of the Fisheries for Veterans Project, which is an innovative service relationship using public lands fishing as a tool to encourage social, mentoring, and networking that emphasizes health and life cycle management and serves as a unique community driver connecting veterans and their families, local communities, government programs, and non-profit organizations.

The Fisheries for Veterans Project works to demonstrate that America’s public land resources provide: 1) recreational and social opportunities to fish; 2) educational and on the ground job training opportunities in public land resource management; and 3) rejuvenation, rehabilitation, and healing capacities for people, families, and communities. All Fisheries for Veterans Project activities are free of charge and open to all veterans, all veteran family members, of any disability, of any service campaign. We invite participation by any agency or anyone who wants to contribute to help make a difference.

Dean Naujoks from the Potomac Riverkeeper Network will discuss the condition of the Potomac River, our club’s namesake, as well as inform of us of additional ways we can help protect the river for future generations. Hope you can join us, as this should prove to be a very informative meeting.

• Where: McLean Community Center – Stedman Room, 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA 22101
• When: April 27, 2016 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00 for socializing)

Dean Naujoks (Potomac Riverkeeper Network)

About Dean

Dean Naujoks, who joined the Potomac Riverkeeper Network in 2015 as the Potomac Riverkeeper, will speak to the April 27 meeting of the Potomac River Smallmouth Club.

Dean has over 20 years of environmental non-profit experience. He began his non-profit career in 1991 with the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. After graduating from North Carolina State University, with a self-created degree in Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development, he was hired as the first Upper Neuse Riverkeeper, serving from 2001 to 2008. He became the first Riverkeeper on the Yadkin River with Yadkin Riverkeeper, Inc. in 2008, also serving as Executive Director until 2014.

Dean was awarded River Network’s 2009 National River Heroes Award. River Network’s River Heroes Award celebrates rivers and those who protect them by recognizing victories and honoring those who provide leadership and inspiration along the way. Yadkin Riverkeeper also won the 2011 North Carolina Wildlife Federation Governor’s Achievement Award Water Conservation Organization of the Year.

Commenting on his work, Dean said: “Clean water is a fundamental human right.  The greatest legacy we can leave for our children is access to clean water. Safe-guarding the Nation’s River, which provides drinking water to approximately 7 million people, is a serious responsibility.”

As the Potomac Riverkeeper, Dean is responsible for watching the issues of the Potomac River from Harpers Ferry to Point Lookout. He considers the biggest issues are nutrient pollution, agricultural runoff, storm water runoff, and sewage overflows, primarily from old sewage plants in Washington, D.C.

According to Dean, the biggest problem of the future is coal ash pollution, largely from Dominion Power holding facilities at Possum Point on Quantico Creek, a tributary to the Potomac, and at Bremo on the James River, among other places. Dean, the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, and several other environmental organizations are doing their best to ensure that more untreated coal ash waste is not dumped into the Nation’s River. This waste will only further damage the Potomac and the Chesapeake Bay.

Our monthly meeting at the McLean Community Center will feature speaker C.T Campbell of Page Valley Fly Fishing Service. C. T. will discuss the fishing habitats of both trout and smallmouth bass, share some of his fishing fly-fishing techniques, and comment on recent Shenandoah River fish kills. This ought to prove to be an exciting evening for both fly and spin fishing enthusiasts.

• Where: McLean Community Center – Stedman Room, 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA 22101
• When: March 30, 2016 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00 for socializing)

C. T. Campbell (right) of Page Valley Fly Fishing Service

About C. T. Campbell

C.T. Campbell is a native of Luray, Virginia, and has over 30 years of fly fishing experience and over 15 years of experience as a fly fishing instructor and guide. He worked in the Shenandoah National Park for 35 years, so he knows it well.

C. T. is a member of the Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited and a member of the Friends of the Shenandoah River. His love of fly fishing and knowledge of the local area and wildlife provides a well-rounded, enjoyable fly fishing experience for all levels of fly fishermen.

One satisfied customer declared: “C.T. Campbell is THE guide for native brook trout fishing in the Shenandoah National Park.  He’s enthusiastic, patient, knows the fish, plants, and animals of the National Park and, most importantly, he’s an awfully nice guy who is excited to show others around his backyard. I have been fishing in the Blue Ridge Mountains for years, but one day of guided fishing with C.T. renewed my appreciation for Virginia’s beautiful Piedmont and the spectacular native trout that call it home. C.T. will get you hooked.”

Page Valley Fly Fishing Service offers personalized, guided catch and release fly fishing trips for people of all experience levels. C.T will also take you fishing for smallmouth bass on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, or fishing for mountain brook trout in select private brook trout water locations in the Shenandoah Valley.  He provides all flies and leaders as well as instruction, as needed. He can be reached at (540) 743-7952.