CFF November Fishing Reports

November is often a sleeper month that can produce some very good fishing when the weather cooperates. For the most part it did. Pictures are first with the reports below.

From Greg Obrien: Went to the Delta with my brother in early November. He did great on stripers up to about 10 lbs and I scratched out a few smaller ones. We also got a few large mouth bass up to 5 lbs; 2/0 clousers with rattle beads were the ticket. Ventured east with a buddy for the only summer steelheading of the year for me and we got a couple, one 29” swinging a floating line/wet fly and one 32” swinging a bunny leech with a sink tip.

From Dan Colish: Hit the Deschutes in late November. It was a good day on euro. Easy to forget how close we are!

From Tanner Kennedy: Fished the Kilchis November 10 & 11th swinging for chum.  I’ve been fishing that river since the late 1980’s and I don’t think I have ever seen that many chum present before; also don’t know if I have ever seen that many drift boats on the river! Friday the 11th was crazy from Logger Bridge down, there were at least 50 boats on the river. On the 10th I was fishing with my son in his boat and we managed to also find some chinook and a beautiful specimen of a native coho.

Thanksgiving morning I took my Son to an OFC Stillwater and we landed some nice rainbows on tiny bugs under indicators. It was really good. We landed 26 fish and made it home in time for Turkey and a nap.  We decided to try again 2 days later and found several more using indicators and stripped fly tactics.

From Darryl Huff: Made multiple trips to the Warm Springs area in November. We caught quite a few nice trout in the 15-19″ range, primarily on egg patterns.

From Craig Kerschen: Catching a Chum Salmon was my bucket list. I was able to make it down to Tillamook Bay for the last day of that season…Nov 15th.

I had hunted Elk up both the Miami and Kilchis rivers so I was familiar with those rivers. It did not take long to find Chum near the 3 mile marker up the Miami. What a thrill! Got a beauty, my first Salmon on a fly rod. 

From Chris Brehm: Spent a cold late November day on Diamond Lake. The Browns are gorgeous this time of year.  

From Mike Shiiki: Had a great day in Warm Springs watching Darryl hog all the hogs, again! It was a great day. My son Nathaniel did well too with a 20+” Redside. 

Also had a good day at OFC Big Tree Lake. The cabbage is starting to die down making it easier to get around.

From Dave Kilhefner: Rich Harvey, Dave Hopkins and I hit OFC Blue Den Lake a couple time. Both days were cold and the fishing was a little slow. We all managed some nice fish but Rich caught two exceptional trout measuring 34” and 31” on big white streamers.

Thanks to everyone for contributing thier reports. We already have some good ones rolling in for December as well.

Presidents Message December 2023

Hope everyone enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving and was able to get out and do some fishing with friends.

Fishing in November was pretty good as you’ll see when the the November fishing reports come out next week. Also, I’m feeling excited as once these rains roll thru and the water drops it will be game on for Winter Steelhead.

It’s time to think about paying your 2024 membership fee. However, if you joined as a new member in 2023 it will be good for 2024 too; we are on the honor system so please let me know. Here is the membership link plus I will be sending membership notices out to everyone. If you participate in the club I will guarantee you’ll get a solid value for the $35 you pay to be a member.

The “big 3” activities our club focuses on are meetings, fly tying and fish a longs.

I’m looking for input on the 2024 Fish A Longs schedule. With the warming trends and low steelhead returns, fishing opportunities are changing. Check out the 2024 fish a longs schedule and let me know if you’d like to see any changes; it’s not set in stone!

Last year we expanded Fish a longs to include camping. It’s not always easy as many campgrounds are booked up very early, especially state parks. But we did have some very successful camping/fishing outings, especially on the Deschutes, Metolius and Oregon Fishing Club.

December is shaping up to be decent fishing month. My crystal ball says the most dependable fishing will be at the Oregon Fishing Club ponds for trout, especially after this warming trend. The key to winter fishing is to be ready to fish when a weather window presents itself.

Several coastal streams like the Necanicum and Wilson get good early runs of steelhead. The Clackamas and Sandy get random shots of early winter steelhead too plus this year there are a good number of native, late running coho. Here’s a link to the PGE fish counts so you can see for yourself.

We don’t have a club Fish-A-Long in December but I’m open to helping folks with their spey casting and winter steelhead presentation basics. If you are interested in this email me and I’ll put you on the list.

For several years now we have been posting monthly fishing reports. Looking back on them is a good way to get ideas for local fly fishing opportunities currently happening or coming up. I’ve tested it out and it works! Type the word December or January in the search box and you’ll get all the past reports for that month.

Now is the perfect time for Christmas shopping plus don’t forget to get your wish list out so you get all the stocking stuffers you want. Please remember our sponsors, 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 trip.

Dave Kilhefner