I looked at the current flows for this weekend and it looks like it is going to be around 350. What is good for fishing? Anything under 400? Is a flow like 40 too slow? What's ideal?If anyone knows more on flows, let me know.
The flows I like are somewhere between 150-400 bonefish. Some spots in the mid summer I like around 600. Everybody is different though. If the creek steadies for a few days it should be okay. When they drop it too fast it sometimes gets weird and damn slippery too. My favorite winter run is just priming as we speak.
I preffere 100 to 300 on the flows. Last winter they stayed around 50 for a long time and in my opinion that makes for less then desirable fishing. As cole stated, my favorite winter hole is also "priming". And this year I ain't telling nobody were it is . I learned my lesson on that. Also if ya don't know browns are gonna start spawning soon, So if ya see em maybe you should leave em alone. Ahhhh wont be long now, freezing your butt off, standing knee deep in putah, maybe a little rain, foggy, Man i cant wait !
I have been keeping a Putah Creek fishing journal for about six years. Around five years ago I started to record the current flow for each trip. My journal has REALLY helped me to remember what spots were hot at each current flow. Thus, before I go fishing I look up the existing current flow and then I can usually figure out which spots might be good. I ususally don't have to waste a lot of time looking for where to fish; I have a good idea before I get to the stream. Thus, for any flow less that 550 CFS, I have a pretty good idea where the fish will be. Above 550 CFS (Summer flows), fishing is less consistent and generally pretty tough.
For anyone new to Putah who is serious about learning the stream, I would highly recommend starting a fishing journal (and always record the flow). I actually record each fish I catch, but you don't have to be this exact. Even a few lines that summarizes the trip can be helpful. It may seem time consuming, but it's really worth every bit of the effort.
I like it between about 80-250cfs. Its definately much easier to explore the creek when the water is low. The fish also tend to pod up when it gets lower. Last winter I was fishing and the water was around 60cfs the first pool that I fished that day I hooked 12 nice rainbows on about my first 15 drifts. I thought I was going to have an epic day, I fished lots of other water that day but I didnt touch another fish the whole day. If I wouldnt have fished that pool I would have been skunked. Another thing that was wierd about that day is all my fish I hooked were on a #10 hairs ear with big rubber legs, I threw it on there just to so that my dropper fly would get nice and deep and all the fish went for the hares ear and didnt touch my midge pattern. Cant wait till the flows drop a bit more.
Good flows, thats tough i like all the different flows we get throughout a year. You just have to be flexible on where to fish. I know right now its time to start exploring those not so fished areas and if you find fish they aint so wise to our tricks.
Thanks evryone for your feed back, it is very helpfull. I love sal****er flyfishing and am new to fishing rivers. I usually have luck when i go to Putah creek and am absorbing as much information as i can. This forum is great for that. I am fishing this weekend, probably Saturday. Thanks!
