Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Fly Fishing with Kyle Bratcher (ODFW) - NE Zone

 


April 12, 2023 with Kyle Bratcher - ODFW

This evening we had 27 club members and guest present. 

Since we are still without a club President and Vice President, Secretary Dale McKain and Past President Dave Stemmer were MCs for this evening program.

The evening's club business was conducted in a rather informal manner, with a briefing of current fishing trips, past events and current planned events.

Treasurer Harold Saxby stayed busy collecting membership dues, and selling Fly Box Raffle tickets. This evening we had three (3) fly boxes to distribute - one (1) for the evening door prize and two (2) for raffle tickets sold. Each box contained over $50 worth of flies. 


Before the fly box transactions, after dinner was served we had our program presentation given by Kyle Bratcher - fishery biologist with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Enterprise Office.
Kyle and his wife are avid fly fishers

Kyle being raised in Baker, Oregon has been able to secure a job with ODFW in his home waters of Union, Baker, and Wallowa counties. A very lucky guy.

This area of NE Oregon is one of a few that has Year 
Round Open fishing season for trout.

Since this presentation was a slide show -in the dark- one had to be here to learn all that was said. We hope that these slide clips will create enough interest to cause you to want to go fishing in a corner of the Oregon Heaven.








Because this slide presentation was given in the dark, and the camera shots shown here are not of the best - clear quality, you may wish to open the program via this PDF attachment. 
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:8e5b9c55-e237-43e8-afc1-4dd6bdc13256



Kyle, we thank you so much for coming over the mountains this evening and giving us this presentation of your most favored fishing waters.

Thereafter our meeting was adjourned at 8:35.

Our next meeting, and the last before our summer "Let's go fishing" break will be Wednesday May 10th.

Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain
Club Secretary  







Monday, March 13, 2023

March 8th - fishing with Grant and Lottie

This evening we had 25 members and guest in attendance.

This our regularly scheduled monthly meeting -March 8- was held at our new meeting location - Chiquillas Mexican House at 428 Ash St, Walla Walla, WA. Our regularly scheduled meetings are held from September through May on the second Wednesday of the month. We have no holiday meetings from Thanksgiving thru New Year. We do have impromptu get together organized by Emails in June, July, and August, making plans to go fishing; with one and all who wish to join us.

PLEASE NOTE: our club is still looking for / asking for a couple or few individuals to stand up and fill the current openings for club officers… President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.  Currently we have no President or Vice President. Treasurer Harold and Secretary Dale have said that they will hold on, until others come forward. Secretary Dale says he will continue to “work” this club blog and the Facebook page postings, until someone else wishes to handle those monthly projects.

Will you consider helping the club by coming forward and filling these open positions? Thank you.

This March 8th meeting Treasurer Harold was unable to attend, so no club $$ monies $$ transactions transpired.

We did have the usual fly boxes made available this month, the one for a Door Prize give away, and two for our club funding Raffle. Without our Treasurer being present we were unable to sale raffle tickets, so only had the giveaway of the one Door Prize box. 

In April we will again –with our Treasurer present– have two (2) well-dressed fly boxes for raffling prizes, and another nice Door Prize flybox. Right now EACH of these boxes are holding about $50 worth of flies.

Our meeting this evening was MC-ed by ex-President Tom Craig, 

with a little help from Secretary Dale. Topics discussed were the upcoming Walla Walla 4-H Weekend expo, where area young people are introduce to events and local organizations such as our – fly fishing and fly tying. Dale mentioned that the club had been approached by the College Place Lion Club to help conduct a similar program for the youth of College Place. Dale also mentioned that he and ex-President Dave Stemmer had discussed and would again make contact with Waterbrook Winery about sponsoring a Fly Fishing Fair on their fish ponds in early June. 
This we have done years ago and can be reviewed by following the link connected to these events.

It was noted that that club dues for 2023 were now due and at last November’s meeting it was agreed that the dues would now be Fifteen dollars ($15) for an individual’s membership and Twenty-Five dollars ($25) for a full family membership.

With the subject of club dues in mind, we made a historical reflection of things the club had been involve with (group activities and events) over the past 14 years. We also discussed a few plans to try to be involved with in 2023. 


• 2023 Fly Fishing Fair – Dave and Dale will be working on this project soon - with a little help from our friends. 




• Club group fishing outings to high lakes and rivers – 
a group effort based on fishing reports –
different strokes for different folks…
trout, steelhead, and salmon fishing trips


  



• Fly Casting Clinics 

• Round Table Fly tying get togethers 

• Midweek After Work - cookouts and flotation fishing at Bennington Lake with all things being connected to our love and enthusiasm for sharing fly fishing and camaraderie - there can be some good catching evening at Bennington Lake.

NOTE: the club has a pontoon boat, two float tubes, and PFD / vests to share

 






and a library of fly fishing books and magazines. 





Dave also has asked for all veterans in the group, or outside the club that you may know of… if interested in the local Healing Waters program to contact him, or follow the link below for more information.


This evening we had the pleasure of our used-to-be-neighbors Grant and Lottie Richie to join us, coming across the Blues in snow and cold giving our evening’s program.

Lottie and Grant own and operate Minam Store on Hwy 82 at the confluence of the Wallowa and Minam rivers and from there provide fishing guide services on these rivers and the Grande Ronde River.

From here this blog is going to take a different twist and offer YOU a YouTube video produced by Grant and Lottie of their services.
A video beautifully well done…

Grant and Lottie, thank you so much for braving the winter weather / road conditions and joining us for the evening.

After their presentation we did conduct a drawing for the evening’s Door Prize flybox.


Thereafter our meeting was adjourned at 8:35.

Our next regularly scheduled meeting will be April 12, 2023 at Chiquillas Mexican House at 428 Ash St, Walla Walla, WA.
Dinner gathering at 5:45 with the club's business meeting to follow at 7:00.

Respectfully submitted,

Dale McKain
Club Secretary  

 

 

Tight lines and good fishing


 - Contact Us -

<wallawalla.flyfishing@gmail.com>

 

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Friday, February 10, 2023

February 8th Meeting -and- we are in Search of Club Officers

Coming from Walla Walla - and all point south to Chiquillas 

This evening our regularly scheduled meetings was held at our new meeting location - Chiquillas Mexican House at 428 Ash St, Walla Walla, WA. Last month Dave and Dale contacted Chiquillas and established that we would like to have their meeting room / facilities the second Wednesday of each month September through May. We have no holiday indoor meetings from Thanksgiving thru New Year, nor in June, July, or August, as we usually making plans to go fishing; one and all. 

Again this month we conducted our meeting without any club officers leading the evening, but ex-President Dave Stemmer did step-up as Master of Ceremony to conduct the “management” of the meeting and introduced our guest speaker Chris Peery.

Our members and guest begin filtering into the Chiquillas banquet room around 5:45, as complimentary chips and salsa was being served. It was 7:05 before the first meals began to come to the tables. We have since spoken to Chiquillas that we would like to have the dinners coming to the table much sooner, so that we can conduct our business meeting without a dinner presentation taking place at the same time. They agreed. As always, the Chiquillas’ meals were delicious.  http://www.chiquillasmexicanhouse.com/menu

This evening we had 21 members and guest in attendance. 

We did pass out Door Prize Raffle tickets for a fly box, but due to the very late start with dinner service and the following program for the evening we did not get around to selling any Raffle Tickets for the other fly box. So these well stocked fly boxes will be an added feature to our March 8th meeting. We are going to have some lucky ~ happy fishers to start their 2023 fishing season with a nice assortment of these flies. Again we ask that you consider bringing TWO (2) flies
to the meeting to donate to the fly boxes – club business funds.  

 As mentioned… the Walla² Fly Fishers are currently conducting business without a full staff of club officers. Will YOU consider stepping forward and accepting a position of club leadership?
If so, please reply to our Email address...

        Walla² Fly Fishers <wallawalla.flyfishing@gmail.com>

to place your name in nomination. Thank you. 

Historically club officers have given two (2) years of their service to this organization. We are currently without a club President, Co-President / Vice President. Hanging on to their positions for the time being are the club’s Secretary - Dale, and club’s Treasurer - Harold with his pending resignation for the Treasurer. Our most current past officers have filled their office positions for 4-years primarily due to the pandemic gap in the club’s year and a half of non-activity. NOW is the time for some good club members (you need not be a Pro-flyfisher person) to come forward to the aid of our club... to be an officer. These are not demanding positions - showing up to moderate club meetings EIGHT (8) times in a year, and joining the group on fishing outings as one and all may wish.

Treasurer Harold did report that the club currently has $1,195.79 in our checking account, with no $$$ activity taking place at this meeting.

Tom announced that there was again going to be a 4-H Super Saturday on March 18th and asked if anyone would wish to join him is conducting demonstrations for fly casting and fly tying. We did have several people showing interest in helping with this youth event.

If you would like to join us in the activity, please see Tom Craig at our
March 8th meeting.

 
After dinner this month we welcomed Chris Peery – Senior Fisheries Biologist with the Army Corp of Engineers – Walla Walla, to give us a presentation of the History and current wellbeing on the Pacific Northwest steelhead and salmon populations. 

Chris mentioned that prior to the first salmon cannery going into operation on the Columbia River in 1866 there may have been salmon runs that one could have crossed the river on their backs. He mentioned that in 1938 the Bonneville Dam was constructed and that created an impediment to the salmon runs, and in 1962 the Ice Harbor dam was constructed on the Snake River, which also caused a loss of cold water habitat affecting the fish runs. Chris reported that of the most current years, it appears that global warming of the Pacific Ocean waters is having the greatest impact on the salmon and steelhead populations and their inland runs to ancient spawning waters. Chris also explained that these anadromous fish runs are cyclical, with good years and poor years of species return runs. Sad to say, Chris told us that in the past couple of years that the Alaska and British Columbia salmon runs (where dams do not impact) were very poor, and it is thought that this is due to warming ocean water conditions impacting the fish populations. It may be that due to constantly changing water environmental conditions, we may have seen the best of the good ole days of salmon and steelhead fishing in our local waters. Current projected returns for salmon this year is 8-16 million running the Columbia River tributaries, with 1-2 million continuing upriver to the headwaters of the Snake River.

Thank you Chris for your report, presentation to the club this evening. 



After Chris’ presentation this evening the meeting began to breakup without any further announcements or a fly box raffle or door prize giveaway taking place. These boxes will be a real prize at our March meeting, and someones fly collection for the 2023 fishing season. Tickets for the raffle box is $1 per ticket -or- $5 for six tickets. 


Right now each of these boxes are worth about $50, box and flies.



It was announced that at our next meeting on March 8th we will have Grant and Lottie Richie giving us an updated presentation of their operations of fishing guide services they conduct on the Grande Ronde, Minam, and Wallowa rivers. 

Some of Grant's hired fish for your catching 


Meeting was adjourned at 8:39 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain
Club Secretary  



Wednesday, January 18, 2023

January 11 Meeting - Searching for a New Slate of Club Officers for 2023-24



This evening we had 26 members and guest present, at Sheri's Restaurant in Walla Walla. 

After dinner was served, Co-President Judy called the meeting to order at 7:15 pm. 
It had previously been announced that she and Co-President Diane would be stepping down from their Co-President chairs effective with this meeting. Club Treasurer Harold had said that he would like to step away from his post also. 
Please note that with the COVID-19 shutdown, all three of these club officers had given their services for the past 4-years. Thank you one and all for the job well done. You are appreciated. 

Dale being a club founder noted that if someone wanted to fill the shoes of club Secretary that he would be happy to step aside and let another individual with a fresh spirit take the position he has occupied for thirteen years. 

So it was at this meeting, we had all club Officers positions open and/ or available for a NEW SLATE of individuals saying “I want to – I am willing to be the NEW 2023-2024…” club officers. 
The usual term for Club Officers is TWO (2) Years. 

At this point in the meeting Secretary Dale took the non-existent gavel and called the discussion to order as by default he was to be this evening’s MC. 

Treasurer Harold reported that we currently had One Thousand-Fifty Two dollars and Seventy nine cents ($1052.79) in the club’s checking account. This evening we did have a raffle for boxes of flies and club logo hats, with those funds to be added to these current club funds. A club logo cap was given away as the evening's Door Prize. It is customary that we have a Free Door Prize at each meeting and a raffle of fly boxes or other items donated to the club. We ask all that are able to donate TWO (2) flies to each of our club's meeting raffles. 

It was noted that that club dues for 2023 were now due and at the November meeting it was agreed that the dues would now be Fifteen dollars ($15) for an individual’s membership and Twenty-Five dollars ($25) for a full family membership. Some members paid their 2023 club dues this evening – adding to the club treasury. 

With the subject of club dues in mind, we made a historical reflection of things the club had been involve with (group activities and events) over the past 14 years. We also discussed a few plans to try to be involved with in 2023. 
• 2023 Fly Fishing Fair – Dave and Dale will be working on this 
• The 4-H Weekend Workshop for youth activities – Tom will be working on this 
• Club group fishing outings to high lakes and rivers – a group effort based on fishing reports – different strokes for different folks… trout, steelhead, and salmon fishing trips 
• Fly Casting Clinic
• Round Table Fly tying get togethers 
• Midweek After Work - cookouts and flotation fishing at Bennington Lake with all things being connected to our love and enthusiasm for sharing fly fishing and camaraderie - there can be some good catching evening at Bennington Lake.
NOTE: the club has a pontoon boat and two float tubes to share

It had been previously discussed – moving our meetings to a different location. This evening our number of members and guest -26- had filled the “meeting room” at Sheri’s. We need more room. Dave and Dale will be working on this project, for a new location we hope effective with our February 8th meeting – please watch your email for a change of club meetings location update. 

Dale then gave a brief history of the early creation of the Walla² Fly Fishers club as noted by / with the club’s blog reports at- http://wallawallaflyfishers.blogspot.com/  -which dates back to March 5, 2009. 

Dale then asked Judy and Diane and Harold to give a brief job description for all to hear; of the club offices they had held for the past 4-years; Dale then gave his job description of his job as Secretary and Club Blogmaster. Thereafter Dale asked if anyone would wish to step forward and nominate themselves or a person that they know to fill the positions of club President – Vice President – Secretary – Treasurer. There was some discussion around the room, but no one came forward with a nomination for new club officers. It was noted that the regular club meeting would only consume an officers time during the months of January-May and September-November.
The club takes a fishing vacation June-August and a holidays break from Thanksgiving through New Year’s week. Judy had at a previous meeting asked Harold and Dale to formulate and give a short detail of their job description; she and Diane has done likewise. 
 PRESIDENT / CO-PRESIDENT / Vice PRESIDENT: with the meeting location established… 5:45-6:00p setup evening’s business table for meeting --- Have name tags and felt pens available near meeting entrance table Greet attendees prior to dinner – pass out one FREE door prize ticket to everyone following 6:00 dinner around --- 7:00p call meeting to order Introduce yourself, ask for visitors to introduce themselves and what brought them to WWFF Proceed with the Order of Business – Reports from Secretary – Treasurer – Miscellaneous – recent fishing trips (suggested that you have an agenda for reference) ** AS Needed (maybe once or twice a year) call for a board meeting to discuss matters as needed. Announce the meeting’s program / presenter 8:00-8:30p finalize discussions, announce next meeting date, and adjourn meeting. 
Club Secretary Report: Minutes of last month’s meeting activities and guest presentations, and/ or club board meetings since the last membership meeting 
Treasurer's Report: Report of funds currently in bank account, noting new activities of deposits and expenses.
 
With this evening’s discussion coming to a close, Dale ask if there were any interested parties, nominations, well-wishers that would like to come forward and put their name up for an election of Club Officers at our next meeting - February 8th. Discussion continued, but no one came forward to say “I Will Serve." 

Meeting was adjourned at 8:09 pm. 

Respectfully submitted, 
Dale McKain 
Club Secretary 

PS. Our new meeting location effective for February 8, 2023 will be at: 
Chiquillas Mexican House 
428 Ash St, Walla Walla, WA 99362 
(509) 525-2598
- next door to Walker’s Furniture Store


Friday, November 11, 2022

November - Looking at 2023

 

A club's outing on the Deschutes

This evening we had 17 members and guest present.

After dinner was served, President Judy called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm.

To begin the meeting we had a “Round Table” meet and greet introduction of all present.

Treasurer Harold gave his report of monies in our checking account. It was again brought up this month the suggested price of Club Membership Dues. A membership vote was conducted and agreed that effective January 1, 2023 our club dues would be $15 for individual membership and $25 for family membership.

Harold mentioned that he wanted to SALE his 2-man pontoon boat, and maybe would sale his 1-person pontoon boat. Contact Harold Saxby for details.

Secretary Dale gave a brief report of our October 12th meeting.

President Judy, brought to the group’s attention that in January 2023 it has been requested by the current officer that we hold an election for a NEW slate of club officers. Judy asked the officers present to write up a brief “job description” of their office.

It was discussed the possibilities of moving our meeting to another location – Dave our Program Director will be looking into this.
Look for a meeting location change – possibility – with the January 2023 meeting announcement.

We discussed some club activities for 2023 that we should discuss further in the New Year.

·      -- Having another Fly Fishing Fair

·       -- 4-H Workshop

·       -- Club Fishing Outings

·       -- Fly Casting Clinics
 

    Tom is going to try to have Grant Richie come to make a presentation for our January 2023 meeting.

Our meeting was adjourned at 8:05.   

O  Our next meeting will be Wednesday January 11, 2023.


Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain 
Club Secretary / Blog master



Tight lines and good fishing.

Walla² Fly Fishers