Author: Sawyer Paddles and Oars - PNW

I represent Sawyer Paddles and Oars in MT, WA, and the Northern US and responsible for water sports industry (fly fishing, white water rafting, SUP, canoe/IK) sales and existing vendor relationships, new business development, dealer clinics, sales training, customer service, and representing the Sawyer brand at trade shows.

Artist Profiles – Gregg Schlanger, Sawyer Artisan Series Oars

June 6, 2018

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Sawyer is proud to partner with artists and Save Our Wild Salmon conservation efforts to protect and restore wild salmon, steelhead and the healthy river systems they depend on. “Save Our Wild Salmon is honored to partner with Sawyer on this project to raise awareness and funds to support our advocacy efforts,” says Joseph Bogaard, executive director of the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition. “Healthy fisheries, healthy rivers and responsible companies like Sawyer Paddles and Oars remind us all about how environment and economy can, and must, go hand-in-hand.”

Hear from Gregg Schlanger about his design and inspiration and learn more at his website – http://greggschlanger.com

“Lonesome Larry, Sockeye Dreams”

My artwork for the Sawyer Square Top Artisan Series Oars addresses the disappearance of the Columbia River Basin Sockeye Salmon. Specifically, it focuses on the Redfish Lake Sockeye Salmon. At one time, up to sixteen million salmon swam the Columbia River Basin annually. The Snake River Sockeye, are in danger of becoming extinct. The Redfish Lake Sockeye Salmon was listed as an endangered species in 1991. Of the thousands that once swam the Salmon River run, only one sockeye salmon returned to Redfish Lake in 1992. He was given the name, Lonesome Larry. The transparent black and white sockeye on the shaft represent the spirits of the salmon that once returned home. This oar is a memorial for Larry.

Artist Profiles – Ed Anderson, Sawyer Artisan Series Oars

June 4, 2018

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Sawyer is proud to partner with artists and Save Our Wild Salmon conservation efforts to protect and restore wild salmon, steelhead and the healthy river systems they depend on. “Save Our Wild Salmon is honored to partner with Sawyer on this project to raise awareness and funds to support our advocacy efforts,” says Joseph Bogaard, executive director of the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition. “Healthy fisheries, healthy rivers and responsible companies like Sawyer Paddles and Oars remind us all about how environment and economy can, and must, go hand-in-hand.”

Hear from Ed Anderson about his design & inspiration, and learn more at his website – http://edandersonart.com

What was the inspiration for your Artisan Series design, and why is that species of fish meaningful to you?

Sockeye are a paradox.  I love the ugliness of the spawned out fish while showing some of the brightest colors in nature. And, I find no greater iconic animal in our country.

Salmon and Steelhead are iconic species in the PNW. What do you want people that aren’t familiar with the efforts to save them to know about the work and your art being done on their behalf?

It’s a long swim… we shouldn’t make it harder.


What is your favorite memory of catching or pursuing your oar design species?

I’d been on a long West Coast swing in the Fall.  I’d done four shows in three weeks and the road had worn me out.  I was really looking forward to getting back to Boise. The Monday after Salmon Days in Issaquah, I drove east through Stevens Pass.  Drained and sucking down coffee, the sun cut through the clouds on the mountain.  It hit the backs of these great fish perfectly.  It looked like a bunch of red hots squirming around in that crystal clear water.  I thought about the work those fish had done to get back to the top of that mountain to spawn and realized I wasn’t that tired.

Artist Profiles – Ty Hallock, Sawyer Artisan Series Oars

June 1, 2018

Sawyer is proud to partner with artists and Save Our Wild Salmon conservation efforts to protect and restore wild salmon, steelhead and the healthy river systems they depend on. “Save Our Wild Salmon is honored to partner with Sawyer on this project to raise awareness and funds to support our advocacy efforts,” says Joseph Bogaard, executive director of the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition. “Healthy fisheries, healthy rivers and responsible companies like Sawyer Paddles and Oars remind us all about how environment and economy can, and must, go hand-in-hand.”

Hear from Ty Hallock about his design and inspiration and learn more at his website – http://www.tyoutdoors.com

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What was the inspiration for your Artisan Series design, and why is that species of fish meaningful to you? 
So I drew a Brown Trout.  Not really a fish that people think about when talking about salmon and steelhead.  However, I thought this might help bring in people outside the PNW.  I live in Casper, Wyoming where I am a guide on the North Platte River.  The Brown Trout in this river are few and far between.  Like catching a salmon or steelhead in the PNW.  They are known as the rare purple unicorns of the Platte!  Rare and very hard to find!  I absolutely love trying to catch these fish.  They are all very different and each of them are unique.  Spots and coloration are always different in these fish and people come from all over to try and catch these bad boys.  I draw a lot of these fish for clients and are always a good seller.  They are by far my favorite fish to catch and draw.

 

Salmon and Steelhead are iconic species in the PNW. What do you want people that aren’t familiar with the efforts to save them to know about the work and your art being done on their behalf?”  

Even though I drew a Brown Trout for the Artisan Series Salmon and steelhead have a special place in my heart.  I was a pretty serrious fly fisherman when I moved to the Columbia River area in 2002.  I instantly fell in love with the area and all the fish found in this amazing place.  I was living alone when I first moved to the area.  I fished everyday for three months until my wife could join me from California.  It took me a long time to catch any steelhead but once I did it increased my passion for fly fishing.  I noticed some issues while fishing all the areas around hood river.  I was working for USGS tracking salmon through this river system.  The dams had/have passage issues and it was great being apart of this tracking to help identify problem areas in the Columbia.  I always want to do more to help but never really know what to do.  I give art to many different agencies that help protect and help preserve habitat for many fish species.  To have my art help these iconic species is a true honor and I am happy to help!

Artist Profiles – Link Jackson, Sawyer Artisan Series Oars

May 31, 2018

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Sawyer is proud to partner with artists and Save Our Wild Salmon conservation efforts to protect and restore wild salmon, steelhead and the healthy river systems they depend on. “Save Our Wild Salmon is honored to partner with Sawyer on this project to raise awareness and funds to support our advocacy efforts,” says Joseph Bogaard, executive director of the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition. “Healthy fisheries, healthy rivers and responsible companies like Sawyer Paddles and Oars remind us all about how environment and economy can, and must, go hand-in-hand.”

Hear from Link Jackson about his design and inspiration and learn more at his website – https://www.linkjacksonart.com

What was the inspiration for your Artisan Series design, and why is that species of fish meaningful to you?

At the “Spring Thaw” event at Maravia in Boise, Idaho, my booth was beside Sawyer Oars. As I looked over the oars and my mind was wandering during a slow period I envisioned the pattern of a Steelhead on the Square Top Oars and it came to me that doing such a thing would be something unique and special. It followed that such a special thing might be useful in helping the fish themselves in their battle for survival against difficult odds. The plight of the Columbia River Steelhead were very much on my mind then, and now, and this just dawned on me as a way to help them.

Removing dams and restoring salmon runs are contentious issues, that span national and state lines and have for decades. When did your art and conservation ethic begin to reflect the need to make science-based decisions to restore their historical populations?

When I moved back to Idaho in 2002 and started fishing for Steelhead I became intrigued with the story of their decline. I started to do research and attend forums on the topic. My son took a strong interest in the fish in his studies earning an Environmental Sciences degree and he fed me volumes of scientific information concerning the fish. The more I learned the more what I learned disgusted me and made me want to turn things around for the fish and against the seemingly sinister powers that cling to the dams and the continued decline of the fish. My art was but a convenient tool given that I do not have the kind of wealth that Yvan Chouinard does to fight for the fish…I use my art.

What is your favorite memory of catching or pursuing your oar design species?

I was on the way to Missoula for the Orvis Rendezvous in early April and had my wife Becky along. She had never caught a Steelhead even after years of trying with Spey rod. We stopped along the Clearwater to try and get her a fish. I worked it hard spotting fish for her, coaching her and doing all I could to help over several hours. She was swinging the fly to a pair of Hens I had spotted and just could not get the fly and fish connected. The fish moved on and she handed me the rod in defeat and said, I am going to go get a beer in the truck hold this. As she climbed the bank I noted a nice Hen materializing into view from downstream. I let out some line and placed a fly across and above the path of the fish then let it swing into place. The fish aggressively took the fly and an involuntary whoop of joy passed my lips. Becky heard this and came running. She was anything but impressed having spent several hours herself trying to hook up. She got over it….but she still has not landed a Steelhead on a Fly!

Sawyer Artisan Series Oars

March 19, 2018

Oars as art? Protecting wild salmon, steelhead, and the healthy rivers systems they depend on? Yes, I’m in. The unique partnership between Sawyer, Save Our Wild Salmon, Link Jackson Art, Landscape Photography and Water Colors, and Ty Hallock Art has resulted in “performance art” if you will, by combining the need to protect our natural resources and the love of paddling and rowing.

I’ve known Link for a number of years, and his commitment to conservation is long-rooted in his upbringing. Ty has followed a similar path as well, with strong ties to the land and conservation issues growing up in the western United States. Both have demonstrated their passion for protecting our natural resources via conservation efforts, the love of wild places, and the rivers we call home.

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The Sawyer Artisan Oar is our very popular Square Top Oar with a carbon fiber X-Weave fiberglass shaft reinforcement. Feature prints of fish species from artists around the country passionate about fisheries and fishing art. “The Steelhead” is designed by Link Jackson and “The Brown Trout” by Ty Hallock. These oars showcase Sawyer’s and each artist’s ability to create rugged yet highly functional art.

I’m excited that Saywer Paddles and Oars has partnered with SOS, Link, and Ty to bring attention to the issues surrounding our natural resources, and I personally own a set of the Steelhead SquareTop oars (well, three – my spare oar is also one) in the Shoal Cut blade are my choice. Perfect for shallow, freestone rivers that I guide and float in the west, but also highly effective at Class III-IV white water – like the MF Salmon and Selway.

Consider a pair (or three with a spare) and support artists who support conservation and the protection of our natural resources.

Derek

 

 

Middle Fork of the Salmon, ID

March 16, 2018

Permit season. Not the line-reeling salt water version of a Siamese Tiger, but the nervous anticipation of the Four Rivers Lottery for multi-day trips through millions of acres of publicly-owned wilderness. It’s the kind of thing that hopeful river runners dream of, and once you land one of these coveted permits, the kind of thing that river runners have to hold close to their chest; not because they’re greedy, but because it is indeed like winning the lottery, and everyone becomes your best friend and wants an invite.

There’s a lot of preparation that goes into a trip like this; it’s committing, both in gear, risk, and in keeping everyone happy for as long as you can. Great weather helps, great company is the trip leader’s responsibility. Group dynamic is paramount. Set the tone early, everyone has responsibilities, no-one is above cleaning the groover or doing dishes. Groover? Yes, the polite name for using a Leave-No-Trace toilet in the wilderness. The Three P’s – privacy, proximity, and panorama. Where you do number two is part of the experience.

This was my first run on the MF, and it was an amazing trip. By the way, did you get a permit for this year? We’re friends, right?

Boundary Creek
The Slide
River Friends
Camping on the beach
Running Class III-IV
River Beauty
The Turn