In the Tote

The past few postings here on PickFish Tales, I've featured fellow Fisher Poets.  Well, I've enjoyed riding that wave so much and decided to ride it a little longer.  This week's blog high liner is Pat Dixon.

Pat Dixon photo by Veronica Kessler

Fisher Poet and fellow blogger Pat Dixon gillnetted Cook Inlet up in Alaska from 1977 to 1997.  Originally from Indiana,  he began dabbling in photography in high school and writing  shortly there after.  He has been published in the Oberon Poetry magazine, The Smithsonian, Pacific Fishing, to name a few.  A retired educator, Pat now works a free lance writer and photographer in Olympia, Washington with is spitfire wife, Veronica.  Also, he is on the organizing committee of the Annual Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon, has a blog Gillnet Dreams, a website Pat Dixon, and an anthology of Fisher Poets called In the Tote.  Here is a list of places to find Pat's work:

Gillnet Dreams:   http://dixonphoto.blogspot.com/
Pat Dixon photo: http://www.patrickdixon.net/patrickdixon.net/Welcome.html
Astoria's Fisher Poets Gathering: http://www.fisherpoets.org/
In the Tote: In the Tote

In the Tote is a culmination of musings, writings, songs, tall tales and of course, stories of the one that got away from folks in the commercial fishing industry.  From fresh greenhorns to salty skippers, Pat has schooled up stories from across the country of sea faring men and women who make the annual run to Astoria's Fisher Poets Gathering (FPG), this year in its 16th year.  On the site, which Pat just recreated, you'll find audio files, video, photos and writings of 36 Fisher Poets, myself included, who have one time or another, performed on the stages at the FPG.  As Pat states on the welcome page of In the Tote, " The material you read and listen to here represents a small fillet of what has been caught at the Fisher Poets Gathering.....since it began in 1998."

photo by Pat Dixon

 

 

 

 

WORD OF WARNING: listening to sea stories can be highly addictive and has been linked to longings for the ocean, the feel of wind in your hair and salt spray on your face.  Eating wild salmon has been known to help.  However,  if gone unchecked, it can result in the insatiable desire to fish commercially, which, as of the date of this writing, there is no known cure.  If you find this happening to you, please join your fellow salty sufferers at the 2014 Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon from February  21-23.  I'm out.

The nightmare of Frankenfish

As most of you know, a few weeks ago I was the 16th Annual Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon.  It was a fabulous time!  Its so great to see old friends and meet new ones.

This year, I emceed one evening with my buddy Lloyd.  It was my first time as MC and one thing I liked about it was that while I usually run around venue to venue chasing radio fish, as MC I had to stay put.  As a result, I caught acts of folks I hadn't heard of and never would have checked out.  Phil Lancing, for example. He memorized his entire 15 minute story that was quite good and funny! He is a hoot!

And speaking of being a hoot, that brings me to fellow Fisher Poet Dennis McGuire.  He is a character, to say the least.  Some of his poems and stories are pretty outrageous, but by just looking at Dennis, you know they are true.  He is a long time fishermen on the Copper River Flats out of Cordova Alaska and well seasoned at Fisher Poets.  Below is a photo of him a few years back at Cordova's In 'Em Fisher Folk Festival.

Dennis McGuire

While most of Dennis' stuff is quite humorous, some does have a political message to it, like his poem Fish Farm that talks about genetically engineered (GE) salmon. If approved, this Frankenfish would be the first genetically engineered animal that our Federal Government has ever approved for food consumption.  Scary stuff!  To say the least. Unfortunately, this threat is REAL! More details about this nightmare can be found here: http://trap.it/DrPW8L

But, before I digress down that rabbit hole any further, check out Dennis' Fish Farm poem.  My description of it doesn't do it justice.  Best to just watch it for yourself here on this YouTube link.  First is Dennis' favorite part, the

 Piglet Intro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whMJ7ABfx-4

Fish Farm  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA-2sj0cGC

GMO-Awareness's photo.

 
The following was taken from the GMO Awareness Facebook page. GMO Awareness

*** BREAKING NEWS: FDA has just extended the comment period on genetically engineered salmon until April 26! (see the article below). Here are FIVE ways to voice your opinion:

1) Cornucopia Institute has an excellent sample letter that you can submit electronically or by mail:
http://www.cornucopia.org/2013/01/action-alert-genetically-engineered-salmon/

2) Then you can sign this petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the-approval-of-genetically-engineered-salmon

3) And this petition:
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/738?t=6&akid=700.469184.lqqeGr

4-5) Lastly, you can post a message to the following two Facebook pages:
The FDA: https://www.facebook.com/FDA
The USDA: https://www.facebook.com/USDA

Read the breaking news article here: http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm339270.htm


We gotta do something about this nightmare.  Join me in signing these petitions to stop yet another threat to our fishery, our jobs, our livelihood, and most importantly, our food!

Please join me in saying NO to Frankenfish! 

Fisher Poets against Pebble Mine

This week, I thought I would shake things up a bit and invite John Copp here on PickFish Tales to bend your ear about Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay Alaska.  John is a fellow Fisher Poet and commercial fisherman who fished Bristol Bay, Alaska for alotta years.  And he's got something to say about the proposed mine. 

Bill Carter author of Boom, Bust, Boom and John Copp

 photo by Daily Astorian

Visualize a giant meteor crashing to earth. It digs a hole big enough to be seen from outer space. It
generates ten billion tons of material so toxic that it destroys every living thing in a ten square mile radius,not just today, but for the next thousand years. No, this isn't a science fiction movie. It's Pebble Mine. If allowed to be built, say goodbye to the last great wild fishery left, Bristol Bay, Alaska.

A highlight of the 2013 Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon, was a Pebble Mine panel. Panelists included an environmental attorney, fisheries biologists from the University of Washington and Oregon State University, an historian with a social conscience, a successful author who illustrated the dangers from copper mines in his recent book (Boom, Bust, Boom), and two politically active young fishermen.The panel provided fact-based arguments, a solid understanding of the threat to the fisheries, and a clear grasp of how existing law can be applied. The room was packed, and the audience was keenly interested and full of important questions. Most importantly, the panel gave hope that we can save Bristol Bay.

panel discussion  photo by Daily Astorian

Economics alone justifies saving the Bay. For instance, Oregon's fifty or so Bristol Bay salmon
fishermen (and the hundreds of Oregonians who work for them) bring home over $10 million dollars each season. That doesn't include revenue from crab, herring, and guiding sport fishermen. Fishermen from Alaska, California, and Washington earn far more. Panelists agreed on a key point: large scale open-pit mining CAN NOT COEXIST with wild fisheries. The reason that Bristol Bay is so bountiful is water. Clear, pure water, running wild and free. Pebble's infrastructure alone will massively damage the water. Not only will it use massive amounts, it will insert toxins throughout the ecosystem. Study after study has shown the negative impact of toxic metals and acids on salmon biology. It doesn't take much.

Saving Bristol Bay depends on the White House supporting the scientific assessment that the EPA has
done on Bristol Bay. Pressure exerted by Congress and the Senate on the White House will be key. That in turn will depend up pressure exerted by individual citizens on their State Representatives. The miners have deep pockets and are lobbying politicians day and night. Time is running act. If you, dear reader, care two cents about saving Bristol Bay, TAKE ACTION. Contact your Representatives, President Obama, and the EPA. Donate a few bucks to groups leading the fight against Pebble, including Natural Resource Defense Council, Trout Unlimited, and Fishermen for Bristol Bay. 
We still can win! -John Copp (johndcopp@gmail.com)

More information about the panelist can be found in the The Daily Astorian article that came out Tuesday, February 26th: http://www.dailyastorian.com/free/pebble-mine-opponents-gather-during-fisherpoets-event/article_24334862-8049-11e2-bb1b-0019bb2963f4.html.  They even got a photo of yours truly at Clemente's Restaurant, who is also against the mine.

me at Clemente's photo by Daily Astorian

As John stated, TAKE ACTION!  Contact your Representatives, President Obama, and the EPA. Donate to groups leading the fight against Pebble Mine, including Natural Resource Defense Council, (http://www.nrdc.org/) Trout Unlimited, ( http://www.tu.org/),  Fishermen for Bristol Bay (http://fishermenforbristolbay.org/), and Stop Pebble Mine (http://www.stoppebblemine.org/).

Save our SALMON and say NO to Pebble Mine

16th Annual Fisher Poets Gathering, Astoria Oregon

I made it!  We made it! We all made it.  The snow in Denver subsided just long enough for me to catch my flight to Portland, Oregon for my third year at Fisher Poets.  At the Portland airport, I met up with fellow Fisher Poets Ron McDaniel and Steve Schoonmaker.  I asked Steve if he was ready for this opener, this weekend of song, celebration, and drink sometimes feels like a fishing opener.  As soon as we cast our first story, its three days of no sleep, just go, go, go.

This year is our second year making the now annual pilgramage  from Portland to Astoria together.  It started with Steve and I talking about carpooling last year.   Then I saw an add on Facebook that the Cowboy needed a lift.  Ron, Fisher Poet's token Cowboy, was going to hitchhike the hour and half journey, but his wife was afraid that someone would pick him up just to steal his leather boots and toss him aside.  With that, our little tradition of splitting the fuel and catching up along the way was born.

 

Ron and Jen's work boots.

Astoria's local paper, The Astorian, generously  printed out this years schedule in the Thursday's edition of coast Weekend. Also HIPFISHmonthy, Astoria's local alternative paper featured FPs on their cover.

HIPFISHmonthy's cover

Camaraderie out the Wazoo

I love that, "Camaraderie out the Wazoo!" Camaraderie is defined as "a spirit of friendly good fellowship". That really sums up the heart of this event and why I love it so much.  For me, its not getting up on stage and performing my poems, that isn't fun, that's terrifying.  But I do it to belong this specific group of fishermen, fishermen who write.   They seem understand my poems because they have all, at one time or another, lived them too.  And I, theirs.  You can see it on their faces, from the grimace at the mention of jellyfish in the eye, to the nod of recognition of bring in a deckload.  We have all had our own triumphs and tregedies on the sea, some bigger than others.  And to be with a group of folks like that all weekend is like coming home.

 Pat Dixon goofing off with Ron's hat last night at the welcome dinner.

16th Annual Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon

Next weekend, February 22-24, 2013 is the 16th Annual Fisher Poets Gathering!  The gathering is an annual event where men and women tied to the commercial fishing industry get together and share tales, song, stories, and poems in celebration of making a living on the sea.  The event takes place every year, the last weekend in February in the coastal town of Astoria, Oregon which is a fishing town rich in maritime history.

Astoria's water front photo by Motoya Nakamura/The Oregonian

Fisher Poets Gathering was founded by fisherman and poet Jon Broderick in 1998 and began with a few folks meeting in a pub sharing stories and sea shanties.  Sixteen years later, FPs are still meeting in a pub, or more accurately, pubs but has expanded to about 70 poets from 11 different states coast to coast, including one token cowboy from Arkansas.  Slinging songs and spouting poetry happens at the Wet Dog, Voodoo Room, Clemente's, Baked Alaska, KALA Gallery, Fort George Brewery and the Astoria Event Center.  KMUN, the local radio station covers FPs from 6:00-10:00 pm (Pacific Time) both Friday and Saturday night.  Tune in to 91.9 FM or stream on the web at: www.coastradio.org.  

Jon Broderick photo by Motoya Nakamura/The Oregonian

During the day you can choose from having coffee with fisher poet Dave Densmore on board his boat, to workshops on creative writing, photography, to political discussions on ocean acidification or the threat of Pebble Mine, to listening to stories of the one that got away. You can even buy FPs memorabilia or your favorite poet's book or CDs at the gearshack.  More information along with this year's schedule can be found at the Fisher Poets website: Fisher Poets.

Dave Densmore photo by Motoya Nakamura/The Oregonian

Fisher poet and photographer Pat Dixon has done a whiz bang job over the years capturing us FPs with his camera.  His collection is called In the Tote.  Just click the link to see snap shots of us on stage along with some of our writings.

2012 Fisher Poets photo by Pat Dixon

There are some great reads out now covering the event. Check back, I'll post more as the come in this weekend.  Last year a few of us were interviewed for  Oregon Art Watch Astoria Fisher Poets Festival The NY Times did a piece a few years ago : For a Weekend, Fishermen Measure Haul in Verse.  The most recent is a wonderful photo essay from last year's FPs that came out last week on line at Portland's own The Oregonian: http://photos.oregonlive.com/photo-essay/2013/02/fisher_poets_gathering_in_asto.html#comments.  And here is the follow up stories along with those photos: Salty Poets of the Sea.

Jen Pickett photo by Motoya Nakamura/The Oregonian

As some of you may know, this will be my 3rd year performing at Fisher Poets and I can't wait!  Its such a special time for me to hear some great stories and to see all my fishing buddies again.  I'm all abuzz polishing up my Xtra-Tufs, rehearsing my lines and practicing my stories without any curse words, which is hard for a fisherman like myself.  Speaking of, I'd better get back to it!

My cleanest fishing boots photo by Motoya Nakamura/The Oregonian

See you in Astoria!

A Humpy

Rumor has it, many of you thought I fell off the radar. You'd swing by my blog, hoping for a fresh read and there was nothing.  You got skunked.  Found nothing but an old Holiday Recipes post from way back in December, and that was even rehashed from last holiday season.   I owe you an apology and I'm sorry.  I guess I did fall off the radar.   Turns out, Columbus was wrong.  The world isn't round, its flat and I fell right over the edge.  But no worries, dear reader, only just slightly worse for the wear, PickFish is back!  As my buddy Steve would say, for be reals this time.  Or should I say reels? I know, lame joke.  Don't worry, that's my only one and that one is included in the price.  Did I mention worse for the wear?

Anyway, after being chased down and nearly accosted by readers and by one cowboy, in particular (okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, on which part, you decide) wondering why they are not getting updates of my blog in their in-boxes,  I thought for my own safety, I'd better slide my boots on, climb into my raingear, pull the anchor and get my net wet.  Or in other non-fishermen speak, post a blog.  I mean, a reader can only take so many skunks. (And to be sure I bridge the gap for you non-fishy readers, a skunk is when a fishermen sets his net and gets nothing, no fish, no nada, zilcho, zero, a water haul).  If nothing else, I had to write another blog just to get that cowboy off my back.

Speaking of cowboys, its almost that time of year again for the 16th Annual Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria OR.  Its coming right up Feb 22-24.  You can find out more information here at www.fisherpoets.org, Facebook.com/FisherPoets and you can even follow us on Twitter at FisherPoets. For those wondering what cowboys and fishermen have in common, the answer is nothing, but there is one token cowboy at Fisher Poets, Ron McDaniel.  Now I'm not sayin he
is the cowboy on my back for not writing,  I'm was just sayin' there was a cowboy on my back for not writing. And though he claims not to truly belong at FPs, because he is a cowboy, he has killed at least one fish commercially, so, whether he likes to admit it or not, he's just as ruined as the rest of us.  I mean, he legitimately qualifies as a Fisher Poet.  But I got off course.  Ready or not, dear reader,  its time for PickFish make another set and post another blog.

Now, the big question is what write about after so many months of being away.  The pressure is on.  You guys and gals have been patiently waiting for me to return and I'm sure you have certain expectations.  I mean, you probably think that I have been diligently writing this whole time and will return with some big catch, a monster halibut perhaps. You know one of those record breakers that barely fits into the back of a pick up truck?  I'd hate to disappoint.  I mean, you probably think that maybe I've been taking writing courses, poetry lessons, or even been working on my book.  Seriously, what else would I be doing for so many months? Again, I'm sorry dear reader.  I hate to be the one to tell you this, but if that's what you thought, you'd be wrong.  In reality, I got nothing.  I've been a total slacker.  Dead weight, drag, a water haul, as useful as flotsam and jetsam.  You are expecting monster halibut and here I am, I show up with a humpy.  And a spawned out one at that. You think I was off doing grand things and really, I just went out on deck to take a pee and fell overboard.  With my fly unzipped, to top things off  I mean, how glamorous is that?

But a few of you had faith that I was still out there afloat, somewhere.   You sent out a search party for me, sent me a life raft, told me to stop belly aching and to climb on in.  You gave me some hot chocolate, a little shot of whiskey, put a blanket around me and asked me if I was alright.  I nodded yes and you said Good. Now get your ass in gear and get back to writing.  Roger that.
And thanks Ron!

Merry Fishmas and a Humpy New Year!