Last year, Mia Sheppard of Little Creek Outfitters called us here at Swing The Fly with an idea: she wanted to bring back the Sandy River Spey Clave.
We visited with Mia to go behind the scenes and learn how (and WHY) one of the greatest gatherings of the spey tribe on the West Coast returns May 9th and 10th, 2025.
1. What inspired you to decide to bring back the Sandy River Spey Clave in 2025?
The last clave I went to was in 2019. For me, the Sandy River Spey Clave was all about community, friendship, and having fun geeking out on spey casting. I missed it, and so did many other people. I called up Zach Williams at Swing the Fly to talk about bringing it back and he thought that would be great and Swing the Fly would support my efforts. I’m inspired to reconnect with people face to face, geek out on spey casting and continue growing the sport.
2. What is your favorite memory of the Sandy River Spey Clave?
I have a lot of great memories from past claves. My favorite memories are watching our daughter Tegan run around each year from the time she was old enough to walk, collecting stickers, eating licorice and talking to everyone. It felt like a family was watching after Tegan. She’s 17 now, and will be there this year helping out.
Also, the time Whitney Gould and I organized the first women’s day was in 2009, that was a great memory. Prior to 2009, women had never presented at the clave. After that, Mark started adding women to the on-water presentation line up each year. It really was a milestone for women to be given the opportunity to give presentations.
3. What is the thing you are most looking forward to ADDING to the legacy of the Sandy River Spey Clave?
There are two things I’m excited about. A tyers’ tent with a lineup of very talented PNW tyers. Also, adding an event on Friday called the Sandy River Showdown, a fun competition for the first 30 people who sign up. The event will entail 3 skills. One skill will be casting. Airflo will give a spey line to each contestant and Grundens and Airflo have donated prizes to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. It’s free to enter!
4. What is the thing you are most looking forward to CONTINUING as a part of the legacy of the SRSC, this year?
I’m looking forward to the entire event. From the vendors to the on-water presentations to the fly-tyers and the taco bar on Saturday. It’s a time for everyone to come together and share their knowledge.
5. What does a “Clave” mean to you?
It’s s a gathering for people to come together, to hang out. A place to talk shop and share ideas.
6. What presentation are you looking forward to the most?
All of them, I can’t pick one ! So honored that everyone is taking time out of their busy schedules to show up and share their knowledge. Dec Hogan will be coming from Utah, Timmy Arsenult from Canada. You have George Cook, Scott O’Donnell, Marty Sheppard, Josh Linn, Jon Hazlett and Amy Hazel who have presented in the past and a number of top notch guides who will be presenting for the first time ; Gill Muhleman, Rob Crandell, Jason Osborn, James Millard, Alex Gonsiewski and Eric Leininger.
7. Tell us about the FOOD!?
I was really nervous at first, thinking about feeding 300 or 400 people for free on Saturday. A few friends have said, are you crazy? I know this: food and fishing bring people together.
I’m so thankful for everyone’s help – Justin Waters at Grundens connected me to Traeger Wood Fire Grill . Traeger is donating and preparing smoked chicken and pork and warming tortillas for tacos. My friend Taylor Stinnett will be making homemade slaw and salsa and I’m making the beans. I want to thank the Flyfishers Foundation for donating funds to help cover the additional cost of Saturday’s lunch too. It’s going to be delicious !
8. There are some special rules, can you remind folks what they are?
Oxbow Regional Park, a 1,000-acre natural area park in Oregon, has rules including no smoking or vaping, no pets (except service animals), and no feeding wildlife or harvesting plants.
9. What does it mean to you to carry on the next era of the Sandy River Clave?
Mark and Patti referred to the Sandy River Spey Clave as the “Woodstock of Spey Casting Events.” It’s been a lot of energy putting it together, but it wouldn’t be possible without the whole community coming together to make it happen. I’m really excited to bring the community together.