Looking at a Broader Picture and Audience

With the absence of Pres. Dave, VP Tom, it was Secretary Dale that called the meeting to order tonight at 7:10.

Before leaving town, Pres. Dave had told Dale that he was working on a program for this evening with an individual from the Walla Walla’s division of the Army Corp of Engineers (USACE). When it appeared this did not develop we moved on without.

Treasurer Doug was not present this evening, therefore we have no Treasurer’s report.

Tonight we had 9 members and 3 guests present.

Dale started the meeting by saying that he had hoped there would be more members present, including those club members that helped with June's Fly Fishing Workshop at Whitman College. He is still holding $200 dollars in his name for the time and effort that club members put into that project and he want to make contributions to some non-profits before the end of the year. 

There has been mentioned several 501-c organizations to consider, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Walla Walla Christian Aid Center, Casting for Recover, and we would like to have a club vote, participation by all, to make this decision agreeable for all. Dale needs to get these fund donated before December 31, so we will need to finalize this business at November's meeting.

Dale as the sole founding club member, having signed the by-laws of our organization, and still attending all meetings, brought to this group's attention, that twice in the past couple of weeks it has been brought to his attention that clubs/organizations fade away, when they become stale without a flow of new perspectives, and leadership. Having thought much about these discussions, Dale brought to the group tonight... that maybe the time has come to fall back on the club’s by-laws dealing with club officer’s 2-year term limits.  Dale said that he did not in anyway, wish to diminish the time, effort, the FIVE (5) years of services that Dave and Tom have contributed to the leadership of our club, but maybe the time has come for change. So that our club does not go by the way of other organizations...we need consider a change from the routine of having our monthly club activity being comprised of a meeting for dinner, light discussions, and the occasional fishing guide's input of their business for our programs; from one year to the next. The club has come to a time that we need leadership to build membership, and community interaction. With our fly fishing knowledge, and fly tying projects, we should make ourselves more visible outside the Smith's Family Restaurant walls.  We have lost this vision and purpose that we once had in establishing the Walla² Fly Fishers. Dale suggested that we consider the nominations of interested individual to create a new slate of club officers at November’s meeting. Anyone that is interested in helping the group grow with direction and community outreach in mind, we ask that you let it be known - please email <wallawallaflyfishing@gmail.com>. This discussion should continue in November with a vote taking place in January 2019, to bring in the new year, with new direction and vitality.
This evening Dale also brought forward the idea, and asked "Ladies, please consider stepping up, grab the reins and help with directing our club." Without a doubt, women make excellent fly fishers, fly tiers, group~network organizers. Dale pointed out that if women were leading the community awareness charge; it would demonstrate to all fishers of the Walla² area that Walla² Fly Fishers is not a group of “good ole boys” with fly rods in hand, but that we are a gender neutral recreational group for all the interested public to participate, enjoy in the art and science of fly fishing, and our club activities. We have a lot of potential for growth and fly fishing fun, in our Walla² area.

After that discussion, our meeting this evening became a round table discussion of the current status of steelhead and salmon returns to the water of the Pacific Northwest. Without a program member of the USACE being present, we were fortunate by having John Oberhelman (club member and employee of USACE) present this evening. He gave us a lot of insight in what the Corp / BPA is doing at the dams for fisheries, the condition of our PNW fishery, and the expense of it all. 

2018 Steelhead run -very low- is less than a THIRD of the 10-year average

Thank you John for sharing with us your wealth of knowledge, and your enlightening us this evening concerning the USACE~BPA network, and our PNW fisheries.

This evening we had a visit with Angela Williams. Angela is currently the President and in the process of organizing the Walla Walla Valley Trout Unlimited Chapter. She mentioned that in many areas across the USA, many TU and local fly fishing clubs worked hand-n-hand on projects to improve fishery habitat and fishing opportunities. It is also true that in many communities TU and the local fly fishing club are one and the same. TU National is a funding source for many stream - fishery improvement projects. Angela said she would like to see if our organizations could co-mingle to improve the coldwater fisheries of SE Washington ~ NE Oregon. She also mentioned her hopes that our club would help the membership of this newly formed TU organization learn to become fly fishers. 
October was this new TU chapter sixth meeting. Their next will be held:

Thursday, November 1, 6:30-8:00 pm.

Location: Aerie Room, Eagles Club, Walla Walla

FYI -- Founded in Michigan in 1959, Trout Unlimited today is a national non-profit organization with about 300,000 members and supporters dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.

Brian Wolcott of the Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council was also sharing with us this evening, and he spoke of the work that the Council has been doing to help improve the streamside habitat of the Walla Walla River, particularly in the Milton-Freewater area, and the river's tributaries.

After Angela addressing our group, we entered a Round Table discussion of current fishing trip across WA and OR, that different individual had made lately. Some good info for those in attendance was shared.
Dale mentioned that Tis the Season for an abundance of October Caddis to be hatching~hovering over lower elevation streams and rivers of our area, and that the mid-Walla Walla River was at a perfect flow to be fishing Orange Stimulators~October Caddis dry flies imitation for wild trout hookups.

Tight lines and Good fishing

We did not present a fly box for door prize or auction this evening.

Dale called the meeting adjourned at 8:45.

Our next meeting will be held at Smith's Family Restaurant on W. 9th Street in Walla Walla on Wednesday

14 November 2018
6:00 pm Dinner and Social
7:00 Call-to-Order Club Business

Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain
Club Secretary

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Dave Stemmer – President

Tom Craig – Vice President

Doug Coe – Treasurer

Dale McKain – Secretary - Blogmaster

Dave Stemmer – PROJECT HEALING WATERS Coordinator

Looking at 2014 - Let's go fishing

This evening President Tom Craig called our monthly meeting to order at 7:02.
There was 21 club members and guest in attendance.
This evening we had a much smaller, a bit crowded dining room at Smith's Family Restaurant. We should be back in our regular meeting room next month.

Tom first made mention of the club's blog. There had been a remark made that this blogsite did not give enough details of all meetings' discussions. Tom pointed out that this blog was only meant to be a recap of our meetings and the club's activities, and for those that wished to have more details of club happenings, should consider being present at the club activities, as announced by email, this blogsite, our Facebook page, and local newspapers.

This evening's fly box ~ door prize was won by Rick Taylor.

Next order of business; Tom has made arrangements with fellow club member Grant Richie, to have any/all members for Walla² Fly Fishers to visit Minam and go steelhead fishing for a couple of days. The days in the plans are March 4 and 5, 2014. For those that would like to make an overnight trip out of this excursion Grant offered to give a 10% club member's discount for Minam Motel rooms and his guide services on the Wallowa and Minam rivers.
Room rates are: $69 single room -- $79 single room w/kitchen -- $89 for 2 bedroom w/kitchen.
For more details please contact President Tom <tcraig@cbfr.biz>
~or~
Minam Rentals / Motel website @-----> http://www.minamraftrentals.com/

President Tom pointed out that the Washington State Fly Fishing Fair was being held on May 3 & 4, 2014 in Ellensburg.


President Tom also brought to our attention; -Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed- being home to the largest wild salmon run and trophy rainbow trout population in the world. While living in Alaska, this area was one of his favorite fishing spots, now under consideration to be mined. Pebble Mine is not just a mine. It is to be the world’s largest open pit mine, situated immediately up-gradient of this renowned, salmon fishery that bolsters a $300 million economy on its renewable resource. Pebble Mine is the common name of a mineral exploration project investigating a very large porphyry copper, gold, and molybdenum mineral deposit in the Bristol Bay region of Southwest Alaska, near Lake Iliamna and Lake Clark. Tom ask for club members to consider joining the fight to save this area in AK, for it's natural renewable resources, instead of giving it over to corporate interest. For more details click on this website @---->; http://www.orvis.com/intro.aspx?subject=4571

Tom announced that the local Walla Walla Farmer's Market has invited our Walla² Fly Fishers to join them this 2014 season with a FREE booth location. This subject is open for further discussion, as we approach the Farmers' Market season.

This evening it was also discussed... should the club renew it's affiliation with the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF)? Some club officers discussed this via email recently, and it was discussed with the Columbia Basin Flycasters at the Tri-Cities Sportsman show. That fly fishing club dropped their FFF affiliation some time ago. Our club officers have concluded that this club will NOT at this time renew affiliation with the FFF. All members that wish to remain members of the FFF, you are encouraged to do so, but it will no longer be a requirement for our club membership to also be a member of the FFF. Vice President Dave will be looking into acquiring liability insurance for our club and it's activities.
It was noted that the Columbia Basin Fly Casters have their monthly meetings the second Tuesday of each month, and any of our membership are invited to share an evening with them. Please see their website @----> http://columbiabasinflycasters.org/

Our next order of business discussed was the option of holding a Fly Fishing Banquet with speaker John Shewey who would be available to be with us on May 3rd.

John Shewey tying flies at the NW Fly Tyers' Expo

It was again brought up that this might be a bit too short of a time-frame to put together an adequate banquet, with all that would need to go into it. It was also pointed out that May 3rd was the Washington State Fly Fishing Fair in Ellensburg, WA ~and~ this was the same weekend for the Walla Walla Wine Spring Release. A very, very busy weekend for Washington fly fishing and wine affairs, not the best time for the Walla² Fly Fishers to add another activity to the mix. We hope to have and find a large enough banquet facility that we can invite the fly fishing clubs in Tri-Cities, Pendleton, and La Grande to join us. Therefore it was discussed that we look at a fall date late September or October, to invite John out to Walla Walla to share an evening of fly fishing. Dale said he would pursue this idea with John and hope to have an available date to discuss a fall banquet by our March meeting.

Final order of business discussed this evening the involvement of our Walla² Fly Fishers with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and the Walla Walla VA Hospital. Jerry Newell has been co-coordinating this discussion for several months with the VA.

This has been a club discussion over the past several months and it was agreed tonight that our club would make this commitment to setup a program with the VA hospital and start fly tying and fly fishing classes and fishing trip for those disabled veterans that would like to participate. Vice President Dave signed the paperwork to put this club's action in motion with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing ---> https://www.projecthealingwaters.org/.
Will you join us in these endeavors?

This evening's fly box ~ raffle was won by Dr. Mike Garton.

Our meeting this evening was adjourned at 8:37 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain
Secretary

Tight lines and good fishing.

Walla² Fly Fishers

Contact Us

Tom Craig – President
Dave Stemmer – Vice President
Doug Coe – Treasurer
Dale McKain – Secretary

Past Presidents

Tyson Kopfer
Bob Long
Scott Peters

New Club Officers Nominated

This evening the Walla² Fly Fishers held our November meeting to discuss some hardcore club business and directions. Prior to the business of the evening there were 8 members that came together for dinner and social hour at Jacobi's Cafe.

We had 16 members and guest in attendance for this meeting. Because the clock on the wall kept reading 6:55 we did not start the meeting until about 7:20 p.m. Club Treasurer Barry, headed the business directions discussion for the evening in the absence of President Scott, who had a prior banquet commitment to attend.

Prior to the meeting President Scott and Treasurer Barry had submitted their resignations for their officers' positions. So this evening we had before us the task of nominating individuals to fill those post. Secretary Dale said he would be glad to continue to serve the club in his position.

This evening those nominated to fill the officers' positions becoming vacant were:

Bob Long - President
Tyson Kopfer - Vice President
Dr. Doug Coe - Treasurer
Dale McKain - Secretary

The floor still remains open for the nominations of any others that might wish to be considered for helping in a club leadership role. We do have a slight hangup in the above nominees. Bob Long may be moving from the area in the near future, but he is more than willing to provide his expertise in FFF directions between now and the time that he may make a move. A valuable asset for our club.

Bob brought forth the idea, that it is the club's President's job to lead the organization and not to create projects and ventures, and try to accomplish the task on his own. Therefore we will be looking for across-the-board membership help to set up some committees to help get the fun work done.

Projects discussed:

• Boy Scout Fly Fishing merit badge helpers
• Walla² YMCA fly fishing seminar
• 2011 Fly Fishing Fair at Waterbrook
• Winter 2011 fly fishing workshops
• Membership fly fishing outings
• A 2011 Club Banquet
• Stream side/pond side fishing habitat improvements working with WDFW
• etc.

With that said, it was discussed the current annual projects the club has been working on and the need of Project Chairpersons to help direct the responsibility of making things happen. At this point Kris said he would like to be involved with the Boy Scouts project of helping scouts earn their fly fishing merit badge, it was suggested that we ask Scott to continue to help co-ordinate the Fly Fishing Fair at Waterbrook Winery, and we will look into creating a committee to co-ordinate a fly fishing class with the Walla Walla YMCA, and re-establishing some winter 2011 fly tying classes with Pat and Lee Ainley at their College Place facility.

It was also asked to pass around the FFF Charter Clubs / Walla² Fly Fishers' By-Laws so that everyone would have a better understanding of the job description of club officers.

FFF Charter Club By-Laws in MS Word - for all to see review.

Bob Long also pointed out the idea that most folks tend to want to join a fly fishing club to become associated with fly fishers, to learn to fly fish, to learn more about fishing opportunities.
All of these things our club should consider in mapping our club activities for the future, in order to draw new club members from our community. With this point of reference, it was brought up that the club members would like to see more weekend fishing trips planned that they might attend. Our last two planned trips to the John Day River were mid-week holidays.

With that proposal... the idea of trying to form a steelhead fishing trip to the Grande Ronde River the Friday 11/26 or the Saturday 11/27 following Thanksgiving was suggested. This should be a very prime time for fishing the GR for steelies before the river's ice flow begins.
Who wants to go steelhead fishing on the Grande Ronde River???

A motion was made---> NOT to have a December club meeting (due to all other activities taking place between Thanksgivings and the New Year), that motion was seconded and carried. We will NOT have a meeting in December and will resume regular monthly meetings on 12 January 2011 to hold our club officers' election and start the New Year talking about fly fishing.
All those in favor... indicate by saying "AYE".
Those opposed, please email all by posting "NAY".

HEADS UP, look for possibly a fly tying meeting announcement coming forthwith for fly tying the evening of Wednesday 29 December.

The meeting was adjourned shortly thereafter, with individuals socializing one-on-one.

Tight lines and good fishing.

Walla² Fly Fishers

Contact Us

Scott Peters - President
Skip Pritchard - Co-President
Barry Gould - Treasurer
Dale McKain - Secretary /Blog Master

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Walla2-Fly-Fishers/356939534505

November's meeting of the Walla² Fly Fishers

This evening the Walla² Fly Fishers came together for our fifth club meeting. Prior to our business meeting we had 12 members and guest share their Dutch Treat evening meal together at the China Buffet. During this time we had the opportunity to share fishing experiences and a further chance to get to know one another. These pre-meeting dinners are a great time of coming together to just talk fly fishing without a business agenda to deal with.

It was about
7 o'clock that President Scott Peters, showed up to greet everyone, put the evening fly boxes together, and call our meeting to order. The fly box door prize tickets were passed out to everyone, Co-Pres. Skip Pritchard put together the Orvis Clearwater II 8 1/2' 5wt. (Mid-flex) rod, and the reel to go with it is an Orvis Battenkill Barstock III spooled with 5wt line + backing, This combo is begin raffled off during our November and December club meetings. The raffle is limited to 100 tickets to be sold at $5 apiece.

Scott, started the club business proceedings by announcing that we were looking for a club Treasurer, and no one at that point in time had stepped forward to seek that position, even after a few email nominations had been made. After some discussion and consideration Barry Gould, quietly mentioned to Dan Grinstead that he might consider the job, this mention was overheard... he was then nominated, it was seconded and Barry was elected to the position of club Treasurer. Thank you Barry.

Next point that Scott addressed was the email survey that Secretary Dale McKain had sent to all members' email concerning club organizations, functions, and activities. From this survey there were some concerns about our membership dues requirement, local and Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF). Scott went on to explain that the club needed funding for local concerns/activities and we as a public organization needed the umbrella of the FFF for organizational guidance, the opportunity for our membership to participate in the fly fishing functions of the big FFF picture (state - Washington/Oregon and national/international), and legal liability protection.
A SIDEBAR NOTE: So this is why there are dues to pay... In the past few days Dale has received from the FFF a letter of concern dealing with club liability insurance. The quote for this group insurance coverage through the FFF is $197/ year, this is an example why we need membership dues, meeting fly raffle ticket sales, and by Skip's generosity the new Orvis rod and reel combo that he donated to the club. We will also be getting into some fun stuff with the money raised, but for right now we are trying to get the club heading in the right direction, and taking care of organizational needs, and expenses. After all $15 annual local club membership dues is less than some people will spend in a week for a well brewed cup of coffee each day.
Our club members might also consider, that if you win just one of our evenings’ fly box raffle or receive one of the door prizes, you will recover much more in the value of one of the fly boxes w/flies, than the annual $15 membership dues. There are some nice flies going into each of the boxes.

After the short business discussion, we had the drawing for the door prize – fly box w/flies – this was won by Barry Gould.
Thank you everyone for your fly donation.

Our meeting this evening had 24 club members and guest in attendance.

After the fly box give away, and the Orvis rod and reel was passed around, the evening's program was a Round Table discussion with Q&A concerning how to catch a steelhead. Our planned evening speaker was unable to attend this meeting, so we brought forth the question that Diane raised by email this past week...

How do I catch a steelhead?

This evening we had a number of steelheaders present, so there was a good volley of points made as most of the successful steelheaders spilled their guts on how they went about finding, hooking, catching, sea run steelhead, in the local waters of southeast WA and northeast OR.
There was pointed out some steelheader's how to's:
read steelhead holding waters, make different types of rod, line, fly presentations, realize the strike, set the hook, play the fish. Some of the winter steelhead flies patterns mentioned were Purple and Black Egg Sucking Leech, Bitch Creek, Rubber leg Copper John. The general Rule of Thumb for steelhead flies is -- cloudy days use a dark fly, sunny days use a colorful/flashy fly. This writer thinks that Diane had most of her questions answered, hopefully we did not overload her with too much info to help her catch her first steelhead, on the fly. Thank you everyone that made comments and offered tips concerning their experience with steelhead fishing.

The above steelhead pictures furnished by club members
Tom and Doug
from their Thursday 11/12 morning outing.

As this discussion came to an end, Scott made a final call for ticket sales for the fly box w/flies that was being raffled off for the evening, and Skip made a final call for the Orvis rod / reel combo being raffled. Ed Chesnut won the fly box raffle this evening, and Skip announced that 55 tickets of the only 100 tickets available for the rod / reel combo had been sold this evening.

A little before 9 o'clock p.m. this meeting was adjourned, and we are talking steelheading for the rest of the year, as we went out the door.

Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain
Secretary

Tight lines and good fishing.

Walla² Fly Fishers

Contact Us

Scott Peters - President
Skip Pritchard - Co-President
Barry Gould - Treasurer
Dale McKain - Secretary /Blog Master

October's meeting of the Walla² Fly Fishers

It was just a few minutes after 6 o'clock p.m. that about sixteen Walla² Fly Fishers sit down to have their evening meal together and share their latest and greatest fly fishing experiences. These monthly meals (for the folks that can make it) are really a great time of camaraderie and just getting to know each other. It would be nearly an hour before we would get into club business, and during this time we discussed fishing trips (current and pass), discussed flies, and the different waters of the area with some directions on how to find particular fishing spots. A most pleasant way to pass/share an evening with fellow fly fishers. Also during this time the fly boxes (see above) began to be loaded with the 2 flies (per member) that most people remembered to bring for this evening's raffles.

About 7 o'clock President Scott call the meeting to order. At that point in time we had 21 members and 2 "guest" present. The first order of business was to pass out "free" raffle tickets that would reward a box of flies (a door prize) to one of the fly fishers present this evening. Thereafter Scott began selling a number of raffle tickets (club fund raiser) for the second box of flies available this evening.

With the first drawing, Jan Atwater won the door prize - and made her choice of a box of trout and steelhead flies.

Scott then introduced our guest speaker for the evening- John McKern, retired fishery biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). John's presentation was a history of the salmon and steelhead population of the Columbia and Snake rivers, and the innovations to protect and increase their populations. John's discussion was a synopsis of these fisheries as recorded by the first European and Asian traders to visit the Pacific Northwest coastal fishery areas, through the period of commercial fishing and canneries, up through today's dam fish passage innovations.

A note here, 2009 has been a phenomenal year for salmon and steelhead returns -- recorded passage through Bonneville Dam 10/14/09:
Chinook Salmon - 693,000+
Steelhead - 596,000+
Sockeye Salmon - 177,000+

John's presentation mentioned some of the USACE errors made that had harmed the fish migrations in years pass, and the research and developments that have been made to correct and greatly improve fish passage through the Columbia and Snake rivers dams. At this point in time we will have to say... let the numbers speak for themselves (see above), concerning the success of the work John as dedicated his life to.

Thank you John for a job well done and your presentation to our club this evening.

After John's presentation, Scott made one more round of fly box raffle ticket sales, and then we had the drawing for the flies. Matt McKern (John's son) won the second box of flies for this evening. The raffle for the fly box this evening made the club about $50.
Thank you everyone that made a donation of 2 flies to the club. A nice little fund raiser to help us get the Walla² Fly Fishers' show on the road.

After this final raffle, Scott discussed the function of Walla² Fly Fishers club membership, and the need for every member to join the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) and also the need for each member to pay their 2010 annual Walla² Fly Fishers' membership dues ($15 individual/$20 family) between now and January 1, 2010.

Because we realized we needed a second color raffle ticket (not to be confused with the fly raffle tickets) it was decided to begin the raffle for the Orvis rod/reel combo -- Clearwater II 8 1/2' 5wt. (Mid-flex) rod, and the reel is a Battenkill Barstock III spooled with 5wt line + backing -- at our November 11th meeting and continue that raffle through our December 9th meeting. This will make a nice X-mas prize/present for the lucky winner. This club raffle for the Orvis combo will be limited to 100 tickets to be sold at $5 per.
Tell your wife, children, family and friends that they could win this outfit for you as a X-mas present for just $5... a ticket, that is.

Shortly after 8:30 our meeting was adjourned for this evening/ this month.

Again this month a number of us stuck around until the restaurant's closing to share club interest, and fly fishing stories to be continued...

Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain

Tight lines and good fishing.

Walla² Fly Fishers

Contact Us

Scott Peters - President
Skip Pritchard - Co-President
Dale McKain - Secretary /Blog Master

September's meeting

The Walla² Fly Fishers came together for the first of our indoor seasons' meeting tonight. About a dozen of us showed up for a Dutch treat dinner at 6:00 p.m. We stood around chatting for awhile, before we grabbed our plates. Thereafter we filled our plates with some good eats as we passed around and around the buffet bars and then were seated for our feast. During dinner fish tales were told and pictures of fish tails (for bragging rights) were passed around the table. Some nice fish showed up in those pictures.

We had an enjoyable time of getting to know new faces, breaking breaded... shrimp together, and sharing our fly fishing experiences with each other. Interesting conversations around this table.

As the 7 o’clock hour approached we had more and more folks join our dining group prior to beginning our club’s business meeting. Scott asked Co-President Skip before the meeting to introduce/pass around the Orvis tackle that Skip had brought to this meeting for club fundraisers. Skip passed around a nice Wheatley Fly Box (foam fly hanger on the lid side/ windowed compartments on other side). This fly box was raffled off right after the business meeting of this evening. Skip also brought an Orvis Combo – Clearwater 4 piece 5-weight fly rod with a Battenkill reel (filled with backing, line, leader), a nice setup for fishing trout and steelhead in our local rivers and streams. This combo will be offered as the raffle item of our Oct-Nov meetings. It was discussed that this Clearwater rod/reel combo, will be raffled off by 100 tickets at $5 apiece. Hope you don't miss your chance to go home with this Walla² Fly Fishers' prize. Watch this blog site for more details on owning this rod and reel outfit... only 100 tickets available.
Thank you Skip for making such nice Orvis items available to our club.

Shortly after 7:00 p.m. President Scott Peters called the meeting to order with 24 fly fishers attending.


The business at hand (actually in Scott’s hand) was looking at the club's organization and programs:

1) During the summer months Scott and Dale McKain – Club Secretary had completed the paperwork to formally tie our club to the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) as a Charter Club
2) Scott suggested; a motion was made and approved that we would have annual club membership dues of $15 for individuals and $20 family. This will be in addition to the FFF membership dues to Livingston, MT headquarters. It was pointed out the perks/publications that came with the dues paid to FFF - National.
3) Future meeting topics – rod building, fly tying, Columbia & Snake River dam education, etc.
4) We will try to have a month meeting raffle of a fly box with assorted flies for fund raiser (all club members will be ask to donate two flies per meeting to create the box of flies)
5) With Skip's donation of the fly box and the fly rod combo at this meeting to create some club funding, the motion was made and approved by the membership that we would wait for the goal of 18 NEW FFF members to accumulate before asking for the high end rod that the FFF offers for making their NEW membership goal/reward.

Scott once again discussed the purpose and goal of our Walla² Fly Fishers’ club as being:

1) To promote the causes of the Federation of Fly Fishers in helping all interested parties in learning the art and science of fly fish, learning careful fish handling (C&R), etc.
2) To be a family friendly group of fly fishers, welcoming all to our table to participate in our knowledge of fly fishing
3) To help those who have physical, emotional, any handicap needs; where learning to fly fish will aid in their therapy and well being.
4) To bring together our local fly fishing community and enjoy the camaraderie of each others' fly fishing experiences on and off the water
5) Find a stretch of a local/nearby river or stream, maybe two; to adopt, fish and be caretakers of that environment in conjunction with WDFW/ODFW/CTUIR

Also this evening it was discussed without detail the desire of having another fly casting clinic, a fly tying clinic, and as funds are available, having a banquet with a notable fly fisher-speaker to make a presentation.

After the business at hand was discussed, the raffle was held for the Orvis fly box. This was won by Steve Pfeiffer. This raffle raised over $75 for our club funding. Thank you, one and all.
Again, Thank you Skip.

Note: It was found that the funds that was thought to be in a Walla Walla bank from a previous fly fishing club (that we might benefit from) had been donated to the Tri-State Steelheaders a number of years ago.

Meeting was adjourned shortly after 8:15, with a few topics and fish tales being discussed thereafter.

Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain

Tight lines and good fishing.

Walla² Fly Fishers

Contact Us

Scott Peters - President
Skip Pritchard - Co-President
Dale McKain - Secretary /Blog Master

Walla² Fly Fishers

For The Record --- this evening Scott Peters, Skip Pitchard and I made plans to come together and sign off on the paperwork for the official formation of our local Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) chapter hereinafter called the Walla² Fly Fishers. Sad to say, but Skip has an illness in his family and was unable to join us. Scott as Chapter President and I as Chapter Secretary did meet and signed the papers forming our organization in alliance with the FFF.

Dale McKain -- and -- Scott Peters

Right after this 6/30/09 Executive Board Meeting was adjourned, Scott and I lined up our fly rod, slipped on our wading boots and jumped into the ranch section of the upper Walla² (Walla Walla) River to test the water for wet wading temperature and fish-ability. Air temperature was about 83° and water temperature was 58° which made a most perfect evening's wet wading fishing environment. Water flow was a little fast in some places, but our flies drifted well enough to attract and hook a few pea brain redbands/steelheads and salmon smolts.

Our searching flies for the early evening were a Copper John, and a beadhead CDC Caddis. After hooking a few fish with these teaser/testers, we changed over to dry flies using a Royal Trude, and a white-X-legged Black Ant. Success was sweet, with all these wild fish being C&R.

Here at the ranch it is a pretty tough job... getting back to the river, keeping these summer salmonoids in line/on line, but someone has to do it. Tonight I have to thank Scott for his assistance and a job well done ;>)

On our way back to the house from the river, we stopped by the raspberry patch and enjoyed quite a few handfuls of perfectly plump ripe raspberries for an evening sweet treat.

When we got back to the ranch house we joined Kittee in watching the mare herds and our Summer play. Scott mentioned that he and family might like to come back out to the ranch this 4th of July weekend and Kittee and I suggested his children go for a pony -Jasmine- ride and pet some horses, maybe even our baby Summer.

Today was a good day, it was also the first day of the season for wetting a fly here at the ranch. The river is in great shape this year and there are a few #8 Golden stoneflies in the air.

Dale McKain --- as copied/edited from a McKuster Ranch Life blog posting.

Tight lines and good fishing.

Walla² Fly Fishers

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Scott Peters - President
Skip Pritchard - Co-President
Dale McKain - Secretary / Blog Master

In forming a club... Walla² Fly Fishers - Part III

This evening, we held the third meeting of the Walla² Fly Fishers. Our group came together in Dietrich (Dome) Activity Ctr. on the Walla Walla Community College campus. This is a newly formed group of fly fishers from around the Walla Walla, WA and Milton-Freewater, OR area. The name Walla² the group found "catchy" from Dale McKain's use/reference of squaring Walla Walla in most of his recent communications so it was decided this would be part of our club's nomenclature. At this meeting we discussed the club's organization and affiliation with the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) as a Charter Chapter. This week's meeting we had 16 "members" present, and for those that could not make it we now have about 25 interested individuals making up the club to date. At this meeting Scott Peters and Skip Pritchard were elected club co-Presidents, Dale McKain was elected to be Secretary for a period of six months as the club works on formation/organization and our group get a chance to know each other.
It was also discussed that this group would pass the word around and make plans to have a fly fishing expo - fly tying and fly casting - open to the public on Saturday 16 May.

Walla² Fly Fishers
Scott Peters - President
Skip Pritchard - Co-President
Dale McKain - Secretary

Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain
--- as copied/edited from a McKuster Ranch Life blog posting.