Clark-Skamania Flyfishers upcoming events

Day Trip: Laurance Lake (with Optional Camping) (Thu, September 10, 2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Join Us for the Day or Camp for the Weekend

Day Trip: Thursday, September 10 | Laurance Lake Parking area (Meet @ 8:00am)

Camping: Kinnikinnick Campground

Join Fishmaster Dan Gauge for a beautiful day on one of Oregon's most beautiful and productive mountain lakes. You can extend your stay into the weekend tent-camping at Kinnikinnick Campground.

Either way, come ready to fish, learn, explore, and enjoy time together on the water.

Two Ways to Join the Outing

Option 1: Thursday Day Trip

Come for the day on Thursday, September 10. We’ll meet in the morning at the parking area. Set up rods, go over safety and fishing plans, then head out for a day on the lake. Bring $10 to park in the day use area. Note: The Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass is not accepted here.

Option 2: Extend your trip with Lake side Camping

Turn the outing into a full weekend adventure by reserving a tent campsite at Kinnikinnick Campground.

Kinnikinnick Campground sites are reservable online through Recreation.gov. Roughly half of the sites are first-come, first-served.

Reserve your Kinnikinnick Campground tent/RV site here:
Kinnikinnick (Laurance Lake) Campground, Mt. Hood National Forest - Recreation.gov

Dan Gauger, your Fishmaster, will meet everyone in the parking area for orientation, and group check-ins.

Saturday Tentative Itinerary

Main gathering location: Parking area at the lake.

Google Map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GLJmf6oytpHj963z7

Time	Activity
8:00 AM	Meet at Parking area, set up rods
8:30 AM	Fishing orientation and safety meeting
Morning	Fish and explore the lake
1:00 PM	Group lunch (optional) — bring your own lunch
Afternoon	More fishing, exploring, and fellowship

Meeting locations and times are subject to change. Please RSVP so dan can contact you if plans are updated.

Fishing Plan

September is a prime time for trout at Laurance Lake, located near Parkdale, OR. As the waters cool, fish become highly active. The lake is restricted to artificial flies and lures only and has a strict catch-and-release mandate for wild trout.

Target the mouths of tributary streams and drop-offs with a 3 to 5-weight rod using Callibaetis nymphs, chironomids, or wooly buggers on a floating or intermediate sink-tip line.

The Columbia Gorge can produce fierce, localized winds here, which can make float-tubing difficult. Bring an intermediate line to get your fly below the surface chop on breezy days.

Recommended setup:

Rods: 4-weight to 6-weight, 9 to 10-foot fly rod.
Lines: A floating line for dry flies/indicators and an intermediate or slow-sinking line to strip streamers off the drop-offs.
Tippet/Leader: 3x or 4x fluorocarbon leaders, roughly 9 to 12 feet long
Flies:
Streamers: Slow-stripped Woolly Buggers (olive or black), Hale Bopp Leeches, or Balanced Leeches are excellent for both active trout and the resident Bull trout.
Nymphs & Chironomids: Callibaetis nymphs and chironomids fished under a strike indicator just off the lake bottom.
Dries: Be ready for Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs) on overcast days, or throw terrestrials like hoppers along the grassy banks before the water gets too windy
Hot Spots: Target the drop-offs and transitions from shallows to deep water. The creek mouths (like Clear Branch Creek) are highly productive, though you must respect the restricted areas clearly marked by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

RSVP Required

If you plan to attend, please fill out registration button above (top of this page), or email dgauger@gmail.com with the following information:

Your name
Names of anyone coming with you
Your cell phone number
Emergency contact name
Emergency contact phone number
Are you joining the Thursday day trip or camping for the weekend?
If camping, what campsite did you reserve?

RSVPs help us plan, communicate any changes, and keep everyone accounted for during the outing.

Safety

For emergencies, aside from calling 911 when in cell coverage, please take note of the following information:

Nearest Regional Hospitals:

Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, 810 12th St, Hood River, OR 97031. (541) 386-3911

Email dgauger@gmail.com if you have any questions.

See you on the water!

Cheers,
Dan Gauger
Fishmaster, Laurance Lake Outing

Weekend Trip: Cowlitz River / Mayfield Lake (Fri, September 18, 2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Join Us for the Weekend at The Cowlitz River & Mayfield Lake

Camping: September 18 - 20, 2026 |Mayfield Lake Resort & Marina

Join Fishmasters Diane Schmitt and Al Wood for a full weekend trip from Friday, September 18 - 20, for some fun river fishing or relax on the lake hunting big fish.

Either way, come ready to fish, learn, explore, and enjoy time together on the water.

Weekend Camping

We have camping amenities available at the Mayfield Lake Resort and Marina which has tent camping ($38 per day), RV camping (starting at $72.00 per day), Cottages, Cabins and hotel accommodations. There are also boat rentals, kayaks, and canoes available. This gives fly fishers’ the choice to fish the Cowlitz River and Mayfield Lake depending on the water or weather conditions. Participants need to call the Resort at 360-623-7171 to secure a spot with the CSF group. Diane and I are in spot #74 as fish masters and hope you will join us this year. Spots 42-46 and 67-73 are being held for CSF members until the end of April.

You need to start your reservations NOW to make sure to get your needs secured!

Fishing Plan

Cowlitz River

September is a prime month on the Cowlitz River for fly fishing, offering excellent opportunities to target hard-fighting summer steelhead, aggressive sea-run cutthroat, and fall-run Chinook. The lower river—from the Barrier Dam down to the mouth near Longview—is highly productive during this time of year.

Because bank access is limited and the water is broad, utilizing a drift boat or pontoon is the most effective way to fish the river.

Summer Steelhead: September marks the tail end of the peak summer run. Spey rods (11.5 to 13.5 foot, 5-8 weight) paired with Skagit or Scandi heads are ideal. Focus on swinging traditional wet flies, leeches, or intruders (such as Purple Perils, Skunks, or Egg Sucking Woolly Buggers). Productive swings often happen in the runs below the Blue Creek boat launch down to Massey or Mission Bar.

Sea-Run Cutthroat: Late summer brings these aggressive trout into the river system. Standard nymphs and wet flies, like soft hackle brassies, work wonderfully.

Fall Chinook: Large fall Chinook (averaging 15–30 lbs) push into the system in September. You can target them using heavy sink tips and larger patterns in the deeper channels.

Primary float will be Blue Creek #12 to Mission Bar #4

If you need a shuttle from Blue Creek Hatchery you can arrange for pickup services by Mike Sturza at Lost Creek Fly Shop at 360 978-4059. A discover pass will be needed if you park at Blue Creek Boat Ramp.

Mayfield Lake

September offers a fantastic opportunity to target actively feeding fish as cooling water temperatures bring them into the shallows. Focus your efforts on rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and the famous tiger muskies, concentrating especially on the Tilton River arm and the weed beds near Ike Kinswa State Park.

Rainbow Trout: Late September brings a second peak as trout become aggressive. Use a floating line with attractor wet flies or switch to a slow-sinking line with chironomids and leech patterns.

Smallmouth Bass: Bass actively hunt near rocky shorelines and submerged structures through September. Streamer patterns like Woolly Buggers or baitfish imitations work great in these areas.

Tiger Muskie: Mayfield Lake is renowned for these apex predators. Target them with large 8-10 weight rods, wire leaders, and bulky, 8- to 12-inch fly patterns fished around weed edges. Note that you must adhere to strict WDFW regulations, including a 50-inch minimum size limit.

The Tilton River arm is highly productive for both trout and muskies. You can easily launch a pram, pontoon, or kayak at the boat ramps located at the dam or Ike Kinswa State Park. Always review the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Regulations before you head out, as seasonal closures, daily limits, and catch-and-release rules change.

RSVP Required

If you plan to attend, please fill out registration button above (top of this page), or email alanstanleywood@gmail.com with the following information:

Your name
Names of anyone coming with you
Your cell phone number
Emergency contact name
Emergency contact phone number
Are you joining the Saturday day trip or camping for the weekend?
If camping, what campsite did you reserve?

RSVPs help us plan, communicate any changes, and keep everyone accounted for during the outing.

Safety

For emergencies, aside from calling 911 when in cell coverage, please take note of the following information:

Nearest Regional Hospitals:

Arbor Health - Morton Hospital. 521 Adams Ave. Morton, WA 98356 Phone: 360-496-5112
Providence Centralia Hospital 914 S. Scheuber Rd. Centralia, WA Phone: 360-736-2803

Nearest Clinics (Limited Hours):

Arbor Health - Mossyrock Clinic 745 Williams St. Mossyrock, WA 98564 Phone 360-496-6003 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM (Closed Saturdays and Sundays)

See you on the water!

Cheers,
Al Wood
Fishmaster, Cowlitz / Mayfield Lake Outing

Overnight Trip: East Lake, Oregon (Fri, September 25, 2026)

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Join Us for the Weekend at East Lake, Oregon

Weekend Trip: Friday, September 25 | Cinder Hill Campground (Meet @ 8:00am @ boat launch)

Camping: September 25 - 27, 2026 | Cinder Hill Campground

Join Fishmaster Michael Golob for a fantastic fly-fishing outing on the beautiful East Lake. You can camp in the campground or call East Lake Resort 1/2 mile down the road for cabins or full RV hook ups.

Join the Outing

Make you reservations at Cinder Hill through reservations.gov. Or you can drive up when you want, over half of the campground is on a first-come first-served basis.

East Lake Resort has cabins and full RV hook ups. Call them at 541-536-2230. Check them out at: www.eastlakeresort.com

Important: The lake is reported to be low due to lack of snowpack this last winter. The boat ramps are out of the water so launching boats from trailers will be difficult. Local gudies in Bend and Sunriver are not fishing the lake because they only use boats on trailers. That could mean that if you are fishing from a kayak, or pontoon you could have some exceptional fishing. If all else fails, Paulina Lake next door is full of water and that lake holds the state record for Brown Trout.

For the non-fisherperson: East Lake sets in the Newberry Caldera. If fishing isn't your thing, but you love the outdoors then this is the place for you. The East Lake Resort or the Paulina Lake Resort have a bar, a restaurant and both have beautiful patios over looking the water. If hiking is your thing, there is the Big Obsidian Flow. At a mere 1300 years old, the Big Obsidian Flow is the youngest lava flow in Oregon. A one-mile interpretive trail climbs up and onto this impressive lava flow of obsidian (black glass) and pumice which is located a couple of miles before you get to Cinder Hill Campground.

But wait. Did I mention that Paulina Lake has hot springs bubbling up at the lakes edge? Well there is. You have to hike to it, or take a boat. I could write pages about it here, but if your interested just Google "Paulina Lake Hot Springs" and you'll have everything you need know about it.

Tentative Itinerary

Main gathering location: Cinder Hill Campground, at the boat ramp.

Google Map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cDusGZeqxzpUKymt8

Time	Activity
8:00 AM	Meet at the boat launch at East Lake
9:00 AM	Fishing orientation and safety meeting
Morning	Fish and explore the lake
1:00 PM	Group lunch (optional) — bring your own lunch
Afternoon	More fishing, exploring, and fellowship

Meeting locations and times are subject to change. Please RSVP so Michael can contact you if plans are updated.

Fishing Plan

Rods & Lines: 5 to 7 weight single-handed rods paired with floating, intermediate, or full-sinking lines depending on depth.

Fishing from shore can be very productive as the fish come into the shallows in September.

Boat and Pontoon Tactics

Wind Drifting: Use the persistent afternoon wind to drift broad flats and drop-offs while trailing leeches or callibaetis nymphs on intermediate or type 3 sinking lines. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Anchor Management: Drop anchor just off the weed lines or drop-offs to static-fish chironomids under an indicator, keeping your fly vertically suspended in the strike zone.
Trolling Streamers: Use an electric motor or slow row to pull Woolly Buggers or baitfish imitations along the steep drop-off near the White Slide to trigger aggressive brown trout. [1, 2, 3]

Navigation and Hotspots

The White Slide: Position your boat parallel to this deep, steep wall on the south shore, as large brown trout hold deep here and cruise up to hunt.
East Shore Flats: Target the shallower, sandy flats on the eastern side where kokanee gather to spawn, drawing in massive, predatory brown trout.
Weed Line Edges: Stay 20 to 30 feet off the visible weed beds along the west and north shores, casting parallel to the edges where rainbows actively cruise.

1. Callibaetis (Mayfly) Patterns

Parachute Adams (Size 14–16): Exceptional for matching the late-season adult duns on flat water during sunny afternoons.
Callibaetis Cripple / Last Chance Cripple (Size 14–16): Crucial for trout targeting trapped, easy meals on the surface film.
Balanced Callibaetis Nymph (Size 14–16): Fish this under an indicator over the weed beds during the morning hours. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

2. Chironomids (Midges)

Ice Midge / Chromie (Size 16–18): Silver or black bodies with red or wire ribbing work best suspended 1 to 2 feet off the bottom.
Bloodworm (Size 14–16): Bright red maroon midge larvae patterns, highly effective during low-light mornings or overcast days. [1, 2]

3. Streamers & Attractors (For Big Browns)

Beadhead Woolly Bugger (Size 6–10): Olive, black, or dark brown to mimic leeches; strip or wind-drift these along the drop-offs.
Zonkers & Bunny Leeches (Size 4–8): White, silver, or orange/red combinations to mimic juvenile trout or injured spawning kokanee. [1, 2,

RSVP Required

If you plan to attend, please fill out registration button above (top of this page), or email mpgolob@gmail.com with the following information:

Your name
Names of anyone coming with you
Your cell phone number
Emergency contact name
Emergency contact phone number
Are you joining the Saturday day trip or camping for the weekend?
If camping, what campsite did you reserve?

RSVPs help us plan, communicate any changes, and keep everyone accounted for during the outing.

Safety

For emergencies, aside from calling 911 when in cell coverage, please take note of the following information:

Nearest Regional Hospitals:

St Charles Bend, in Bend, OR. 2500 NE Neff Rd. 97701. Phone: 541-382-4321

Nearest Clinics in Estacada (Limited Hours):

St Charles Family Care Clinic - La Pine: 51781 Huntington Rd. La Pine, OR 97739. Phone: 541-536-3435
La Pine Community Health Center: 51600 Huntington Rd. La Pine, OR 97739. Phone: 541-536-345

Email mpgolob@gmail.com if you have any questions.

See you on the water!

Cheers,
Michael Golob
Fishmaster, East Lake Outing

Overnight Trip: Klickitat River (Fri, October 02, 2026)

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Join Us for the Weekend

Camping: October 2 - 4, 2026 |Stinson Flats Campground

Join Fishmasters Don & Carol Kohler for a fly-fishing outing on the beautiful Klickitat River.

How to Join the Outing

Let your Fishmasters know you're coming by registering for the outing

Stinson Flats Campground is a primitive, free riverside site along the Klickitat River in Klickitat County, Washington, managed as a water-access and recreation area by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. It features a gravel boat ramp for river floats, flat ground suited for tents, and basic primitive features.

Cost: Free (dispersed style)

Water: None available (bring your own)

Toilets: Vault or pit toilet on-site

Hookups: None (no RV hookups or showers)

Access: Located near mile 13.8 on the Glenwood Highway; features an unimproved gravel/dirt access road and boat launch that can be challenging for large trailers.

A Washington Discover Pass is typically required for vehicle parking at state wildlife and water-access areas.

Don & Carol Kohler will be stepping in to run this outing for Don & Sherri Starkin. (Thank you Don & Carol)

Main gathering location: Don & Carol's Campsite. TBD

Google Map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DW7dHsLbocwxqdEd9

Time	Activity
8:00 AM	Meet at Don & Carol's Campsite, set up rods
9:00 AM	Fishing orientation and safety meeting
Morning	Fish and explore the river
1:00 PM	Group lunch (optional) — bring your own lunch
Afternoon	More fishing, exploring, and fellowship

Meeting locations and times are subject to change. Please RSVP so Don or Carol can contact you if plans are updated.

Fishing Plan

This is an old outing with plenty of experienced members attending. This is a perfect outing to get with an experienced member to show you the ropes.

Washington State’s Klickitat River is well known for its hard fighting run of fall steelhead and salmon, and the action can be very good. Klickitat steelhead are considered by some to be the “hardest fighting steelhead” of any Columbia River tributary. With a possibility of 20 pound fish, fly fishing the Klickitat River is a favorite among die-hard steelhead anglers.

Recommended setup:

Spey / Two-Handed Setup (Best for Swinging)

Rod: 7-weight or 8-weight Spey rod, 13 to 13.5 feet long

Reel: Large-arbor reel with a smooth, powerful disc drag.

Line: Skagit head (450 to 550 grains depending on your rod).

Tips: 10 to 12 feet of T-11 or T-14 sinking tips to cut through heavy flows.

Leader: Short, heavy leader (3 to 4 feet of 12lb to 15lb Maxima Ultragreen).

Single-Handed Setup (Best for Nymphing & Indicating)

Rod: 9-foot to 10-foot, 7-weight or 8-weight fast-action rod.

Line: Weight-forward floating line with a aggressive front taper to throw indicators.

Leader: 9-foot tapered leader down to 12lb or 15lb fluorocarbon.

Rig: Heavy-duty indicator, split shot, and a two-fly rig (e.g., egg pattern to a stonefly).

Essential October Flies

Swinging: Purple Perils, Green Butt Skunks, Hoh Bo Speys, and Intruders (black, blue, or purple).
Nymphing: 8mm to 10mm soft beads (orange or peach) and size 4–6 Pat's Rubber Legs.

RSVP Required

If you plan to attend, please fill out registration button above (top of this page), or email moabman07@gmail.com with the following information:

Your name
Names of anyone coming with you
Your cell phone number
Emergency contact name
Emergency contact phone number
Are you joining the Saturday day trip or camping for the weekend?
If camping, what campsite did you reserve?

RSVPs help us plan, communicate any changes, and keep everyone accounted for during the outing.

Safety

For emergencies, aside from calling 911 when in cell coverage, please take note of the following information:

Nearest Regional Hospitals:

Klickitat Valley Health. 310 S Roosevelt Ave. Goldendale, WA 98620. Phone: 509-773-4022
Skyline Health & Skyline Heath Medical Clinic 211 NE Skyline Dr. White Salmon, WA 98672. Phone: 509-493-1101
Adventist Health Columbia Gorge 1700 E 19th St. The Dalles, OR 97058. Phone: 541-296-1111

Email moabman07@gmail.com if you have any questions.

See you on the water!

Cheers,
Don & Carol Kohler
Fishmasters, Klickitat River Outing