December 2025 January 2026 Reports

We’ve had some crazy weather the last couple months: a big flood in December followed by a drought. It’s made local fishing a little tough but there are fish to be had, especially for our traveling club members. Pictures are first with the reports below.

From Greg O’Brien: made a trip to Florida for a family birthday and squeezed in a little Scuba diving and a morning of flyfishing. Went with a guide on the Intra Coastal Waterway and got into bluefish and jacks. The Jack pictured was on a popper, all else were on baitfish patterns and an intermediate line.

From Ed Rabinowe: Tom Phipps, Ken Baker and I plus 3 other friends traveled to Campeche Mexico to fish for baby tarpon. Tarpon of any size are great game fish. The lodge, the town, and the company were worth the trip!

From Mark Rasmussen: January fishing was cold and sparse, but had some fun!

From Wayne Hughes: Fished mainly Hagg lake throughout January. Had some good days and bad days as winter trout fishing can be. Landed some nice trout & one rare Kokanee on stripped leech & balanced leech patterns. 

From Dave Kilhefner: the big flood in December set back winter steelhead fishing for me. Rich and I hit the OFC Lakes when the weather was good. Fishing was generally on the slow side but we got a few!

Thanks to everyone for contributing your reports!

Presidents Message February 2026

After December’s flood the weather has been mostly chilly and dry. This has created tough low & cold water steelheading conditions and also slowed down the winter trout bite. But, you can’t catch fish sitting on the couch and for those that have ventured out, there has been some success!

Our speaker for the February 17th meeting is Kelcee Smith. She is the Chum Salmon Reintroduction Coordinator for ODFW, joining the project in fall 2021. It will be an interesting presentation you won’t want to miss!

Our February 21st Fish A Long will be at my place on the Sandy River for a steelhead school and the pic above is from last year. We’ll have some hands on instruction on Spey Casting, tips how to successfully swing a fly in the winter and also on nymph fishing presentations, which excels in smaller streams. Naturally we’ll have the option to warm up by woodstove and enjoy a good lunch if the fishing is slow, and lets face it Winter Steelhead fly fishing is always slow!

Good news: Marty & Mia Sheppard of Little Creek Outfitters are keeping the Sandy River Spey Clave going. Mark your calendars for April 24th & 25th at Oxbow Park.

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; type the word February or March in the search box and you’ll get all the past reports for that month.

Please remember our local fly shops and sporting goods stores. Hope to see you at a meeting or on the water!

Dave Kilhefner