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Mark Sherwood

@mszafka

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Headed north in a few days to check in on the crew.

@fishthedean
@fishtheswing
@kathryncase
@anadromous
@northcoast_adventures
@patfish
@adriennecomeau
@nickverlaan
and Oly Dean.

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Early mornings, long naps and late evenings are right around the corner.

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// A handful of great humans burned into film over the course of 2025.

Grateful for everyone I got to work or wander with.

A lot of trust, a lot of meaningful projects, a lot of solid humans - more than fit in a post.

Onward with the old besties and the yet to be discovered ride-or-dies.

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✨ An All-Wild North Umpqua ✨ As part of our Year-End update series, this week we’re highlighting the iconic North Umpqua River and our efforts to restore wild abundance by removing the harmful Winchester Dam.

Thanks to our generous donors, advocates, and supporters like you, so much has been accomplished in 2025! Including:⁠
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Removing Winchester Dam on the North Umpqua River:

➤ To revive abundant wild salmon, steelhead, and Pacific lamprey in the iconic North Umpqua River, staff and volunteers are building a groundswell of public support to remove Winchester Dam, which limits access to 160 river miles.

➤ BREAKING PROGRESS: In a major win for native fish this week, ODFW ruled Winchester Dam’s owners are required to build legally compliant fish passage by 2028 – reinforcing just how harmful this dam is and strengthening the case for full removal. Stay tuned for more timely updates!

➤To learn more about our work aiming to restore balance and abundance for these legendary fish, read our latest North Umpqua Notes entry, Winchester Dam’s Modern History, which traces the dam’s impact and the path toward a healthier, free-flowing river. [🔗 IN BIO]
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How can you help?⁠
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💙 Give Back: Make a year-end gift today and invest in the future of our homewaters and wild, native fish.

▻ And thanks to an incredibly generous anonymous donor, your contribution will be matched 𝟮𝗫 up to $50,000 through December 31! Don’t miss your chance to double your impact for wild fish! 🙌⁠
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Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference for wild fish!⁠
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Since 1995, supporters like you have helped ensure wild fish have a future. We’re honored by your continued support and commitment to the revival of wild abundance.⁠ 👏
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✨ Wild is the Future!⁠ ✨
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[🔗 IN BIO] to learn more about our work on the North Umpqua, read the NU Notes article, and make a year-end gift for wild fish today.
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P.S. This is part 3 of an ongoing Year-End series - stay tuned for more campaign stories through the end of the year!⁠
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📸 1: NFS Executive Director Mark Sherwood and his son in front of Winchester Dam
📸 2: Darcy Bacha
📸 3: Kirk Blaine
🎨 Artwork: @highmountaincreative 🙌⁠

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We GO BIG and GIVE BIG every year for Native Fish Society’s Homewaters Run Wild - the biggest party for wild fish in the universe!

There’s a whole lotta folks in the world, and these one’s here, simply put - they are hands down, some of the best.

For three decades, they’ve been a voice for the rivers and wild native fish, champions for conservation, and a powerful force for change in our region’s most vital ecosystems. And I’ve had the unbelievable honor to journey with them for twenty years, supporting these boots-on-the-ground, waders in the water,
region-wide efforts to safeguard watersheds and wild native fish for generations to come.

How I could get so lucky to know some of the most inspiring voices for change in my lifetime, I’ll never know. But I’ll be forever grateful.

Cheers and love to you @native_fish_society on one hellofuh weekend rallying support to ensure Wild is the Future!

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We've seen your skills on the vise.

Would you be willing to donate 12 flies for the auction/benefit? Tie a dozen, dealer’s choice, any species, any style, and earn some money in support of wild fish and wild places.

The auction is right here in Portland, with people traveling from far and wide for the food, drink, connection, and auction items. Let’s offer em Portland’s best.

More information can be found on the @native_fish_society website (link in bio) as well as through the auction’s mastermind Tracy Buckner, @o.snap.t

In short: 12 flies, no box needed, send to NFS by March 21st.

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Twin Fish meeting @joshhallsurfboards to South Morocco with the Oregon brother @mszafka ✨

Always sharing the magic 🇲🇦

@spydersurfshop_montalivet
🙏

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Hands down, one of the best phone calls I’ve ever answered some sixteen years ago. Tom Derry on the other end of the line (#iykyk) introducing me and @keelmonkey to the work of @native_fish_society. With a heartfelt invitation to support their boots on the ground, waders in the water efforts to support the conservation, preservation and restoration of our home waters, and wild native fish, Keely and I eagerly jumped in. And we’ve been hooked ever since.

These humble legends.

Thank you for the opportunity to journey with you all these years NFS to reel in support for abundant wild fish, free-flowing rivers, and thriving Northwest communities.

To @o.snap.t, @mszafka, the NFS staff and river steward team, @patagonia, the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund, and the many new and seasoned generous hearts that join this groundswell of public support…thank you for protecting and restoring what we love - Pacific Northwest native fish and the homewaters that sustain us all.

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Over the past two weeks, Patagonia retail stores in the PNW and BC hosted screenings of “Tom: The Friend Fish Deserve” to celebrate a lifetime of wild fish activism from Tom Derry and his important work through @native_fish_society. Thank you to the hundreds of community members who showed up in Bend, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver to learn about the importance of standing up for wild fish and clean water, and a big shout out to @patagoniabend, @patagoniaportland, @patagoniaseattle and @patagoniavancouver for making these events possible.

If you haven’t yet, make sure to watch “Tom: The Friend Fish Deserve” at the link in bio.
#WildFishActivism #ItsAllHomeWater

Photos: Nathan Khalsa (@nathan_khalsa)

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MY PEOPLE! Holy **** what a year. Thank you for every single moment in time together this year. The support we receive from our family, friends, colleagues and collaborators is impossible to fully appreciate. It’s so special and is our lifeblood. I couldn’t possibly tell you how much I love you guys for everything this year. Only good vibes from here on out. Happy new year and see you all in 2024!!

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I had the pleasure of meeting Mark @mszafka at the Oregon Coast line. I had pulled over to catch the views, and he was kind enough to offer to take pictures of me with the view! He introduced me to the concept of winter surfing 🥶, and he further explained how he was looking for some good waves. I asked him if I could return the favor and take a video of him to put together a memorable reel. I dedicate this reel to him and his family!

#oregon101 #oregonpacificcoast #oregoncoastvibes #oregoncoast #travel #pnwtravel #pnwadventures #pnwlife #pnw #oregon #oregonroadtrip #oregonroadtrips #huracan #lamborghini

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UPDATE: Life’s been great, but busy, and I just realized this one got away from me.

@swingthefly recently published our 2023 Anthology. Not only was I personally honored to join the ranks of the fantastic contributors with my own article, “Three Eye Seeing,” focused on restoring Columbia and Snake River steelhead & salmon populations, I was lucky enough to work with a remarkable team of STF’s conservation partners.

Working with these conservation minded anglers, scientists and advocates was an incredibly fulfilling experience. I sincerely appreciate you all for taking time out of your already overwhelming work to enhance this year’s Anthology. Please consider supporting these esteemed groups through a membership or financial contribution.

Thanks, again and again, to
@rainforest_steel
@moskosalmo
@theconservationangler
@gsftz
@jonathanstumpf
@wildsteelhead
@tuwestcoast
@troutunlimited
@streamsurfstone
@kblaine15
@native_fish_society
@davidconrad
@moldychum
@wildsteelheadcoalition
@rickfishdoc

Looking forward to seeing you all again soon.
Photo Credit: @rainforest_steel @davidconrad @patperry Perry

Copies available for purchase at SwingTheFly.com #linkinbio

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