Outing Host: TBD
Date is tentative and registration will be enabled when date becomes available.
Big bushy dry flies are of special interest to the large (up to 20 inches) cutthroat that live in the Methow River. Nymphs will also tempt these cutthroat and the healthy rainbow population. The Methow is a great river to float: fishing is allowed from the boat. Other flowing water venues are the Twisp River and the Chewuck River; both best suited for wading. For lake fishermen, there is Big Twin Lake, located at our campsite. Other nearby lakes include Pearrygin Lake and Patterson Lake. For the non-fishers, there is swimming, hiking, biking, shopping (Twisp's Saturday farmers market and cowboy town Winthrop), and sightseeing (Grand Coulee Dam).
We are camping at Big Twin Lake Campground located at 210 Twin Lakes Road, Winthrop. Big Twin Lake Campground The camping fees are $30.00/night plus tax for 1 tent, up to 2 people, 1 vehicle. Children under 18 are free. Our group campsite is OF11 and OF12. When entering the campground, stop at the office and let them know you are with Northwest Fly Anglers group. Pay camping fees and proceed to the group site. If you want a trailer hook up, please contact Big Twin Lake Resort directly (tele. 509-996-2650) and reserve a site ahead of time. Hook up sites are $50.00/night plus tax.
What to Bring for Fishing:
What to Bring for Camping:
Directions: Directions to Big Twin Lake Campground
Host - Matt Moore
Fishing the salt from the beach is one of the fastest growing facets of fly fishing because Puget Sound is blessed with so many miles of beach and so many willing fish. This year the NFA will meet on Camano Island in the early fall. Utsalady Bay will be the place where we will fish for feisty sea-run cutthroat.
What to Bring for Fishing :
Food & Beverages:
Directions:
Directions will be provided to registered attendees prior to the outing. Matt would like to talk with everyone a week before the outing to find out what folks would like to do, time, fishing and food.
This outing has been arranged with the Rock Island Fish Camp. All food and lodging is included in the price. We have told them that we will have a maximum of 15 people. The cost is ~$1000 (US). The exact RIFC cost depends on the exchange rate and will be determined in the early summer. A $200 deposit is required at the time of registration. Balance is due no later than 45 days before the start of the trip (July 1, 2024). July 1 is also the cancellation date. Beyond that point there is no refund unless you can get somebody to take your place. Much of the information on their website is reproduced below. Members who have been there before including Wytold Lebing, Peter Maunsell, Walt Shields, and Peter Rubenstein.
Although this is technically a no host outing, Wytold Lebing will act as coordinator and contact point with the RIFC staff. Generally, people have carpooled with other members. The drive can be done in one day.
The Lakes: Rock Island Lake is located on B.C.'s famed Nehalliston Plateau. Elevation - 4,200 ft. Some of our walk-in lakes are 5,000 ft. - 5,500 ft. The lakes vary in depth from deep volcanic holes to shallow beaver dams. They differ in water, from clear to marl bottoms, to dark tea colored lily pad ponds.
Most of the lakes have boats on them, but there are some remote walk-in lakes that are only float-tube fishable. Take your tube and enjoy the day. There are also four lakes that are easily accessed from camp, within a fifteen minute walk or short row. Most of our outer lakes are road accessible, some with a drive and walk.
The Fish: All the lakes have only one species "The Famous Wild Kamloops Trout". You have to hook one to know why they are called Wild. They will dance for you! There are no coarse fish in the lakes. The trout range from pan size to 5 lbs, Fish up to 7 lbs have been caught. There is a good selection of flies that work on the Rock Island Lake at the lodge
Accommodations:
There are six cozy log cabins at Rock Island Lake Fishing Camp. All are fully equipped for housekeeping with propane cook tops, wood stoves, towels, cooking & eating utensils and cold running water. Firewood and kindling are at your door. There is an ample supply of ice for your portable coolers. Showers, flush toilets and hot water are all centrally located.
Home Cooked Meals:
Jeannie provides hearty home cooked meals in the cozy lodge. If you have any special dietary needs or restrictions, please let them know at the time of reservation. They will do their best to accommodate you.
You will need to bring:
To make your trip more enjoyable you should bring:
Clark Fork Hosts - Carl & Maura Johnson
Is 430 miles, one way, a long way to go for a weekend of fishing? It depends on where you are going and whom you are going to be with when you arrive. Many people come from all over the world to fish in Montana. We only have to cross eastern Washington and the panhandle of Idaho to get there. Once you arrive in Superior, MT (approximately an 8 hour drive from Seattle), you will be fishing with fellow NFA members and will be the guests of Carl and Maura Johnson.
Carl has a drift boat plus a big outdoor gas grill and he knows how to use it. Maura is a great cook. Tenting is on the Johnson's large lawn which has the softest green grass in the neighborhood. There is a big porch with chairs and lots of shade trees. The list of amenities goes on and on. Most of us will float the river but there are places to bank fish.
The outing report for last years outing may be found in the October 2023 Flypaper.
Cancellation Deadline: Deadline for cancellation is 8:00 p.m. the Sunday before the outing. If you need to cancel, please contact the Outing Host(s). There will be no refunds after the cancellation deadline.
Outing Hosts - Wayne Balsiger & Russ Shropshire
Hop over Hoodoo Pass directly from the NFA's Clark Fork, Montana outing and descend - and fish the North Fork of the Clearwater River down to the river's confluence with Kelly Creek. Wade fish Kelly Creek and all the nearby world-class flyfishing streams, including Moose and Cayuse Creeks. All have excellent stream access - from some campgrounds, you can go right out to wade the river. Enjoy 50 miles of catch and release only stream from which to choose, with innummerable deep holes holding the largest fish. Or fish above or below and in the inviting stream riffles. Do not miss this exceptional fishery offering arguably the very best Westslope Cutthroat trout fly fishing in the PNW, if not the earth. Find your Shangri-La and catch up to 24-inch trout that rise to a Caddis dry fly. Or nymph in mid-day bright sunshine with weighted flies that the host will reveal to those who attend.
Camping: Camping will be at the Kelly Forks Campground, managed by the USDA Forest Service. The campground has 14 camp site, a group camping area, potable water, and pit toilets. Camp sites are $10 per night (not included in the outing fee). All camping is first-come, first-serve. No reservations are available.
Getting There:Kelly Forks Campground is 54 miles (approximately 1.5 hours) from Superior, MT. Detailed directions are available from Google Maps and other similar navigation applications.
Cancellation Deadline:
Cancellation deadline is 8:00 p.m. on September 1st. If you need to cancel, contact the Outing Host(s). No refunds will be issued after the cancellation deadline.
Outing Hosts - Peter Maunsell and TBD
The Lower Yakima Canyon, from Wilson Creek to Roza Dam, offers more than 20 miles of relatively easily floating. NFA will set up camp at either the Big Pines Campground or newly protected river front property, both right on the river. This is sagebrush country, a basalt and desert landscape home to Bighorn sheep, deer, and plentiful hatches of insects.
Your primary catch will be trout and whitefish. Almost all of the trout are rainbows. Many of our group will be floating from any of the several launch sites downstream to the Big Pines campground or from the Big Pines campground down to the Roza impoundment. If you don’t have a boat there is easy access via numerous pullouts on Canyon Road running alongside the river, state route WA-821. In the spring and at the end of the summer through the fall, wading is not difficult, When the river runs high during the summer due to upstream releases for irrigation, wading is more difficult.
Outing Host - Scott Keenholts
Registration Fee: $50/per person
Our campground will be in the small town of Lowell, 340 miles east of Seattle at Three Rivers Campground located right where the Lochsa and Selway Rivers converge. Just 20 miles west is the convergence of the South and Middle Forks of the Clearwater River in the town of Kooskia. They have cabins, RV hookup sites, tent sites, and a group site. The morning Cafe is open every morning, mercantile store, and dinner restaurant Thur-Sun only. Attendees will need to call Three Rivers Resort direct and make their personal reservations for whatever days they want.
Native cutthroat and bull trout are the primary catch, taking Mayflies, Caddis or Grasshoppers. You need a well stocked fly box to cover all of these rivers. Wading will be easy on the Selway and Lochsa. Boats and pontoons can be used on the Clearwater. There are many tributaries worthy of fishing as well. Three Rivers Campground has full facilities for comfortable tent camping as well as RV dry sites. Gas up in Kooskia before driving 20 miles to Lowell as there are no facilities available in Lowell.
Cancellation Deadline: Because this outing requires more extensive logistical efforts, the deadline for cancellation is 8:00 p.m. September 21st; 3 weeks prior to the outing. If you need to cancel, please contact the Outing Host. There will be no refunds after the cancellation deadline.
Outing Host - Peter Maunsell
