Hi all. I just moved to Vancouver, WA from Great Falls, MT and brought my C-182 P with me. I would appreciate any information on the best airports or strips within an hour or two from Vancouver to fly into and fish. Thanks for whatever information you can provide.

I've been enjoying flyfishing the Crooked River and the John Day. As I live in Bend, the Deschutes is right in our backyard.

You can get really close to the McKenzie river at McKenzie Bridge.

Thanks. I'm planning to fly out to Madras or Redmond Friday for some Deschutes and maybe Crooked River flyfishing.

ZZZ I'll look into that. I'm not very familiar with the Mac.

Frankenflaps wrote:Hi all. I just moved to Vancouver, WA from Great Falls, MT and brought my C-182 P with me. I would appreciate any information on the best airports or strips within an hour or two from Vancouver to fly into and fish. Thanks for whatever information you can provide.

Here are some suggestions in Oregon. You are welcome to camp at all of them, but there are no facilities.

McKenzie Bridge (44.18156 / -122.08556) - walk across the road to the USFS Paradise Campground and direct access to the McKenzie River. The water level in the river may still be a bit too high for reasonable fly fishing, but it is a lovely spot. A relatively straight forward backcountry airstrip that requires some caution - refer to the safety briefing.

Chukar Flat (45.22606 / -120.54377) - the John Day River is immediately adjacent and fishing is good from the gravel bar. A moderately challenging backcountry airstrip.

Bull Run (45.44997 / -120.86369) the Lower Deschutes River is immediately adjacent. A moderately challenging backcountry airstrip.

Tokatee State (43.22344 / -122.42117) - a 30 to 40 minute walk down the hill to Fish Creek. A very easy backcountry airstrip.

Wild Billy Lake (42.49282 / -121.32009) - a private airstrip on a spring fed lake. The owners just stocked the lake with 1,000 3.5 lbs trout last week. You need permission to use the airstrip and fish the lake.

Red's Horse Ranch (45.34456 / -117.62654) - short walk to the Minam River. Probably still too wet to use the airstrip until June.

Dug Bar (45.80651 / -116.68929) - the Snake River is immediately adjacent. A relatively straight forward backcountry airstrip in great condition.

Information for all of these airstrips, and many more, can be found at https://airfield.guide.

If you are staying in Central Oregon, you should also try fishing the Fall River (outside of Sunriver) and the Metolius River (outside Sisters).

Have fun and stay safe

Richard

Thanks so much I'll check them out.

A few more, some of which require a bit of walking, or bring a bike:

West Fork of the Hood River, about a mile from the Hood River airport. Check out the WAAAM museum on the airport if you go.

Skykomish River at Skykomish State.

Lake Wenatchee and Fish Lake at Lake Wenatchee airport.

Stehekin River at Stehekin State.

Rimrock Lake and Tieton River at Tieton State. Can get a bit wilder on the weekends in the adjacent campsites. Frequently cows on the runway.

Sauk River at Darrington.

Snoqualmie River at Bandera State. Too close to I-90 to feel like solitude, but it is there and the river is adjecent to the airport.

I've been wanting to try the Nehalem River at Vernonia. The airport is a quiet grass strip with fun approaches, and the river runs right along the south side of the strip.

Idaho is amazing and worth making a longer trip.

Check the local regs. I haven't been to some of these places in a long while, and some of the rivers are restricted.

Thanks. Plan to make it to many of these this summer.

Hey, great list. Thanks.

jcadwell wrote:
I've been wanting to try the Nehalem River at Vernonia. The airport is a quiet grass strip with fun approaches, and the river runs right along the south side of the strip.

I've been flying into Vernonia for years and I never noticed this. WTF is wrong with me? Gonna pay more attention next time and take my rod.

Thanks. Plan to make it to many of these this summer.

Zzz wrote:Hey, great list. Thanks.

I've been flying into Vernonia for years and I never noticed this. WTF is wrong with me? Gonna pay more attention next time and take my rod.

I know, right? I've flown there a few times, but never brought a rod. Fun strip. Campground right on the river.

I didn’t see anybody mention daybreak it’s a whole 10 minutes from Pearson air Park. And you can camp right there. Just remember all patterns on the north east side away from the river


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richw56 wrote: I didn’t see anybody mention daybreak ....

Daybreak is awesome!!
Never fished there, but I've rode the rope swing & swum in the river.
Do the Swanson's still have an "open door" policy?

I haven’t heard anything different I’ve been flying in there for the last 20 years and haven’t had any problems. occasionally they have a family party wedding or something like that. I was going in there a week ago and they were mowing The grass, they must’ve had seven vehicles and two tractors down there working on the runway. So we just pass them bye let them have time to do the mowing without having to deal with an airplane. A couple of hours later on our way home we over flew the field and they were having a family party so we decided to just keep on heading home and let them have some privacy. Daybreak is only about 10 minutes from my house so we’re in there quite often 2 to 3 times a week we usually stay for a couple of hours because it’s so nice and I get a chance to walk the dog and sit and stare at the river. We also did one camp out already this year.


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The owner's older daughter got married on the field there a number of years ago,
they set it up for my friend to fly over & drop Hershey's Kisses with the bride-n-groom's name on them.
Big hit!
The Swansons are super nice people.

I love daybreak! I've camped a few times now. The water isn't to bad in the summer, but haven't tried fishing yet!

I used to fish the East Fork of the Lewis for Steelhead years ago, before moving away from the area. My friend Andy and I caught a decent number of steelhead there. I lost touch with him some years ago, but I'll look him up. Thanks for all the suggestions and I'll definitely head to many of the ones mentioned. A friend of mine and I also have a fly fishing product on the market, Air-Lock strike indicators, so I'm always looking for places to test new prototypes. Much appreciated. See you in the backcountry or on the water. Just hopefully not accidentally on the water in the backcountry!

I made it into Vernonia a few weeks ago. The river was really warm, and perfect for wet wading. It's a few minute walk from the grass strip through a campground. I was constantly getting bites, but the smallest flies I brought were 18's. Even so, I landed the monster trout below. I bet with 22's I could get enough to fill a tin. During the right (colder) time of year, I bet it would fish nicely.



Next I made it up to Stehekin. The Kokanee are running this time of year, and are bright red. Literally everywhere, with no interest in eating. I didn't catch anything, but it was a beautiful day.

Lastly, my local bluegill lake is fished out. Everything you can catch on a worm is gone. The action continues with #20's...

jcadwell wrote:.....Next I made it up to Stehekin. The Kokanee are running this time of year, and are bright red. Literally everywhere, with no interest in eating. I didn't catch anything, but it was a beautiful day. ....

I've walked the river before at Stehekin when the kokanee are running.
It's an awesome sight.