So, while Brian was busy breaking his new rod, I was busy setting a new personal record for hooked fish, every single one a native, most between 10 and 17 inches, and countless - I mean countless hooked and lost PIGs. I hooked a PIG that was so strong, the hook melted from the friction as it sped down stream. Seriously - that fish went about 50 yard downs stream faster than any trout I've ever caught, even steelhead. I got him in a back eddy where the real pigs lie, and by the time I saw him surface 50 yards later, he shook his head at me as if to say 'uh uh' and was gone. Talk about adrenaline. Couple casts later another monster on, and lost again as quickly. But not as big. That first fish was scary strong.
In any event, I posted back in April (I think) about an epic day, and this was in the same spot, with about the same flows (I think) and the same time - about 8:00 til about 12:00.
People - it was insane. I kept hoping someone would come crashing through the bushes so I could share the experience with them. At one point, from my rocky perch in a deep pool, after catching 15 or so natives in about 30 minutes - a big fish spashed in some calmer water not ten feet above me where a waterfall emptied into the pool. He was chasing a caddis, I think, by the way he rose and by the fact that there were lots of caddis buzzing around. Did I tie a caddis on and try to get him? Hell no - I just threw the same tightline / heavy weight nymphing rig at him, right at my feet almost. First cast, BAM - 17 incher. I lost so many pigs today, I don't know how to describe it. I lost pigs I saw, lost pigs I didn't see, I lost pigs that went upstram, downstream, jumped in the air, rocketed along the surface, and pigs that hunkered down like a log and then shook their head and got loose. Never was broken off by one, but man are they hard to keep on the hook. I did have that ultimate frustration about 4 times where you got tons of tension on the line to play the fish an POP, he comes loose, and your rig is in the trees behind you. Damn, if I didnt' just laugh the 4th time that happened.
So - what was the difference maker? I think I'm the only one that's fished this spot in a while 1.) and 2.) I had the right flies. Simple flies too. Flash Back PT on top (#18 - #14) - yes I ran out of small ones and kept inching up sizes and it seems to get BETTER with the bigger flies. But that may have been a function of the morning rolling on and heating up, getting bugs moving. Second fly was a prince nymph in sizes #20 - #14. I moved up on those in size to match my larger PTs and the fish were just hammering them.
I can't believe what an amazing morning of fishing it was. Best ever for me on Putah by FAR - and that's saying a lot b/c I've had some good ones.
I don't have pics of any real PIGs cuz I didn't land any, but see some of the smaller ones below, including one who didn't want to wait for the camera to flash.
Oh, by the way, the night before was my first night in my new house in Fairfield - a quick 30 min drive to the creek. I'll be fishing a lot more now.
One correction - the fishing 'seemed' to get better - not seems. My experience definitely does not prove that bigger is better on Putah. It was today though. To echo what MX19 said - if people haven't been there in a while, the fish will eat bigger bugs. Funny thing was I lost just as many on the big bugs as the small ones. Need more practice.
Also - I'm attaching the pic of the fish that didn't want to be photographed...
hey thanks for rubbin it it jl, well wish i had stayed on the creek, i know i would ahve killed them as well, but hey ill be out there all day on friday with lilwhippersnapper so hope its the same way for us on friday, if you are down there that day would love to meet ya. let me kow
nice post, and awsome pics, i cant wait to try out my new SETUPS, yesss ladies and gents thats plural. hahaha
as far as the rod situation goes
all is good though, looks like i should be making out in the long run, got to talk to the guy i got it from, he talked to st croix told them exactly what i will write, and good to go, said more than likely since imperials are no longer made ill get up graded to a 9ft 5wt 4 pc avid, (which really is a 6wt due to the really fast action) which is cool for me cuz now i have a rod for steelies and salmon, also still ahve my 9wt as well, i also picked up a bad ass deal list night online, a redington 9ft 5wt 4pc redfly2 180 dollar rod, brand new with warranty for 62 bucks shipped to my house, yes 62 bucks, gotta love ebay, i could have bought it at american fly fishing 30% off, so 120 there, but hey 62 bucks cant go wrong, and from what they said at the fly shop i pretty much have a 6wt (the avid fast action) and a 4wt (redfly2 medium action) both 5wts but due to the action of both kinda can swing them up one or down one with the wts, so looks like i am doing pretty good now, just need to get a decent reel for both with some decent line and i am good to go. thinkin about gettin a ross reel not to expensive with an extra spool or 2 one with 6wt line and one with 9 wt line, so ill be ready for anything.
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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
I am leaving San Anselmo at 5am tomorrow, going back to Putah and trying for a few...where did you mention that spot was...oh yeah you didn't mention;)
hey jl, was you high sticking, using an indicator, using single fly or dropper, would love to know, try to up my morning chances
__________________
Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
Brian - I was using most nymphing techniques including tightlining, no-indicator drifting (lots of sun going into the water makes your fly line movement easy to see so no indicator is necessary at times), indicator dead drifts, etc.
Always used two flies.
Two ABs to get my flies down in the deeper, faster water with mid-air mends to make the flies land first.
I may be out at the creek Friday afternoon. I drive a silver saturn LS2 V6 w/tinted windows. Send me a PM with where you'll be Friday afternoon (if you'll be out there that late) and I'll look for you.
Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
