Chopaka Lake Hosts - TBD
The date is tentative. Registration will be enabled when we have an outing host.
This trip is designed to hit the peak of trout activity in this remote lake in Okanogan country. Chopaka Lake is where fly fishermen belong, and chironomid soakers put down roots. It just may be the hottest Callibaetis mayfly lake in the state. Located on a distant walled-in funnel at just under 3,000 feet elevation above the Sinlahekin Valley, Chopaka Lake is 148.8 acres of trout water squeezed into a narrow 1½ mile-long ladle. Depths in the southern half, the handle end, average less than 10 feet and support fertile nests of bottom vegetation that grow incredible insect fodder, especially mayfly nymphs. The bowl of the ladle is on the north end where the lake bottom plunges to more than 70 feet. A floating device is necessary to fish for the really large rainbows that cruise the lake.
WA DNR has a no fee campground with 2 vault toilets, questionable potable water, and a number of campsites with picnic tables. A few of the picnic tables have wooden canopies. You should have your WA Discovery Pass or WA DNR Pass with you for this campground.
The federal BLM has a no fee campground with 8 campsites with campfire rings and a vault toilet just past the DNR campground. There has been camping outside of the defined campsites in the BLM campground area.
NFA usually establishes itself in the DNR campground.
What to Bring for Fishing:
What to Bring for Camping:
Food & Beverages:
Directions:
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.
Peter Maunsell will be hosting this multi-day float on Oregon’s John Day River for bass fishing. Expect to catch dozens of fish each day. This is one of Oregon’s most spectacular rivers. The second longest undammed river in the United States.
The fee will cover food and the permit. The cost of shuttles ($200 to $250 per vehicle) will be in addition. Contact Peter for shuttle information. Carpooling is a good option
The plan is to leave Seattle on Monday June 23rd and drive to Condon, OR. On Tuesday June 24th , the group will drive to the Clarno Bridge to put-in. Shuttles are expensive and limited so carpooling is a good option. We will set up all of the boats and gear and push off once we all are ready. After spending 4 nights on the river the group will take out on Saturday June 28th at the Cottonwood Bridge.
This is a 69 mile float. The group will be required to stay together until after we are through the Clarno rapid (eight miles from the put in). There is a good portage there for those who don't want to run a class three rapid. Each day we will be covering around 15 miles. The river flow is forecast to be around 1,200 cfs. We will be getting up with the sun and trying to get on the river as early as we can so that miles can be covered and fishing enjoyed early before the (sometimes) afternoon winds come up. I will be trying to arrive in our camp each day in the early afternoon.
You will want bass flies and lots of them: poppers, pretty ones, ugly ones, and even uglier ones. You will be casting into the foam lines and against the cliff faces. Hundred plus fish days are going to tear those flies apart.
You should pack very lightly. While it is important to have a warm (preferably stuff-able) jacket and a good rain jacket because it can get cold in the desert nights the days will usually be hot. In addition to the river clothes and wading shoes that I wear I bring my foul weather gear, one extra shirt, one extra pants, one extra underwear, camp sandals, a quick dry towel and my hygiene kit. I am usually swimming every day and rinse out my cloths when I do. My camp gear includes a lightweight cot, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, heavy duty space blanket (doubles as something to keep my feet clean getting in and out of bed and a rain shelter), a folding chair and a headlight. Everything is packed into three very small dry bags.
What to Bring for Fishing & Rafting:
Put-in & Take-out Logistics & Fees:
Put in: The group will meet in Condon, OR. on 6/23 at 5:00 p.m. at the Condon Motel parking lot to discuss the shuttle and put-in logistics. Lodging on 6/23 is available at the Condon Motel or the Condon Hotel. You need to make your own reservations. Camping is also available in the area.
Take-out: The take-out on June 28th will be at the Cottonwood Campground. All of the equipment and boats, including the gear boats, will need to be cleaned and packed before anyone departs. Plan on being on the road at 4:30 p.m. and getting back to Seattle at 10:00 p.m.
FEES: The fee will cover food while on the river. It will not cover meals while driving to and from Oregon nor dinner while in Condon.
Getting There:
Cancellation Deadline: 2 weeks before the outing. If you need to cancel, please contact the Outing Host(s). There will be no refunds after the cancellation deadline Unless there is another member on the waitlist who can attend.
The group will meet in Condon, OR on 6/23 at 5:00 at the Condon Motel parking lot to discuss the shuttle and put-in logistics. Lodging on 6/23 is available at the Condon Motel or the Condon Hotel. You need to make your own reservations. Camping is also available in the area.
Take out will be at the Cottonwood Campground. All of the equipment and boats, including the gear boats, will need to be cleaned and packed before anyone departs. Plan on being on the road ~3:00 pm and getting back to Seattle ~10:00 pm.
Here are pictures from a previous outing.
Hosts: Susanne Staats and Brett Schormann
*** This outing requires a minimum of 10 people (including hosts). If less than 10 people sign up, the outing will be cancelled ***
The park sits at the foot of Dry Falls, just three miles west of Coulee City in Grant County. There are many lakes available for fishing, both inside and outside the park Click on the links below to learn more about the fishing available in each lake.
There are hiking trails, a swimming beach, and a mini-golf course for those who don't fish. The Dry Fall Visitor Center is located nearby, and the Lake Lenore Caves are a 10-minute drive from the park.
Our club has reserved sites 56, 57, and 50 in Area C for tent camping only. Each site can accommodate three tents, with a maximum of eight people per site. If you wish to bring your van, camper, trailer, or RV, please reserve a site directly through the Washington Parks website, Washington Going To Camp Reservations, or call (509) 632-5583.
The outing fee only covers dinners on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, as well as coffee on Wednesday and Thursday.
• Please bring your own food for breakfast and lunch.
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel, please log into your registration for the outing event and cancel it online. If you cancel on or before June 20th, you will receive a credit. If you cancel after June 20th, you will not be refunded.
Outing Coordinator: Wayne Balsiger
This outing has been arranged with the Rock Island Fish Camp. All food and lodging is included in the price. We told them that we would have a maximum of 16 people. The cost is ~$950 (US). The exact RIFC cost depends on the exchange rate and will be determined in late May. A $210 deposit is required at the time of registration. The balance is due when we send an email in early June when we know the amount. You may pay the $210 via credit card. The balance can be paid via check or credit card, plus covering the card fees.
June 1 is also the cancellation date. After that point, there is no refund unless you can find someone to take your place. Much of the information on their website is reproduced below. Members who have been there before include Wytold Lebing, Peter Maunsell, Errol Flagor, Bill Gibson, Wayne Balsiger, Walt Shields, and Peter Rubenstein.
Although this is technically a no-host outing, Wayne Balsiger 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 some remote walk-in lakes are only float-tube fishable. Take your tube and enjoy the day. Four lakes 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. Rock Island has electric motors available for rent at $10 a day.
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! No coarse fish are in the lakes—the trout range from pan size to 5 lbs. Fish up to 7 lbs have been caught. There may be some flies available at the lodge.
Accommodations:
Rock Island Lake Fishing Camp has six cozy log cabins, each with 3 – 5 beds. All are fully equipped for housekeeping, with propane cooktops, wood stoves, towels, cooking and 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 serves hearty, home-cooked meals in the cozy lodge. If you have any special dietary needs or restrictions, please let Wayne know when you make your reservation. They will do their best to accommodate you.
You will need to bring:
To make your trip more enjoyable, you should bring:
Outing Hosts: Dave Campbell and Jim Watson
Eglon Park provides beach access for launching small watercraft, shore fishing, a restroom, and a picnic table. The Edmonds/Kingston ferry ride takes about an hour, while the drive from Kingston to Eglon takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Follow SR 104 from Kingston, then turn right onto Hansville Road and continue for a few miles. Finally, turn right onto Eglon Road.
We plan to start fishing for pink and coho salmon around noon on the incoming tide. Low tide is at 12:43 PM with a height of 0.9 feet. Wade the flats south of the park all the way to Rose Point, or launch your watercraft at the park. Over 7 million pink salmon are expected to return to Puget Sound this year. This is our chance to catch a salmon from the beach.
Gear: 6 to 8 wt rod, floating or slow-sinking line, 8- to 10-pound tippet, and a license (this includes a fishing license and salmon punch card).
Flies: Baitfish patterns, including some with pink coloring.
Waders, a sun hat, polarized sunglasses, and a stripping basket if you like. Don't forget lunch and water.
Outing Hosts - Carol Ferrera Johnson, Susanne Staats and Brett Schormann,
NFA member Carol Ferrera has graciously offered to host an outing at her property on the Skagit River. Carol's property is located in Cape Horn in Concrete (on the Skagit River several miles below the Dalles Bridge). There is good wading access right from the property. The outing should provide an opportunity to catch pink salmon.
Meet at Carol's property at 11:00 AM. The property features a covered outdoor seating area, a fire pit, and ample parking space. In the late afternoon, the hosts will provide grilled hot dogs and potato salad.
What to Bring
Bring your beverages (and ice chest to keep cold)
Bring a snack or side dish to share
·Washington State fishing license
PFD recommended for wading and wading staff (Skagit is rocky)
Fishing gear
Folding chair
An ice chest and ice if you plan to take fish home
Skagit River Rules
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.
Outing Hosts - Peter Maunsell and Scott Keenholts
The Lower Yakima Canyon, from Wilson Creek to Roza Dam, offers more than 70 miles of relatively easily floating. NFA will set up camp at the Big Pines Campground on the river. Peter Maunsell will get there early and will text you where he is located. 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
Note: If fewer than ten members are registered one week before the outing, it will be canceled.
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 hotel rooms for rent as well.as cabins, RV hookup sites, tent sites, and a group site. Their Cafe opens at 7am and is open I think until 1pm. The evening dinner restaurant is only open Thursday trough Sunday. 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 22nd 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.
