Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 2015)
Of smelt and roses Smelt in the Sandy River. First time in years, Paul is ex- cited. All he needs is a buddy willing to join in on the excite- ment. Ron would be perfect. His expertise in fi shing amounts to which package to extract from the freezer at Costco. Paul manages to squeeze the car into the last parking spot along the river. Ron is in awe at the size of the mob along the river bank. Assorted bodies are waving what looks like butterfl y nets- on steroids-in the air and in the water. The river is lined with people in chest waders and hip boots. Some are wading the snow-fed, icy waters with no protection at all. Paul calls it “Smelt Fever.” The goal is to make a long sweep downstream, with the current, hoping to intercept smelt on their way upstream to spawn. Some folks are so close together looks like dueling sa- bers, or nets, as it were. Successful dip, two or three smelt in the net, person returns to land and dumps them into the obligatory 5-gallon bucket, only to turn back and fi nd at least 13 nets have staked claim to his spot. by G.I. Wilson Could have been in the San Francisco airport from the ca- cophony of languages reverber- ating across the water--Russian, Scandinavian, Spanish, several Asian dialects and a smattering of English. She catches Ron’s atten- tion fi rst, as she comes out of the water, net and smelt over her shoulder. Attractive, make- up, hair perfect, short shorts, strides like a model on the car- pet. But the legs stand out like neon lights in the fog. They are somewhere between scarlet and fl uorescent purple. Has goose bumps like purple M&Ms. Can only guess how long she had been in the water. She is all smiles for her guy, right out of Duck Dynasty, decked out in insulated camo and a stack of empties at his side. Guess he is guarding the 5-gallon bucket. Ron becomes captivated by “the family” settled in on a sandy nook. Dad, skinny as the wooden net handle he’s wield- ing, bib overalls, barefoot, stand- ing in water up to his arm pits. Dad’s net is home made. Not one of those fancy aluminum jobs. Looks like an old pitch fork handle with an onion sack and wire hoop held together with haywire and duct tape. Mom is the “stout” one. Ready to cook smelt. Hair done up in rollers, “seasoned” apron, long-handled fork. Has a hot bed of coals going, cast iron skillet-big enough to feed a platoon of hungry Marines. She has the skillet ready with sizzling hot lard. Her four little rug rats are having a ball. Look like losers in a mud wrestling match. Sand and mud from head to toe. Lit- tle hands look like a mudder’s gloves. Dad comes sloshing out of the river, water gushing out of his bibs, seven or eight smelt in the net. Kids come running with squeals of delight. He Volcanoes’ new coach preps for old team’s leading role By HERB SWETT For the Keizertimes “I learned about a lot of things.” So said Kyle Haines, new manager of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, when asked about his preparations for his new job. Haines, 32, played shortstop for the Volcanoes in 2004 and had his fi rst managing job last year in the Frontier League, an independent league. His club, the Frontier Grays, was based in Highland, Illinois, a St. Louis suburb about 100 miles west of his home in Louisville, Illinois. The Grays did not have a winning record and had to play all their games on the tion before fi nding his fi rst road, because there was no managerial opportunity. stadium in Highland. How- He expects to have the ever, Haines and the same coaches the San Francisco Giants Volcanoes had last organization thought year, Ricky Ward what he learned was for batting and Matt good preparation for Yourkin for pitch- managing the Volca- ing. noes. As usual, the play- Haines played er roster will not be high school baseball known until a few in Louisville and days before open- played for Eastern ing day, which will Kyle Haines Illinois University be at home June before being drafted by the 17 against a college all-star Giants in 2004. After several team. A four-day home series years in the Giants organiza- against the Vancouver Cana- tion, he became a free agent dians will follow, and then the and played briefl y in the Volcanoes will play the Hops Cleveland Indians organiza- in Hillsboro for three days. FEBRUARY 27, 2015, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A9 turns the net upside down and dumps smelt, river water and an assortment of leaves, fi r needles and debris directly into the smoking grease. Beads of water pop into the air like popcorn. Several smelt react to the hot grease and go airborne, landing in a mixture of sand, charcoal, and unidentifi ed materials. Eager little muddy hands to the rescue. After several tries, the little squirming critters are tossed back into the skillet, along with sand and assorted objects. When a morsel is golden brown, Mom skewers it with the trusty fork and deposits it in dirty little waiting hands. Too hot for the mouth, the kid does a smelt version of the old hot potato, hot potato game, until the little critter becomes mouth-worthy. Captivated by all this excite- ment, Ron forgets about Paul and his quest for smelt. Paul is a big guy, long legs, chest waders and an extra long handled net. He wades out beyond most of the shorter dippers. He has his eye on a virtual cloud of smelt headed upriver. In one powerful swoop he fi lls the net to the point where the handle is bending precari- ously. Ron dashes to the water’s edge with the trusty 5-gallon bucket. Two monster swoops and the bucket is full of fl op- ping little shiny critters. Hi- fi ves and atta-boys are in order. Back home, the two cel- ebrate with an adult beverage and pat themselves on the back. The kids are fascinated with the catch. Soon the particular odor of a bucket full of smelt begins to permeate the kitchen. “Time to clean these little devils,” Ron questions. “Oh my God, what have we done?” Paul moans, staring at the bucket. “Someone told me you just fry ‘em up and eat guts, feathers and all.” “You want to eat your half that way, go for it. Not me,” Ron adds. “My parents always opened ‘em up and cleaned ‘em out.” “Oh my god, what have we done?” Paul moans again. After cleaning a couple doz- en, they look at the bucket, still full of smelt, with disgust. “Got an idea,” Paul blurts. “Maybe we can give some away. I know Mobergs like fi sh.” “Hey John, want some nice fresh smelt? John, hello John.” Paul, incredulous, “Can’t be- lieve it. He hung up on me.” Summer arrives and Ron drops by frequently to visit. He enjoys strolling through Paul’s rose garden. “I don’t believe your roses have ever been so big and beau- tiful,” he pauses, nose testing the breeze, “Is it just me, or is there a different, distinct aroma this year?” Want to experience dipping smelt? Season opens two half days (6 a.m. to noon) on the Sandy River, Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 15. Limit is 10 pounds per person and no license required. Support, donations sought for Clear Lake new track fundraiser Clear Lake Elementary School’s Parent-Teacher Asso- ciation is holding a fundraising auction and dinner Saturday, March 14. Organizers are currently looking for donations for the auction planned for the event. Proceeds are used for academic enrichment programs, new technology, fi eld trips, play- ground equipment and the planned addition of a new track at the school. This year’s goal is $20,000. The dinner and auction be- gins at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $20 per person or $120 for a table of eight. Child care is available for $5. For more information, con- tact Shawna Toavs at rstoavs@ comcast.net, or April McVay at mcvaythree@gmail.com. Monarch ballers host try-outs The Mid-Valley Monarchs basketball pro- gram will once again be holding try-outs and- sign-ups for spring and summer teams. The program is designed to help players who wish to pursue more advanced basket- ball during their off season. It does not confl ict with school programs and is intended to sup- port their school teams. The program will set up as many teams as the numbers of players and qualifi ed available coaches provides. Try-outs/Sign-ups are: High School Girls (currently in grades 8 - 11) Sunday, March 1: 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15: 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17: 7 - 9 p.m. Middle School Girls (currently in grades 6 - 7) Sunday, March 1: 2 - 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15: 2 - 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 17: 5:30 - 7 p.m. The tryouts on March 1 and 15 will be held at West Salem HS. The location for March 17 is to be determined and will be announced at www.midvalleymonarchs.com There will be a $25 try-out fee that will cover both sessions (the fee is then applied to the player’s season participation cost). Players are not required to attend all tryout sessions, but are encouraged to attend as many as pos- sible. Each of the teams will have a fee to participate that will be based on the number of tournaments in which they enter. Games and practices will begin in late March and early April. For more information, visit www.midval- leymonarchs.com or contact Ron Hittner, (503) 580-5722, ronhittner@hotmail.com or Terry Williams, (503) 871-6551, twilliams@ corban.edu if you have questions. crossword