President Dave called our meeting to order at 7:20 this evening.
We had 21 members and guest in attendance.
This evening we had guest speakers Grant and Lottie Richie addressing our meeting on their 2018 operations at Minam Raft Rentals
and Minam Store
This evening Grant told us about the particulars of their operation at Minam, while Lottie operated the slide show. Grant broke down their calendar year of operation on a month-by-month basis.
Starting Memorial Day through July they will have 25 rafts operating on the lower Wallowa River and Grand Ronde River. From July through September they will be operating their rafts on the Snake river, and making mention that their rates were posted on their business website.
This evening Grant gave us a very good breakdown of a usual annual fly fishing activity guide for the Wallowa River:
January - most of the Wallowa Country is frozen, river has a lot of ice flow, fishing is slow with a few steelhead in sight
February - March bring your favorite late season steelhead flies to the river
and enjoy the season
April - May is a good time for a little dry fly action with a dropper catching most of the work of the day
May - around Mother's Day is time for an abundant Caddis hatch
May - spring runoff / Wallowa Mountain snow melt - when riverflow can rise above 12,000 cfs - it is fly tying season in the canyon.
June - the last three weeks of the month has an abundant Golden Stonefly hatch to match
July 4 - September is great fishing / catching with almost any fly that one can hit the water with
September - October is the season for the October Caddis (Dicosmoecus gilvipes) Hatch - the prize of the Pacific Northwest.
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Beginning this year -2018- Grant and Lottie's operation will be taking on a new facet called the Snake River.
They will be rafting Hells Canyon trips from July 4 through September, targeting bass with their poppers and large Muddler Minnows.
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In late October, early November steelhead begin entering the waters around Troy, OR and with that the steelhead season is on again; running the Grand Ronde and Wallowa rivers through the early spring runoff and spawning season.
Several of our Walla² Fly Fishers have become regular clients of Grant and Lottie's and have come back with evidence of their fishing / catching success.
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In late October, early November steelhead begin entering the waters around Troy, OR and with that the steelhead season is on again; running the Grand Ronde and Wallowa rivers through the early spring runoff and spawning season.
Several of our Walla² Fly Fishers have become regular clients of Grant and Lottie's and have come back with evidence of their fishing / catching success.
Diane's trout
Tom's steelhead
Barbara's trout
Tom with another bruised lip steelie - all in a day's work
This evening Jerry won the Door Prize fly box, and Diane again won the Raffle Prize fly box,
and everyone received a Knot Tying Guide from President Dave.
Again, Thank You Lottie and Grant for sharing your experiences with us again as everyone looks forward to a 2018 fishing season.
Our next meeting will be held at Smith's Family Restaurant -
West 9th Street in Walla Walla
on Wednesday 21 March 2018
Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain
Club Secretary
Contact Us
Dave Stemmer – President
Tom Craig – Vice President
Doug Coe – Treasurer
Dale McKain – Secretary - Blogmaster
Dave Stemmer – PROJECT HEALING WATERS Coordinator
