When do the fish move back to the lake?

bobcb · Member

When do the fish move back to the lake?

JT · Senior Member

What time of day were you fishing the other day?� You don't know the water temperature, but what was the air temperature?� These could be factors.� Also, what flies were you using?� Lately, I've been catching fish on egg patterns before and after the hatches.� During the mayfly hatch, I've been catching fish on midges and mayfly patterns.

As far as the fish returning to the lake, it seems to me that they just kind of spread out through the whole system.� In the middle of summer you can still find big fish in the creek if you know where to look (usually slower moving stretches of the creek).� One thing to remember is that the fish do move around quite a bit.� This varies with flows, insect activity, and catch rate.� They need an area with oxygen, food, and shelter.� They want to feel secure, so�they won't usually�hang around the same area that they keep getting caught.

shon42073 · Senior Member

From my expereince the better fishing anytime of year is in the creek, havent caught many wild fish in the lake, just alot of planters. I think maybe the combination of really cold weather and the spawn are making for rather slow fishing lately, I've been hitting the #2 and #3 access areas pretty hard the last few weeks and havent had much luck, also have had better luck this year with a little higher flows then we have had this winter, I really like the creek to flow around 200 to 300 cfm but any higher and wading is a little dangerous there. I cannot verify this but have heard that the browns tend to spend alot of time in the lake, would really like to catch a putah creek brown, starting to wonder if they exist, LOL.

JT · Senior Member

I have seen a few HUGE browns in the lake and in the creek around #5.� I have only landed one brown on Putah, though.� I caught it at #5 on a #20 adams.� He was rising consistently and my first cast hit him on the nose as he rose for a real fly-BAD timing!� He didn't get spooked, though.� The next cast landed him.� He wasn't all that big, but it was still memorable.� I'll have to agree with you captain on the flows.� I love the flows up around 300 cfs.� The fish are less spooky and�it's easier to get a good drift.� �

bono · Master Fly Fishing Guide

JT pretty much summed it up so I'm not going to repeat what he said.As far as the browns are concerned,I haven't caught caught a brown above access #4 for about 10 or so years.I talked with a DFG rep yesterday and he said that the last planting of browns in Lk Solano was three years ago and there is no plans to plant anymore because browns are a non-native species and they compete with the resident populations of rainbows.

chemdoc · Senior Member

My buddy Andan caught a nice 24 inch brown a couple of years ago in Solano, and last February during the few days the flows dropped he landed a 29 inch brown at access 5.� I have seen a couple of browns in the creek but never been able to catch one.

Phil

bobcb · Member

Thanks for the comments.�I was fishing from 2pm to 4pm and the �air temperature was quite warm, probably in the high sixties, and sunny, although it followed a long spell of really low temperatures.�Using 18-20 micro mayflies, with a #20 zebra midge and a red midge pattern. Now you suggest it, egg patterns would have been a good idea with the lack of insects.
How do you fish the slower, deeper stretches in the summer?

shon42073 · Senior Member

I havent tried it yet, but i plan to try some of the slower deeper large areas with my float tube and a sink tip line, probably strip woolly buggers. Problem is i need alot more practice with the sink tip, I have found them a little difficult to work with.

JT · Senior Member

In the slower sections, I've used damselflies and midges, both under an indicator and by themselves. �It's pretty nice to kick around in a float tube.� There's still quite a bit of current in the slow sections, so be careful.�

Today, I hit the creek.��It was a pretty humbling day.� I fished for about four hours and only hooked 3.� There was a decent BWO hatch, but there just weren't as many fish in the normal spots.� Bobcb was right.� The fish are definitely moving.

bobcb · Member

That's the first time I've heard of damsel flies being used at Putah Creek. What sizes damsel flies and midges do you use? How far below the surface do you fish? I suppose you dead drift them below the indicator?

JT · Senior Member

When using midges, I use #18-20.� When using Damselflies, I use #12.� For a description on the damsels, look in "Other Rivers, Streams, and Lakes" under "Warm Water".� I use a long leader in slow, deep water.� You can add tippet to your leader until you the depth that the fish are at.� If I go deeper than the length of my rod, I won't use use an indicator.� It makes it too hard to land the fish.�

-- Edited by JT at 20:43, 2007-01-28

JT · Senior Member

I should mention that there won't be any significant damselfly hatches for a couple months.� The nymphs are in the water year round, though they're�slightly smaller than right before the hatch.� Dragonfly nymphs�would probably work pretty good in the�slower areas as well.� �