President’s Message – June 2019

jim w mai tai

 

Thanks to everyone who helped make the 2019 Flyfishers auction a great success.  We raised a record amount of money in the paddle raise for Water Watch of Oregon to help with their work on the Crooked River restoration project.  Janet Arenz will be providing a more detailed account but from my perspective, a good time was certainly had by all.

Thanks also to everyone who heeded my president’s call for fishing pix.  There are a lot of nice fish and photos from the Rocky Ridge club outing on May 18 in the Gallery.

Unfortunately, I missed that event because I was on vacation in Hawaii (cue up the pity party music).  Lisa and I spent 10 days relaxing in Hilo and Kona on the Big Island.  It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with nature in a beautiful setting.  We followed the sun, getting up before daybreak, swimming, snorkeling with sea turtles, napping under the trees during the midday heat, and enjoying fresh fish and tropical fruits.  We watched every sunset with appropriate celebratory beverages, and were asleep before 9 most nights.  Truly a needed recharge.

I’m looking forward to some upcoming Oregon fishing trips chasing trout on the Grande Ronde River (flows permitting – it’s still ripping along at 10,000 cfs as of this writing) and still water fishing for lunkers at Grindstone Lakes.

Don’t forget our next club fishing outing at Goose Lake near Mt. Adams is coming up soon.  I won’t be missing this one.  We fish on Saturday June 15.  The event is free but you will need a Washington fishing license.

Tight lines and enjoy the gorgeous spring weather while it lasts.

Jim Hillas

Kona Sunset