FCO dinner meeting with legendary guide Al Bagley on June 11.

The FCO will be holding a dinner meeting on June 11 featuring legendary Warm Springs Reservation fishing guide Al Bagley.

We’ll be meeting at the University Club at the normal time (6-7 p.m. Wet Fly Hour, dinner served at 7 p.m., presentation from 7:45-8:45, conclude at 9 p.m.).

Please get your orders in for a fabulous presentation by Al Bagley.  Deadline to sign up is Friday June 8 at 5 p.m.

About Al Bagley

The Treaty of 1855 (“Treaty of Wasco, Columbia River, Oregon Territory with the Taih, Wyam, Tenino, & Dock-Spus Bands of the Walla-Walla, and the Dalles, Ki-Gal-Twal-La, and the Dog River Bands of the Wasco”) between local Columbia river indigenous people and the U. S. Government defined the boundaries of the Warm Springs Reservation, and the fishing rights of the indigenous people both on the reservation and in nearby traditional fishing sites. It took until 1996 for an industrious member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to found a guiding service giving non-native clients access to the amazing fishing on the Reservation (western)  side of the Deschutes River below Warm Springs. Al Bagley, born in Sweet Home, had worked in the lumber mill (and fished the river) for years when he conceived of his guiding service; and everyone’s life took a turn for the better. Al called his outfit RiverBend Guide Service, and quickly developed a superb program and a large client list. He initially started with trout and expanded into summer steelhead as his business developed. Later in his 20-year tenure he introduced his grandson Matt Mendes to the business as a shuttle driver, and since 2016 the roles have reversed with Matt helming the re-named Spin The Handle guide service, and grandfather Al driving shuttles. It remains one of the best non-secrets in Oregon fly fishing.

Al is an extremely likeable, gregarious gentleman with many, many stories to tell about his life and the evolution of his guiding career. Please make reservations to attend the first regular meeting of the Flyfisher’s Club of Oregon in 2024. Bring a spouse, significant other or guests if possible, and also get an update on the status of the revamping process for the FCO that is ongoing.