We’ve had some very nice weather this spring which as created good water conditions on both streams and lakes. Mostly I’ve been hitting the OFC lakes, which have had some hot bites as the water warms. Stream fishing has been productive too for both trout and steelhead.
Our April 25th Fish A Long will be at Schmedeke Pond. We’ve been there several times in April and fishing has always been good. In the past there was a great hatch of bomber midges coming off. Everyone had a great time and some big fish were caught. Heres a link to that report to whet your appetite.
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!
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!
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!
Happy New Year! Hope everyone was able to enjoy good holiday festivities plus have some new fishing stuff to try out.
I’m looking forward to the New Year and have a couple “fishing resolutions” to share. First and most importantly is to fish more this winter, specifically at the OFC ponds and local steelhead rivers. Next is to continue to improve our Fish A Longs calendar. Fishing opportunities continue to change over the years and it’s important to change with them.
Our January 20th meeting will feature a run down of our planned Fish A Longs for the coming year. While we have a schedule, it’s not set in stone so if you have any ideas let me know (call/email/text) so we can discuss them at the next meeting.
We won’t have a Fish A Long this month as I will be out of town. However, steelhead reports are MUCH better than last year so if the water conditions are OK, get out there! We will have a steelhead school for our February 21st Fish A Long. The pic above is from a steelhead Fish A Long several years ago.
Big news: I’m going to be moving at the end of 2026 so we will need a new club president. I’ve been the club president since March of 2020, it’s been fun and rewarding! If you’re interested in talking about this let me know.
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. Type the word January or February in the search box and you’ll get all the past reports for that month.
It’s time to think about paying your 2026 membership dues if you haven’t already. Here is the membership link. If you participate in the club I will guarantee you’ll get a solid value for the $35 you pay to be a member.
January is a great month to get good deals after Christmas so get out to your local fly shop buy all the stuff that Santa forgot. Good fishing!
Hope everyone enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving and was able to get out and do some fishing with friends. Fishing last month was pretty good as you’ll see when the November fishing reports come out next week.
It’s time to think about paying your 2026 membership fee. However, if you joined as a new member in the second half of 2025 it will be good for 2026 too; we are on the honor system so please let me know. Here is the membership link. If you participate in the club I will guarantee you’ll get a solid value for the $35 you pay to be a member.
I’m looking for input on the 2026 Fish A Longs schedule. With the warming trends fishing opportunities are changing. Check out the 2026 fish a longs schedule. The dates for 2026 have been updated so you can mark your calendars. You’ll notice some fish a longs have “TBD” in front of several choices; take a look and let me know your preferences or if you’d like to see any changes.
December is shaping up to be decent fishing month. My crystal ball says the most dependable local fishing will be at the Oregon Fishing Club ponds for trout, especially after a warming trend (the pic above is me with a recent trout from an OFC lake). The key to winter fishing is to be ready when a good weather window presents itself. Several coastal streams are already producing steelhead plus the Clackamas and Sandy get random shots of late summer and early winter steelhead this time of year, plus some late running native 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 or January 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 local fly shops and sporting goods stores.
The transition from fall to winter is happened fast this year; one week I’m using sunscreen, the next I’m bundled up and raking leaves!
Our November 18th meeting at High Rocks will feature Garrett Lesko giving a tying demonstration. As always, social hour starts at 6pm and the program at 7pm.
With shorter days and holiday season upon us we will have the Fish A Long early on November 8th so it doesn’t conflict with anyone’s Thanksgiving plans. Once again we will be at Beavertail Campground on the Deschutes River. Several of us usually go a few days early and camp out. It can be chilly so bring warm clothes and some extra firewood.
With the last Fish A Long of 2025 rapidly approaching, its time to start thinking about next years Fish A Longs. I’m looking for input. Here’s a rundown of our past trips to give you some ideas:
January: this is a “weather permitting” month. When the weather cooperates, we’ve had a combination Spey Casting/sit in a warm cabin and talk fishing event at my place on the Sandy River.
February: If the January weather is bad, we’ve moved Spey Casting to February. We’ve also had good times at an OFC Lake if we get some warm weather and also camped out at the Crooked River.
March: in years past we used to always head to the Crooked River in March but water conditions have not been favorable the last several years. That said, I’m always ready to go back! Other good options are the Deschutes at Harpam Flats or an OFC Lake.
April: The last few years Schmedeke Lake has been the place to go in April.
May: There are lots of good options with Harriett Lake, the Rainier Lakes, Timothy Lake and the ever popular Crooked River being top contenders.
June: this is the time for our every popular Central Oregon Lakes location. We also had a really good time at Bonneville Dam for Shad.
July: on Mt Hood, Clear Lake and Harriett Lake fish well. The Upper Clackamas River is also good.
September: the Metolius River has been our go-to. Another good option are coastal cutthroat’s on the Wilson or Trask rivers. The last few years the water has been to low and warm.
October & November: this is prime time for the Deschutes at Beavertail.
Several members have asked about Chum salmon fishing on the coast. We used to always go there in November but the unpredictable fall rains or droughts prompted too many cancellations the last 7 years; you’ll notice the report link is from 2017. That said, if you want to catch one of these bruisers in the fly the best option is to head over as close to the November 15th season closure as you can and be ready for crowds. For more info hit one of our local shops or type “Chum Salmon” in the search box to get our past reports and fly patterns.
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 “November” or “December” in the Clackamas Fly Fishers website search box you’ll get all the past reports for that month.
Summer is officially over and the cooler days of fall are upon us. These are some of the best times to spend on the water and CFF has some great Fish A Longs coming up.
Our October 21st meeting is at High Rocks. Social hour starts at 6pm and the program at 7pm. Our speaker will be Joe Warren. He’ll be talking about Rufus Woods Reservoir in northern Washington. It’s famous for its Triploid Rainbow trout fishing. Joe has 20 years experience fly fishing there and I had a great trip up there with Joe earlier this year. It will be a great presentation you won’t want to miss.
This months October 25th Fish A Long will be at Beavertail Campground on the Deschutes River. It’s one of our most popular Fish A Longs. It’s become a tradition that several of us go a few days early, camp out and have a steak BBQ. Here’s a link to last years report. Hope to see you there!
Another fishing opportunity to note is Justensen Ranch Lakes will be opening to fishing on October 8th. Many of us have fished there and we had a great fish a long there several years ago.
It’s time for someone to think about becoming the new club president. I’ve been the club president since March of 2020 and can continue for another year or two, but not forever. If you’re interested in talking about this let me know. Naturally there are some obligations but it’s also a lot of fun plus has good perks too.
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 “October” or “November” in the Clackamas Fly Fishers website search box you’ll get all the past reports for that month.
Hope everyone has been enjoying summer! In spite of the occasionally very hot weather there have been some outstanding fishing opportunities; Willamette bass & carp, trout in the lakes & streams of Mt Hood and of course trout & steelhead on the Deschutes.
August is a “bye” month as many are on vacation or simply can’t make it with all the things on their calendars. Thus, our next meeting will be September 16th.
It’s a good place to point out September, October and November are our most popular and productive Fish A Longs. (click the link for the schedule & make plans to attend!)
While we don’t have an “official” fish a long in August doesn’t mean we don’t have some fishing plans in the works. For a couple months we’ve been talking about meeting in Coeur D Alene in north Idaho during the first half of the month to fish the local rivers there. If you are interested in this let me know.
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 “August” or “September” and you’ll get all the past reports for that month.
If there is anything you want to see on our blog, shoot me an email and let me know.
Every year it seems like summer will never get here but once it does it starts flying by! I find myself scrambling to squeeze in all the things I wanted to do once the weather gets nice. This summer I have some good fly fishing plans and hope you do too! These include hitting the Pacific Ocean for Rockfish to chasing trout in Oregon and beyond.
Our July 15th meeting at High Rocks will feature the always popular Garrett Lesko. His presentation will focus on the Crooked River. It’s one of our most popular fisheries that experienced a die off several years ago due to extremely low water but good fishing has returned and it’s time to get re-aquanted!
The July 19th Fish A Long will be on a Mt Hood Lake, most likely Harriet Lake as it’s due to be stocked the week before the Fish A Long. Several of us will be camping out a day or two before. Contact me if you’d like more info on our camping plans.
We have years of fishing reports logged on our website. Looking back on them is a fun way to get ideas for local fly fishing opportunities currently happening or coming up. Type “July” or “August” 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!
Hope everyone has been having a good spring. I just returned from a fun trip to Rufus Woods Lake in northeastern Washington. It’s been on my bucket list for a while and didn’t disappoint! The fishing was fantastic and the weather was perfect.
Our speaker for the June17th meeting will be from Northwest Fly Fishing Outfitters. The presentation will be on fly fishing opportunities in the Mt Hood National Forest; it’s in our backyard and has lots of untapped potential.
We have a GREAT Fish A Long lined up this month. Chris B has generously offered to host a multi day fish a long at his place between Sunriver and LaPine. I am sending an email out with the details; heres a link to the 2024 report.
This coming weekend is Free Fishing Weekend in Washington. Several years ago we had a Fish A Long on the Washington side of Bonneville Dam for Shad. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend but contact me for details (gear, flies & a fishing map). The water level looks good this year!
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 “June” or “July” 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!
