Fishtrap

Fishtrap Founded in 1988, Fishtrap's mission is to cultivate clear thinking and good writing in and about the West. So began an annual tradition.

Fishtrap is a watering hole for creative writers, avid readers, and thoughtful people who are passionate about the place we live. It was in the mid 1980s when Wallowa County bookstore owner Rich Wandschneider attended a Western writers conference in Portland, Oregon, but something didn’t feel quite right. Rich told conference organizer Kim Stafford that it seemed the event wasn’t really a gatherin

g of writers of the West, but of Willamette Valley “I-5 writers.” Kim agreed, then issued a challenge: “Why don’t you host the next one in Wallowa County?” In 1988, Wandschneider, Stafford, and the award-winning journalist and historian, Alvin Josephy organized a gathering at Wallowa Lake with the theme “West Coast Writers and East Coast Publishers.”

The Summer Fishtrap Gathering of Writers was born. Every July, readers, writers, journalists, historians, publishers, and lovers of the arts from all over the world gather at Wallowa Lake to write, to explore issues important to people of the West, and to make connections. The weeklong conference has provided hundreds of writers the opportunity to work with some of the best authors and teachers in the West including Ursula K. LeGuin, Luis Alberto Urrea, Bill Kittredge, Laura Pritchett, Anis Mojgani, Kathleen Dean Moore and many, many others. Over the years Fishtrap grew to add new programs like Winter Fishtrap, The Big Read, and the Outpost wilderness writing program. More recently, Fishtrap has expanded to include youth programming, the Fishtrap Fireside reading series, and several in-person and online workshops throughout the year. Fishtrap founders Rich Wandschneider and Kim Stafford continue to be closely associated with Fishtrap as Advisors and since 2015, Shannon McNerney has led the organization as Executive Director building on Fishtrap’s mission to “promote clear thinking and good writing in and about the West.”

Do you know a budding storyteller aged 9-13 who is looking for a way to unleash their creativity? Dive into a week of im...
07/09/2026

Do you know a budding storyteller aged 9-13 who is looking for a way to unleash their creativity? Dive into a week of imagination and creative writing, and theatre at Youth Summer Fishtrap. Led by instructors Eric Braman and Amy Fairchild, students will explore creative writing, storytelling, and performing in a weeklong workshop designed to help them to express what’s inside, learn to listen to the stories of others and connect with a community of storytellers.

Youth Summer Fishtrap takes place Monday–Friday from 9:00am–2:00pm. The program concludes Friday evening with a special showcase open to the public.
Registration is $150 and includes all materials and lunch. A 5% discount is available for families with multiple participating students.

Learn more and register at https://fishtrap.org/sfyw2026/

Youth Summer Fishtrap August 10–14. Registration open now! Read More Give Support clear thinking and good writing now, and into the future. Read More 2026 Summer Fishtrap Fellows Meet our 2026 Fishtrap Fellows Read More Coming up at Fishtrap: Youth Summer Fishtrap August 10–14. Registration open...

Before we head out for a long holiday weekend, we want to thank all of this year's Summer Fishtrap writers, faculty, fel...
07/02/2026

Before we head out for a long holiday weekend, we want to thank all of this year's Summer Fishtrap writers, faculty, fellows, volunteers, sponsors, Fishtrappers, and those who joined us from town or online for a wonderful week exploring Our American Story. It may have been the coldest Summer Fishtrap on record, but you all kept our hearts warm! 🥰 ☔

Tonight! Summer Fishtrap comes to a close with the Keynote Address from Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston, plus readi...
06/27/2026

Tonight! Summer Fishtrap comes to a close with the Keynote Address from Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston, plus readings from this year's Fishtrap Fellows, Indira Khera and Sam Olson, 7:30pm at Wallowa Lake Lodge.

Tickets $15/$12.50 for Fishtrappers* – Buy online or at the door. Virtual tickets are also available

*Registered Summer Fishtrap participants and volunteers do NOT need tickets.


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7:30 tonight at Wallowa Lake Lodge, grab a chair under the big tent and hear readings from Chip Blake, Beth Piatote, and...
06/25/2026

7:30 tonight at Wallowa Lake Lodge, grab a chair under the big tent and hear readings from Chip Blake, Beth Piatote, and Fishtrap co-founder and best friend, Kim Stafford. Author signing to follow in the Lodge lobby.

Free and open to the public. Can't join us in person? Watch online at fishtrap.org or on our YouTube channel.

Come on up to Wallowa Lake Lodge for Wednesday night's Summer Fishtrap readings featuring faculty Tim Z. Hernandez, Laur...
06/24/2026

Come on up to Wallowa Lake Lodge for Wednesday night's Summer Fishtrap readings featuring faculty Tim Z. Hernandez, Laura Pritchett, and Ana Maria Spagna. The free program starts at 7:30pm. Better yet, come early, grab a bite or a cocktail, and a raffle ticket or 6.

Author signing to follow in the Lodge lobby. Books available to purchase from the Bookloft.

Can't come in person? Join us online at fishtrap.org or on YouTube.



We're having a great time at Wallowa Lake Lodge this week. Come on down and join in the fun!
06/24/2026

We're having a great time at Wallowa Lake Lodge this week. Come on down and join in the fun!

It's finally time! 7:30 tonight at Wallowa Lake Lodge, Fishtrap Program Director Mike Midlo officially welcomes you to S...
06/23/2026

It's finally time! 7:30 tonight at Wallowa Lake Lodge, Fishtrap Program Director Mike Midlo officially welcomes you to Summer Fishtrap as he hosts this opening night event, featuring an opening address from Executive Director Shannon McNerney, and a featured reading from faculty member Ellen Waterston. Author signing to follow in the Lodge lobby.

Free and open to the public. Can't join us in person? Watch online at fishtrap.org or on our YouTube channel.

Do you have a couple of hours to spare next week? Volunteer at Summer Fishtrap! We depend on the support of volunteers ...
06/18/2026

Do you have a couple of hours to spare next week? Volunteer at Summer Fishtrap! We depend on the support of volunteers to make this annual event run smoothly. There are still lots of shifts to choose from — each lasting three hours or less.

Come hang out with some of the best writers in the West, and receive a free ticket to Saturday night's finale, the Keynote address with Ellen Waterston, as a thank you.

https://fishtrap.org/volunteer-at-summer-fishtrap-2-2-2/

WE NEED YOU! Volunteer at Summer Fishtrap. From set-up on Monday to tear-down on Sunday, we depend on the support of vol...
06/09/2026

WE NEED YOU! Volunteer at Summer Fishtrap. From set-up on Monday to tear-down on Sunday, we depend on the support of volunteers to make this annual event run smoothly. There are plenty of shifts to choose from — each lasting three hours or less. Come hang out with some of the best writers in the West, and receive a free ticket to Saturday night's finale, the Keynote address with Ellen Waterston, as a thank you.

https://fishtrap.org/volunteer-at-summer-fishtrap-2-2-2/

Volunteer at Summer Fishtrap We need you! Help us make the 39th Summer Fishtrap Gathering of Writers a big success. From set-up on Monday to tear-down on Sunday, we depend on the support of over 40 volunteers to make this annual event run smoothly. There are a variety of jobs and shifts to choose fr...

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107 W Main Street
Enterprise, OR
97828

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