It has been a while since I've posted but I have been jealously reading about all the activity at Putah Creek. This last Saturday I had a chance to get up there (coming from San Jose). Boy did I miss this place, it being the place I first caught a fish on a fly, a thrill I will never forget. Anyway, I had some luck. I decided to start out with some size 18 Black Tiger midges tied onto 6X tippet. I thought I would try no indicator and no weight just for the heck of it. The midge was able to sink.
After about 4 or 5 cast I got a hit but after a minute or so it broke off. I did not work it right. After about another half dozen or so cast I got another hit and the fight was on. This feisty fish played me for about 15 minutes or so and I ended up beaching him because he just wouldn't come to the net. That was the best fight of my life and I learned a bit or two about keeping a fish on a light line.
Later on got another hit, worked it for a while then I took a dip, but kept the fish on. Got him to the net, the fish and I were wet. REFRESHING.
Probably now need to mentioned it, but all released and back in the wild waiting for one of you guys.
Nice report John. I made it out for a couple hours Sat and also took a dip. I usually carry my rod in four pieces down to the creek. Gives me time to set up, look around at what's going and hold a decent spot quickly. So my rod is in my right hand which is also clinging to a tree, wading staff in the other firmly wedged in some rocks. Felt like 1000 CFS not 300 something. My tip section falls in the water and I have one second to figure out what to do. Gotta dive for it. So I did. Even with a wading belt I had a 1.5 gallons of water in each leg. I hadn't even started fishing yet either. Man that sucked. Thought my day was over, it was freezing. Took them off, flipped em inside out and started over. Hooked and lost six fish on Foxy pupah and Mercer trigger caddis. I was really hoping the dude up ahead had come down so he could have seen it. It probably looked funny as hell. Belly flop and doggie paddle down to get my rod. Drowned my phone and my camera though!
Cole, That's a bummer about your camera and phone. At least you got your tip section back.
John, Nice report. Good to hear you got into some fish. That must be a tough drive from San Jose. Is there anything closer?
Hey JT, I'm from San Jose too... This is the closest trout stream to San Jose until San Lorenzo River opens up in Santa Cruz, then we have to rely on the rain coming down for those stealhead. Putah is definitly woth the drive. I'll be up there all day tomorrow. It'll be my 4th trip in 2 weeks.
Sorry about your phone and camera. Sometimes if you let them dry out, they're ok. I only know that from experience. I've killed 3 cameras in the water. So I finally ponied up and got a waterproof one, which I promptly squished on a rock. Now I have a water and shock proof olympus, and I love it. I've dropped it in the water more than once, and taken more than one dunk, and it's held up beautifully, plus it takes pics under water. Great invention, and not much more expensive than a regular digital camera.
I had my camera and phone with me when I went in. I use a product called aquapak ( I learned after a previous dip). They have different sized waterproof containers design for things like phones and cameras. You can even take pictures through the one for the camera. Here is the URL: http://www.aquapac.net/ check it out. Nice to know I am not the only one taking dips.
JT,
LilWhippersnapper is right nothing closer like Putah but diffinately worth the drive.
LilWhippersnapper,
Tell me some more about the San Lorenzo in Santa Cruz? I heard some things but not any details.
Big John, Last winter was the first time I fished San Lorenzo, so I don't have too much info. Lets see, it runs along highway nine. It's only open during the winter, catch and release only(Which I love), Only open from november 16 to february 28. And only on weekends and holidays. Barbless only. There are a lot of fishing access'. Here's a website that will give you fishing reports, http://www.ernies.com/. This is the fly shop in Soquel, CA. It's called Ernies Casting Pond. There is a creek right below this shop where you can catch steelies also. Called Soquel Creek. It all depends on the rain. It doesn't take too much though. If there is too much, the river will be muddy and no good fishing. Just check the website once the season starts. I don't know if there are any wild trout in there.
