We had VERY good weather for our March Fish A Long. When several of us campers arrived on Thursday the temperature was in the low 80’s. Plus, the water conditions were perfect!
We brought lots of wood and were able to enjoy some good long campfires every day plus cooked most of our meals over the fire. The lone exception was our Friday night Mexican dinner in town.
Fishing was pretty good but the fish were a little on the picky side. Nymphs, soft hackles and dries all produced as long as they were small (size 18ish) and dark.
We saw plenty of wildlife too. Deer, eagles, geese, otters, muskrat plus plenty of birds. The warm weather had the mosquitoes out…they were not too bad but they were a little sneaky!
This Fish A Long was a great way to kick of spring fishing. Thanks to everyone who made the trip!
This month marks six years as your club President. I’ve been having a great time running the club and going to all the Fish A Longs. This year, steelhead fishing has been pretty good when the weather cooperates. Now we are finally having good, stable weather and it’s time to get out there and fish hard!
We’ll have a regular meeting Tuesday, March 17th. George Krumm will be talking about the Pacific Salmon Flyfishing Grand Slam: all five species of Pacific salmon on a fly in a single day! It’s a very original subject that’s interesting and informative.
March signals the beginning of spring and many local fisheries are waking up and turning on. Trout in our local lakes get active as water temperatures rise from the low 40’s to the high 40’s. March is the best month for trophy steelhead so keep flinging flies with your spey rod.
Our March 21st Fish A Long will be on the Crooked River (pic above from the Crooked). This has always been a good destination but we haven’t been able to go since May 2022 and I’m excited to go back! Several of us will be camping. If you can come a little early we’ll have our traditional Mexican dinner in Prineville on Friday night.
Here is another reminder that Marty & Mia Sheppard of Little Creek Outfitters are resurrecting the Sandy River Spey Clave. Mark your calendars for April 24th & 25th at Oxbow Park.
Here’s some other timely info: If you like fishing the Justesen Ranch Lakes, they are ice free and fishing very well. Also, the Clark-Skamania Fly Fishers is having their Annual Fundraising Banquet, “A Flyfisher’s Folly”, on March 28 at the Black Pearl on the Columbia, 56 S 1st Street in Washougal.
For several years now we have been posting monthly fishing reports. Looking back on them is a fun way to get ideas for local fly-fishing opportunities currently happening or coming up. Type “March” or “April” 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!
