We had a big turnout for our March Fish A Long at Schmedeke Pond. Luck was with us as the great weather on Saturday was sandwiched between rainy days. The bite ended up being a little slow but everyone got fish and nice fish to boot!

Ken Kelley had a sucessful first outing with his new float tube, topping it off by catching his first fish on a fly he tied himself!

My float tube sprung a leak along the seam and couldn’t be patched so I ended up fishing off the bank and did OK. Several members joined me and we all got fish. Later that night we took advantage of the good weather and enjoyed our first campfire of the season.

Thanks to everyone for coming and making this Fish A Long a success!

We are probably all glad to put this February behind us; it’s been one cold and rainy month that’s made fishing challenging.

In spite of the weather some of us still had to get in some fishing time. Pictures are first with the report below.

From Rich Harvey, Dave Hopkins and Dave Kilhefner: We attended an OFC work party at Howell Ponds. Afterwards, we had lunch and they stocked the lake. Fishing was slow so we headed over to Schmedeke Pond, which had also just been stocked. The fish were cooperative and well all landed several nice fish. Rich got a couple real pigs on a chironomid.

From Mike Shiiki: Drove up to Harriett Lake and the roads via Hwy 224 were clear. It was dumping rain but fished a couple hours and landed about 10 browns. Most were smallish but had one 16” that took a black/red half wit leech fished with an intermediate line.

From Craig Kerschen: Managed an afternoon on the D between the cold and high water. Nice quiet winter fishing above Maupin. BWO were out but only saw one fishing rise.

From Ed Rabinowe: All I’ve done in the last month is try to stay out of the rain and mud on my farm!

From Ken Kelley: caught a beautiful & healthy Cutthroat while steelhead fishing on a coastal stream.

From Mark Rasmussen: Landed one decent brown on the Provo River on a size 22 Midge emerger. My brother in law got many more & larger fish euro nymphing.  

Thanks to everyone for contributing your reports this month!

This month marks five 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 18th. George Krumm will be talking about float tube trout fishing in the local lakes around Anchorage, Alaska. It’s a very original subject that’s interesting and informative. Also, if you ordered a float tube rod holder he’ll be bringing them to the meeting.

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. If anyone wants to get out and chase some steelhead this month I’m an easy mark.

Our March 22nd Fish A Long will be on the Crooked River. 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 some good news: Marty & Mia Sheppard of Little Creek Outfitters are resurrecting the Sandy River Spey Clave. Mark your calendars for May 9^th & 10^th at Oxbow Park.

The Justesen Ranch Lakes are ice free and fishing very well. Also, 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!

Dave Kilhefner

The cold weather that rolled in put a damper on our fishing efforts but a few of us managed to get out and make some good things happen. Pictures are first with the report below.

From Brian Dawson: A beautiful Chilean Chinook from the Rio Serrano caught by my wife.

From Chris Brehm: Brother Stevie said the Crooked was lights out so we headed out on a sunny but frosty morning. The river was running about 100 cfs. Stevie got busy catching Whitefish doubles while I found a good spot for Rainbows; the largest came on a small black leech. We caught our fill up at Big Bend then decided to go downstream to Palisades. Stevie continued to hammer the Whitefish. While looking for more rainbows I hooked a steelhead. My tippet seemed way too light, so I carefully played the fish for about 20 minutes while yelling for Stevie to come back, help net it and try to get a picture. We got a quick shot as it flipped out of my net. It had taken about a size 16 red and green euro nymph. Stevie starts casting to where I hooked that steelhead and immediately gets a grab that broke off his tippet. I cast back to that spot and a few casts later hooked another one. Apparently there are a few hundred Steelhead in the Crooked system. These had been trapped below the dams and released into Lake Billy Chinook.

From Dave Doble: Purchased my first drift boat in December and got out on my first run on the Clackamas in January. No fish were seen. Conditions were low and clear, but the experience was great and has opened up so many opportunities!! (congrats Dave!)

From George Krumm: Caught this Sandy River buck on New Year’s Day on gear (soft bead). The pic was taken as we were transferring it into the brood stock tank.

From Jan Jacobs: Floated the North Fork of the Nehalem with Gil Muhleman and caught this nice hatchery steelhead.

From Dave Kilhefner: havent been getting out much in the cold weather. Have regularly been seeing Sea Lions down by Milwaukie chasing sturgeon (pictured) and salmon.

Thanks to everyone for contributing reports this month!

We’ve been having a longer than normal cold snap the last couple weeks and it looks like it will continue for a while. This cold weather & resulting plummeting water temperatures have shut down the fishing in our local waters. For a while at least, we have fly tying weather!

Since we are stuck with Fly Tying weather, this month’s meeting will focus on Fly Tying. Bring your fly-tying stuff to do some tying or feel free to watch our tyers & ask questions. We’ve done this before and it’s a fun meeting!

As we discussed at last month’s meeting, the location for our February 22^nd Fish A Long is weather dependent, thus we are still waiting to see what our best prospect will be. Hopefully we’ll get some warmer weather to spark the bite at one of the OFC trout ponds.

Here is some good news: Marty & Mia Sheppard of Little Creek Outfitters are resurrecting the Sandy River Spey Clave. Mark your calendars for May 9^th & 10^th 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