A few months ago I was invited to attend the annual 2025 NOWA Conference. Formed in 1973 by a group of professional magazine and newspaper writers, book authors, editors and publishers, photographers, radio and TV broadcasters, videographers, illustrators and artists. Which also included my Father, Frank Amato, who brainstormed Salmon Trout Steelheader in 1967 while we has a high-school history teacher in Portland, OR.
Proffesional Guide Kevin Williams (NW Bound Outdoors) heading out to fish for Spring Salmon in Drano Lake.
The 2025 three day Conference destination was being held in The Dalles, OR along the banks of the beautiful Columbia River. The three day conference included fishing trips, seminars, a panel and a guest appearance by local Western Writer and Publisher Rick Steber.
Day one began with a group of NOWA members and myself. We met professional guide Kevin Williams owner of NW Bound Outdoors (Kevin@nwboundoutdoors.com) at Drano Lake in Washington to fish for Spring salmon. Drano is a man-made lake formed when Highway 14 and the railroad were graded across the mouth of the Little White Salmon River. There is now a small bridge at the West end of the lake where the river meets the Columbia. To protect salmon that are going to destinations farther East you can only fish inside the lake for salmon that are returning to the hatchery on the Little White Salmon.
The “Toilet Bowl” on a not-so-busy day.
For decades Drano has been a NW icon for salmon fishing and can be very productive. However, if you plan on launching your own boat you must be prepared for what is know as the “Toilet Bowl” (see pic). If it’s your first time you may want to fish what is termed “The Lake” which is exactly what it is. The open section East of the bridge and along highway 14. I would also suggest that you fish with a friend that knows what they are doing or with a professional guide.
NOWA members fishing that day were Troy Rodakowski (President), Keith Szafranski (Executive Director), Dave Kilhefner (former President), Sharon Trammell (new member) and Bradly Trumbo (incoming president). The group met Kevin at noon and it was a beautiful sunny day and not too hot. The wind started kicking up around 2:30 and made trolling a bit of a challenge especially when making the tight left turn just inside the bridge. The wind was blowing like a wind-tunnel underneath it. We manged to hook into one salmon briefly but as Dave picked up the rod the salmon had sadly said goodbye to the hook. A few final words of advice: 1. Tend your rods. 2. Control your fish.
The crew from left to right: Sharon, Brad, Troy, Dave and Keith.
We ended our Drano adventure at 5:15 and headed East to the Columbia River Hotel in The Dalles where the Conference was being held. The dinner bell was set for 6:00 overlooking the Columbia and we didn’t want to miss it.
When I arrived I checked in, hauled my bags to my room and headed for the dinner reception. Our guide Kevin was still at Drano stuck in a line of trucks with trailers waiting his turn to load his boat. He finally made it and was able to eat with us. I was grabbing a seat at the end of the table sat down and slowly eased into conversation with my new friends to my left and right.
The dinner bell rings at the Columbia River Hotel.
We began discussing where we grew up and some of the “secret” spots we liked to fish and other types of small-talk many of us use to get to know one another. To my left sat Rick Steber. He was the guest speaker for the evening. Rick Lives in Prineville, OR and is the author and publisher of 50 titles with sales of 2 million books.
As dinner came to an end Gary Lewis set Rick up with a chair and a microphone. It was at this point that I mentally began to immerse myself into what the whole weekend was about. And Rick flipped the switch. He started telling us stories of growing up in the Kalamath Basin. How his first grade teacher came to Oregon in a wagon train and an interesting fellow that went by the name Rattlesnake Pete. Pete always carried a six shooter with him and one night someone said to him, “I bet that gun you carry isn’t even loaded.” Pete pulled out his gun and shot the window out of the corner cafe. Then there was Old Lady Copperfield. Rick and his brother would catch snakes and give them to her. She would skin them and cook them up. The kind of stuff city kids today, or back in the day, would have a hard time connecting with.
After dinner guest speaker Rick Steber talked about growing up in the Klamath Basin and some of the colorful personalities that lived in the area.
After listening to Rick for just a few minutes I could feel his gift of describing a moment and giving the details that only a great writer can put down in words. If you would like to read one of Rick’s books you can visit his website at (https://www.ricksteberauthor.com/).
Following Rick’s presentation things began to wind down the ladies at the bar were making the last call as I was talking in-depth with author Gary Lewis. We were discussing the publishing industry and how things have changed over the years with cell phones and social media. It was a great discussion and sent a lot of ideas bouncing around inside my head before bed.
George Krumm, editor of Fish Alaska, discusses the correct way to submit articles to a magazine editor.
Seminars began the following morning at 8:15. George Krumm editor of Fish Alaska went first. George talked in detail about writers submitting their work to the editor. Deadlines, sending in a clean file, word counts, how many photos to submit and file sharing to name just a few of the subjects. George laid out how a quality professional writer can get on a publishers “A” list. Following his instructions can also help a new writer gain ground easier with other publishers.
Bradly Trumbo, a professional writer gave a seminar about bird dogs. I’m not a hunter, but what he said had the room emotional, myself included. His seminar took me back to thinking about my last dog Kenai. She’s been gone for some time now. Kenai was my fishing buddy for many years. A mixed breed of lab and chow and incredibly smart. I would just look at her and say, “Wanna go fishing.” And she knew EXACTLY what that meant. Her tail would start wagging as she hopped up and down on her hind legs. And I could see the big smile on her face. Kenai was the best dog I ever had. Here I was in a conference room among a group of many people that I had never met having to keep my composure. In this modern day and age of people stuffing their heads into cell phones never forget that it’s the activities in real-life that we remember, think back on and hold dearly.
Kieth Szafranski’s seminar discussed ways AI can help writers and photographers. Like most, I’m sick and tired of seeing social media videos and images with AI. Some are funny, I’ll give it that, but a lot of it is absolutely annoying. However, as a writer you can use AI as your own personal secretary for gathering data. A search on a particular subject can give you tons of useful information, but make it your own and check all the facts and locations for accuracy. Apparently AI will pull defunct information like fishing regulations. So if you do use it to “help” you write an article double check all the facts.
Now let’s throw things into reverse a bit and discuss our setup at Drano Lake. Many, or most of you, are fully aware of the rig being used at Drano. But some may not. And it’s not an exact science. Leader lengths line weights and terminal gear may vary. But I’m pretty sure a lead ball is still a lead ball.
The Rig
Our complete rig that we fished with at Drano Lake.
- 9.5 - 10.6’ slow action salmon rod. Tend in traffic.
- Level wind reel with a line counter
- 60-80lb braided mainline
- Weed guard (optional) but helps
- Hook your lead ball to a sliding line lock (anti-twist)
- Barrel swivel (for the line lock to lock inside)
- Bumper connected to a chain swivel
- 360 Flasher connected to a second chain barrel swivel
- 30-40lb monofilament and in line spinner and hook(s)
- Coon Shrimp
- Duo lock snaps for taking apart and setting up
Tangles with your neighbors are common at Drano and when the wind kicks up in the afternoon and blows your boat sideways they can get worse. Switching to a heavier lead ball can help.
If asked to describe this rig in a short conversation I would say it’s a Kokanee setup sized for Kings. Be courteous and friendly out there!
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