Preston Singletary will be the speaker at the June 16th member meeting. His program will be a review of the native range of the coastal cutthroat and the life histories of the semi-anadromous forms and will discuss the saltwater fishery in Puget Sound. He will then move on to information about fishing for them in rivers and streams. 

Preston has been a department editor for Flyfishing and Tying Journal, and he still writes articles for various fly fishing magazines. If you are interest in fishing for coastal cutthroat then this is an evening you will want to spend at Haller Lake Community Center.

Sitting on my pontoon boat pondering a rather slow morning of fishing when I heard the unmistakable slurp of a trout grabbing a fly off the surface of the water. I turned to see the ripple rings expanding from the edge of the reeds about 15 yards away from where I was floating. I flipped a damsel nymph toward the spot and didn’t need to wait very long before the indicator suddenly disappeared and a fought a 16”or 17” to the net. As I unhooked the ‘bow I kept thinking about how darn broad backed the fish was.There were more rises and I found myself hooked into a bigger rainbow that must have thought it was a steelhead based on the three strong runs it made. This fish was even bigger than the first.

But that’s fishing on Chopaka Lake – a steady supply of big rainbows and dependable hatches to get the trout feeding. Nestled into Chopaka Mountain at an altitude of 3000’, it’s one of two “Fly Fishing Only” lakes located in Okanogan County.With ample aquatic insects and virtually no other species of fish to compete with, the trout grow big and fat. Chopaka is not a large lake, but has a deep70’ section that provides a cold retreat in the heat of the summer and a large10-15’ deep flat that serves as an insect hatchery.  The two most popular ways to fish the lake are soaking chironomids or matching the hatch with dry flies and nymphs.

Typical of the east side at this time of year the weather was warm and dry. A few of theNFA anglers on this weekend outing arrived a couple of days early and were treated to good fishing. On Friday when most people arrived it was hot and the fishing had slowed a little bit. But thanks to cool nights the fishing picked up again on Saturday and Sunday.

As usual on our outings breakfasts and dinner served as the times when we all gathered to swap fishing tales and advice. Brett Schormann prepared an excellent paella which was the main dish for Saturday evening dinner. Most of us hung around camp shooting the breeze and enjoying the spectacular views until late in the evening. Though a few people went out to make a few more casts.

Rattlesnake Lake 
Issaquah, June 19th

Rattlesnake Lake is one of King County’s premier fly fishing lakes for rainbow trout and triploids. Selective gear only, no gas powered motors (electric trolling motors only). The lake is perfect for fishing from a float tube or small pontoon but beware of the winds!

For more information and to register, click here.

Cavanaugh Ponds Restoration 
Cedar River, June 25th

The NFA in cooperation with King County Parks will join in a volunteer event at Cavanaugh Pond on the Cedar River, Saturday, June 25th from 9 AM to 1 PM.  We will be removing fabric that has been used to hold down weeds and invasive species giving our past plantings of native species a chance to become established. Come join us in restoring the Cedar River to benefit Salmon, Trout, and Wildlife.

For more information and to register, click here.

Rock Island Lake Fishing Camp 
Kamloops, BC July 5th-10th

Join Us at Rock Island Lake Fishing Camp for a fly-fishing adventure in the heart of British Columbia's Kamloops rainbow trout country! 

Enjoy guided or unguided trips to wilderness BC lakes (25 lakes to choose from), hearty home cooked meals, cozy log cabins, and the call of the loon. It all makes for an terrific trip to this secluded paradise in British Columbia, Canada.

For more information and to register, click here.

Methow Valley
July 8th-10th

For more information and to register, click here.

NFA Picnic 
July 21st

• A-H, bring appetizers
  
• I-Q, bring side dishes
  
• R-Z, bring desserts
  

Please be sure to register here so that the organizers will know how much food to bring.

To view pictures from previous picnic, click here.