SALMON RUN AND SOUTH CAROLINA TOP US STATE QSO PARTY ACTION

By Jamie Dupree NS3T 

Following last weekend's Tennessee and Arkansas QSO Parties, the focus in the US stays half on the southeast and half on the Pacific Northwest, with the South Carolina and Washington State "Salmon Run."

Offering the real version of salmon as a prize to the top finishers, the Washington State event has been catching on with more contesters in recent years.

"We have a good prize program," says Ward Silver N0AX, who admits he's been beating the bushes in his home state to get people on the air again this year.

"This year (has been) a little harder because the Western Washington club hosted the regional DX convention in August, wearing people out a bit. And propagation stinks."

Even with those down solar times, there's plenty of people ready to pounce in these smaller state events. And that's very true when the station is a mobile heading from county to county.

"There are typically five to ten mobiles making any kind of effort," says Silver. "Folks can look at who expects to be on from the various spots by checking the "Reserve A County" page at the WWDXC home page.

In terms of rule changes this year, the Salmon Run has expanded the bonus points to include 500 points for working W7DX on any digital mode, along with SSB and CW.

The big "catch" of course is to win some of the prized salmon. "It does go well with the white wine that the California QSO Party puts out," said Silver.

"I wish we could get Wisconsin to give out cheese - then we'd have the whole meal!"