new to putah

phil · Newbie

new to putah

SCM · Senior Member

Hi, Welcome to California.� I don't know if you will get a board regular to reply;� I have noticed the newbies (me included) get ignored unless you've met a regular poster on the creek.� In any case, I might have some ideas about your problem with tangling the nymph rig.� First question, how do you rig you nymph set-up?� I always have had�a miserable time with tanlges�when I tied two nymph droppers off the tippet�and placed the weight at the end of the tippet.� I have had a much better experience by�tying one nympth to the tippet then taking another length of tippet, tying�it�to the shank of the first nymph, and connecting another fly�to the end.�I then placed the weight between the two flies.� I usually do this with a cork indicator to control depth.

Hope that helps.� Good luck.

phil · Newbie

Thanks SCM. I,ve been putting the weight 6" behind the first fly so I'll try your suggestion. Why do you think the vets ignore the newbies? I've been there during the week and haven't seen another soul.

bkerbs · Veteran Member

Welcome to California. Putah creek is a good place to fish. It will give you a good variety of fishing conditions. With your nymph set up, do you back cast alot. Sometimes with multiple nymph set ups, back cast means tangles. A water haul cast is a good way to avoid tangles. With two nymphs I put weight first then run my flies down from the weight. I put a larger fly first, then a smaller fly tailing. On larger rivers I can add a third fly, with the water haul cast, I rarley get tangles. Good luck fishing.

SCM · Senior Member

phil wrote:

Thanks SCM. I,ve been putting the weight 6" behind the first fly so I'll try your suggestion. Why do you think the vets ignore the newbies? I've been there during the week and haven't seen another soul.�

I can't really reason why the new folks get no responses to their posts from the vets...maybe their just shy.� I�have a feeling�the vets know each other from their time fishing Putah.� It is a small creek with a lot of fishing pressure (go on a weekend and there are lot of anglers) and I figure some of the guys are protective of their honey holes and fishing techniques.� I have found this to be�true on other fly fishing forums.��

In any case,�bkerbs' casting suggestion is good.� Since the creek is�so tight with brush false casting is not advised. Instead,�I usually lob my nymph rig using the current at the end of the�swing to load the fly rod, sort of like a hook-shot.� I can't�even remember when I last�tried to false cast a weighted nymph set-up...way to hard to control and tangles like an�SOB.
��

phil · Newbie

Thanks SCM , for the casting tp. Is there any movement towards designating for special trout water. Who do you write to?

phil · Newbie

Thanks bkerbs. I googled haul cast and got an animation. California takes some adjusting to as new mexico is so dry. Good luck to you!

Matt R · Senior Member

Wecome to the boards everyone.� bkerbs set up and casting technique he explained is exactly what you need to do at putah. lots of roll casting and you can pretty much see you rig hit the water and see that it is in line and not tangled. Phil good question about the strikes right away than zero this happens to me alot. I know the first few drifts in a new spot are most likely to get hammered but why it can shut down a hole when you miss em i'm not sure maybe the trout tells the other trout to stay off that stuff it's bad.� Try changing fly's and you should produce some more action. sometimes i change both fly's just to give them a different look. And as for being hush hush we are sometimes, during the summer flows good fishing spots are limited so finding a good spot to fish is kinda up to the angler. Exploring the creek is how alot of us learned where to fish and when.� During the winter good spots are a dime a dozen.��

cole · Senior Member

Phil if you're from NM hopefully you fished the San Juan?� If I remeber correctly most of the smaller bugs that hold weight there also work out at Putah.� Pheasant tails are pheasant tails and work everywhere, especially Putah.� I'm not giving away a big secret there.� Putah is at times very tricky to fish.� Most of us so called vets would be more than happy to rap creekside about bugs and techniques but sometimes this isn't the place to do so.� Right now one small split shot is good.� As the water drops switch to yarn indies or the smallest pinch on you can find.�
The patience you need will lose you that first big fish.� You're falling asleep and then WHACK!� Fish gone, go back. yawn

chemdoc · Senior Member

Hi Phil,

I took some classes from American Fly Shop when I first started fly fishing a few years ago.� Their rig, which has always worked well for me, is to place the split shot about a foot above the first fly and attach the second fly to the hook on the top fly, about 12 to 15 inches below.� Lob casting works well to avoid tangles.� At the end of your drift, just lift the line from the water and lob the rig in a high arc over your head.� This, of course, goes against everything you learn about regular casting, but works well with the nymphing rig.� I also commonly roll cast the rig when I am trying to cast across the stream rather than upstream.� Good luck.

Phil

SCM · Senior Member

phil wrote:

Thanks SCM , for the casting tp. Is there any movement towards designating for special trout water. Who do you write to?

Hi Phil,

I recall reading some where, maybe even here, that there have been requests to designate Putah Creek as a wild trout fishery.� However, I believe the CDFG has declined to apply such a designation.� I unfortunately cannot recall the reasoning.�However,�I would assume there might be politics involved; special designations often bring water use restrictions for�end users (e.g., agriculture). Although�I think many in the fly fishing community who frequent Putah would welcome additional regulation of the fishery (at least I do; I see an awful lot of bait fishermen taking some nice fish out of the creek, so catch and release only would be nice).

By the way, you got some vets to respond...good on you.� Oh ya, definitely check out (if you haven't�already)�the information on the New Zealand Mud Snail.� They are a nasty invasive organism that raises hell on the creek ecosystem.� They cling to your gear and can be transported to other waters if you don't decontaminate.� See the thread posted by FlyGirl, there are some recommended methods to clean your gear.

JT · Senior Member

I haven't noticed any ignoring of newbies.� I always try to help when questions are asked.� The only secrets I have are fishing spots (for the same reasons that Matt has stated).�

Anyway, my rig is like most others.� I usually use yarn indicators.� I make them myself, so I can use the smallest possible.� I change them often, depending on the current and the amount of weight I'm using.� I want them to barely support the weight of my set up.� They're more sensitive that way.� They are really easy to move as well.� I'm constantly changing the depth of my indicator, trying to get deep enough to find the fish.� I use split shot about 12" above my first fly.� Lately I've been using two BB sized split shot.� Sometimes I even use three BB's.� If you're not catching moss, you're not deep enough.� I tie�12" of tippet to the bend of the first fly to which I attach a smaller fly.�

If you're not catching fish, change!� A lot people are lazy and don't want to go through the trouble of changing flies, weight, depth, tippet size, or location.� I know, because I used to be one of those people.� Don't be afraid of change.� ��

Nohackle · Senior Member

JT, I make my own yarn indicators, as well.� I use poly yarn and some small wire.� However, I have never figured out a good way to make them easy to adjust up and down the tippet.� I just re-tie the tippet knot, but there has to be a better way.� If I am shortening the tippet, I have to cut the tippet and re-tie one knot.� However, if I want to lengthen the tippet, I have to use new tippet material and tie two knots (and add splitshot).� Have you figured out a better way to make the indicator adjustable up and down the tippet?

Don · Newbie

I am very new to the sport. I have been reading all of the posts for about a month or so, and the information has been extremely helpful. Two weeks ago I finally went camping at Lake Solano with my wife and four-year-old. We kyaked up the creek, and I did some fly fishing for the first time in my life. I didn't really care about catching anything, I just wanted to explore and have fun. That first week, I caught a log, three trees, my hat, and my hand (ouch). I started to figure things out a little, and watched what some other guys were doing. Last Thursday, I went fishing using a nymph rig similar to JT's rig. I only know a couple of knots, so after attatching a #18 Copper John, I threaded a 5x tippet througth the eye of that fly. Then I attatched a #20 PT to the end of that. I was using two split shot about 12 inches above the first fly. My yarn indicator was useless, sliding up and down the line because I couldn't figure out how to tie it on. With all that said, I caught my first fish ever on a fly rod. He hit the PT. He was only five inches long, but I caught a fish!

SCM · Senior Member

Hi,

Ah the joys of learning how to cast.� I recall hooking my cheek when I started.� I learned a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses, and barbless hooks were great safety measures when first learning to cast.� As for trees and logs, well, no matter how good you get throwing a fly, you still find a way to snag them once in a while.��

One way to keep a yarn indicator from moving (without tying it into the leader)�is take the piece of yarn, fold it in half and take a small rubber band (the ones used for dental braces) and push it over the folded (this can step can be really frustrating because the rubber bands are�quite small; I use my hemostat to open the bands gently)�end to create a loop.� Simply thread your leader between the folded end of the yarn and rubberband.� Finally, cinch down the rubber band/yarn tight against the leader.� Add fly floatant to the yarn and you should be good to go.� Otherwise, I have seen some spring loaded clip and�yarn indicators at flytyingspecialties.com that pinch onto the leader.� I haven't used them, but they seem like they should work if you don't want to make your own.

chemdoc · Senior Member

Dental rubber bands work great for adjustable indicators.� A few years ago�a guide named Charlie Costner showed me how to rig it up.� If you stop by American Fly Shop they sell the yarn and usually have rubber bands.� I get mine from the kids orthodontist.� If I run into you on the creek, I would be happy to show you.� I'll try to explain in words, but a picture would be better.�

Crimp your leader near the butt end and slide a Debbie band several inches down the leader.� Take a Squirrel band and stretch it between your thumb and forefinger.� Take the loop of the leader and slip it though the rubberband.� Wrap it over and back through the band a total of four times.� This will pinch the loop in the leader.� Put a piece of yarn (2 inches or so) through the loop in the leader and slide the squirrel band up against the yarn.� Then slide the Debbie band up over the bottom of the yarn.� This bends it so the two sides are pushed together.� Then comb it out to fluff the yarn and treat it with floatant.� The leader will stay in place but can be readily moved up or down the leader.

This sounds way more complicated than it is.� I just found a link online that shows some photos.� It is at http://flyfisherman.com/skills/dgnymphing101/index3.html.� The only thing Dick doesn't do in his article is slide the second band over the base of the yarn.� This really helps keep the indicator well shaped to float.� Good luck.

Phil

JL · Senior Member

Whenever I see a question I can answer, I try to offer what advice I can.

No one wants to give up their spots - those are earned with time on the creek.� As far as flies, techniques and general help, I've found this board to be extremely useful and helpful.

For a yarn indicator, I just buy long lengths (some comes in a handy dispenser - almost like a little spool) and secure it with a slip knot.� This is by far the easiest way to tie on the indicator and to move it.

To tie a slip knot, just make a loop in the leader where you want to put the indicator.� Then make another loop, and feed this loop through the first loop.� Put the yarn through the second loop and pull it back through nice and tight.� To move the indicator, just pull on the yarn, loosening the knot and repeat lower or higher on the leader.

Very simple.

Casting a weighted double nymph rig for me has always been best done with a water haul or roll cast.� It just takes practice.� Also, with tangles, follow the two minute rule.� If the tangle is at all bad, and it will take you more than a minute or two to undo, just cut the hooks free and retie.� That will prove less frustrating and more effective in the long run, I promise!

JL

JT · Senior Member

I make my own indicators with poly yarn and tying thread.� Wrap the middle section of the�yarn with thread.� Fold the yarn in half, forming a loop in the part of the yarn that was wrapped.� Wrap the tying thread around the top of this loop.� Whip finish and apply head cement or some sort of glue to seal the thread wraps.� Tie the indicator to the leader with a loop knot.� It will easily slide up or down the leader.� If it slides too easily, you can tie a half hitch after the loop knot.�