2024 Events & Outings
DISCLAIMER
THE EVENTS & OUTINGS 2024 PAGE IS UNDER ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION. WHEN EACH EVENT HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION THIS HEADER WILL BE REMOVED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
Crooked River Bonanza
Fish Master: Stevie Brehm
Contact: stevie_b@comcast.com, 541.521.6765
Overview: The Wild and Scenic Crooked River is a small tailwater know for it's abundant fish and varied bug populations. Just east of Bend, the Crooked flows out of Bowman Dam and through 12 miles of beautiful rimrock canyon. Join us May 3-5 for riverside camping, or stay nearby in Prineville, Redmond or Bend.
The fishing: Open year round, the Crooked follows the Central Zone stream regulations...flies and lures only, no bait. All wade fishing, it's known for having mostly small fish and there are lots of wild redband trout and mountain whitefish in the 6-12 inch range. The river is also known for it's turbidity, often looking cloudy as it's nutrient rich water flows from Prineville Reservoir usually around 250 cfs. Close to Bend, the Crooked can get crowded so expect to see other flyfishers.
This is a great river for newer flyfishers. Easy to read the water, not many bushes in your back-cast and safe wading...though a wading staff is recommended due to slippery footing. Shallow indicator nymphing and euro techniques produce the most hook-ups, and dry fly hatches are varied and profuse. A list of recommended flies will be provided later but small midge, mayfly, caddis and scud patterns are great.
Gear recommendation: A four or five weight rod with a floating line is perfect or bring your light euro set-up. Waders, wading staff and felt-soled boots will be best.
The camping: There are abundant BLM campsites along the river all first come first served with picnic tables, pit toilets, fire rings and no water. Fishmaster Stevie and wife Gail will be at Palisades Campground fifteen miles south of Prineville on Hwy 27.
Directions from Eugene: A 3 hour drive will take you up the McKenzie, over to Sisters, through Redmond to Prineville. Stock up in Prineville for last minute supplies and water. Take Hwy 27 south 15 miles to Palisades Campground. If you stay in Bend it's a 45 minute drive. Note: don't go to "Crooked River Campground" it's not nearby.
Below are some informational links. The is a ton of info about the Crooked online, and our club has had several speakers give presentations on this desert gem.
Blitzen River Rendezvous
Fish Master: Greg Williams
Contact: gregoryw@comcast.net, 541.729.1122
Cleawox Classic
Fish Master: Carolyn Mason
Contact: wonderwoman66@gmail.com, 541.521.2895
Join me at Cleawox Lake to start the club’s outing season off with a bang! The lake will be stocked twice before the outing by ODFW with over 5,000 rainbow trout and an additional 221 “trophy sized” trout. Plan on taking home a limit, sharing with the Raptor Center, or returning them to the lake. The outing is planned for after Free Fishing Weekend (2/17-18) to avoid the masses.
Bring your boat, float tube, kayak, or fling flies from the shore or nearby dock. This early in the season, fish tend to school near the boat ramp hole and adjacent east side. Trolling and stripping seem to work best, but a leech or nymph under an indicator will get the job done, too. I recommend any fly that catches fish such as a wooly bugger (black or olive), Hale Bopp, and Bumstead’s favorite, a sparse orange seal bugger. If I'm going to use an indicator, I’ll put on a balanced leech or a zebra midge or other non descript nymph. But hey, I don't have much patience to watch a bobber so you’ll likely find me using the “kick and strip” method!
Our lunch for the day will be chili and cornbread with all the fixin’s. Plan to get your bowl filled around 1:00 pm. I'm hoping to get the lodge and patio (with attached restrooms) again which has some picnic tables and covered area in case of rain. Don't forget to bring a camp chair to sit in and relax.
You’ll need your 2024 angling license and an Oregon State Park pass for day use/parking ($5). A machine to purchase said pass is located in the parking lot to the west of the day use/boat ramp area. If you want to launch a kick boat you can do so from the east parking lot or the northwest parking area (if open) but you’ll have to walk it down to the lake. The boat launch is always a safe and easy bet.
Please RSVP to your Fish Master, Carolyn, or sign up after buying me a beer at the January club meeting. In addition to the fact that you’re coming, I’ll need to know these things:
are you bring a boat and do you have room for another member, or
are you partnered up with another member (if so, who)
would you like a seat in another member’s boat
will you be joining us for lunch
do you have any questions
