We are off and running for a new year. Certainly like to start seeing more rain and not such a cool drier winter. Anyway we can still get out and go fishing.

The last fish-a-long on the Sandy river at Oxbow Park as well attended with about 12 members making the trip. A couple of fish(not saying what kind) were even caught and the lunch was great. Also a number of members assisted others with casting pointers.

We are back on the Sandy this month, but gathering a little farther upriver at Dave Kilhefner’s place. Again we will enjoy a hot lunch and maybe even find a willing Steelhead. More information to follow.

There was a good turnout for our January meeting and the speaker Brian Marz gave an interesting presentation on winter fly fishing opportunities. In addition we had a special silent raffle of a number of items recently donated to the club by the widow of one of our members. We would like to thank Mrs. Wayne Sparks for her generous donation of the fly fishing equipment of her late husband. We will miss Wayne.

The February speaker is our one and only Founding Gold Sponsor, Mark Bachmann from the Fly Fishing Shop in Welches, Oregon. Mark is an annual speaker and always has a interesting and well prepared presentation. In addition Mark has donated a float trip on the Sandy River and we will be auctioning one seat and having a raffle for the other seat at the meeting. You do not want to miss this one.

There are a couple events coming up one of which is this week and that is the annual Pacific Northwest Sportsman Show 2/6-10/19 at the Expo Center in Portland. Next is the Northwest Fly Tier and Fly Fishing Expo 3/8-9/19 at the Linn County Expo Center, Albany, Oregon.

Remember our sponsors are they are the lifeblood of the club. Stop by their shops and let them know your appreciate their support. Better yet buy something or book a outing with them.

Gil Henderson