Sawyer Stories – Tales of Oar locks, Eddies, and The Feel Of Water – Page 4 – We make the world's best paddles and oars for SUP, kayaks, white water rafting, and canoes.

Opening the Gates

Sawyer Paddles and Oars July 6, 2018

23 stitches. That’s how many were needed to patch-up one of our oarsman/solo boat trip members before we even left the launch, and coincidentally the same years of marriage my wife and I were celebrating. He slipped getting out of his truck and onto the trailer his left shin went, kicking in our WFA plan. We evacuated him to Craig’s ER with the help of the NPS Ranger. These are the reasons why you train, prepare, and punt when needed. So we punted.

Well past 10 am, our launch finally went at 4:30 pm after a terrible night of mosquitos. Yes, a full-body net would have been a great idea. The sand and cart system (take some WD40 for the rollers) was better than hauling rafts and gear, but not the easiest. Great experiences like these take some hardships, however. First night at Wade & Curtis turned out to be a prescient decision. A wonderful evening and opportunity to regroup and talk about the next day – a big travel and rapid day down to Rippling Brook II.

We read and ran everything but scouted Hell’s Half Mile, and at 2000 +/- cfs the river pretty much pushed me right and away from Lucifer but close enough to earn it’s rating. We camped at RBII knowing that we had some play time and a beautiful spot to SUP, enjoy a casual morning, and push towards Limestone. Not the camp I chose but that’s how it ended up. At 10:45, a commercial trip pulled into the RBII and announced “This is our site tonight” and immediately began off-loading and setting up tables. One of the guides moved towards our groover spot when I asked them to wait as we had until noon. It was not what we expected and the commercial trip clients were just as surprised. The Outfitter has already responded to my request to provide feedback. The right thing to do would have been to pull in downstream, leave your unpacking until we left, and graciously share this beautiful canyon.

Limestone was a decent camp, but it gave us a long day to Island Park in the direct sun but fun read and run rapids all along the way. A Red Fox burgled a bag of peanuts left out at night, and we spotted the beginning of the Dollar Ridge fire directly to the west. We used the refuse containers at Rainbow Park and met some day users there. Thank you to the NPS for providing and taking care of our public lands. The Takeout at Split Mountain came with great SUP opportunities.

Great wildlife viewing along with an overall great trip – Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, a Moose above Rainbow Park, raptors, beaver, and of course mosquitos but the launch at Gates was the worst. FYI no fires or fire pans allowed, complete ban. Propane fuel only.

If you have the opportunity, this is a river trip and experience you want in your bucket list.

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Artist Profiles – Gregg Schlanger, Sawyer Artisan Series Oars

Sawyer Paddles and 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.

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Artist Profiles – Ed Anderson, Sawyer Artisan Series Oars

Sawyer Paddles and 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

Sawyer Paddles and 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

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

Sawyer Paddles and Oars May 31, 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 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!