It has been said that 90% of the fish hold in 10% of the water. So I was wondering if the10% of the fishermen who catch 90% of the fish would be willing to reflect on some types of water that 90% of fish hold in 10% of the time. Good, now that everyone is thoroughly confused I was basically trying to narrow down the good types of areas on Putah without bringing up actual "spots" along the creek. Do you guys find that the fish are spread out in wide areas with many small fishy pockets (shallow pocket water etc.) or are they normally holed up together in more specific areas (a bunch of fish on a ledge or a seam)? I know to look for the 4 C's (cover,comfort,current, and calories), but when I am fishing Putah I feel like there is so much water meeting these criteria that the fish may be holding in areas based on subtle, specific differences such as depth or a certain current speed. If you guys have any ideas I'd appreciate it. Chuck
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"when you put your hand into a flowing stream you touch the last that has come before and the first of what is still to come" -DaVinci
I'm confused....%.....%...%...HaHa. I'll toss my 2 cents in. A big part of trout fishing a river is reading the water, Know doubt about that. If you can read the water on one river you can read it on most any river, putah is no different. My favorite type of water is were a rapid enters deeper water which usually also has a back eddy on one side, Basically I tend to look for spots that have deeper water close to shallower water, The fish will feed in the shallows but need to have the security of the near by deep water. It's diffucult to explain exactly what good water is, but I just know it when I see it. I must add one more thing, Plung pools are by far my most favorite water to fish, Always hold fish.
I catch most of my fish in shallower water, like 2 to 3 feet deep, where the water isn't moving too fast and not too slow either. Like you said, small pockets of shallow water. Though I think the bigger ones are in the deeper waters.
hey chuck ill be on the water tomorrow reading the hell out of it if you wanna join, gonna try a repeat performance like i had on the 5th, let me know, ill be leaving my house about 530, so either call me tonight or tomorrow morning,
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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'll give you one key word--edges. The edges of the creek, edges of weedbeds, the edges along a submerged tree, edges of different speeds of current (seams), edges of rocks, and edges of ledges will all hold quality fish. Next time you're out fishing the creek, think ... edges.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
Seems like fish hold in lots of different types of waters on the creek. Depends on what kind of mood I'm in each day on how I want to fish for em. Like the captain my favorites are also the deep pools where fast runs empty in. If I feel like dry flying or swinging emergers I tend to fish the slower moving water. If I feel adventrous I fish the smaller pocket water and move around a little more on the creek. Edges are key like JT said. All of them including the edges of sunlight and shade.
Thanks guys for your input. You have reaffirmed my belief that I am choosing productive fishing areas and it is my presentation that needs some work to catch them there. I guess we all know the feeling when great looking water seems completely fishless. I'll keep working those edges and post a beast when I get him! chuck
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"when you put your hand into a flowing stream you touch the last that has come before and the first of what is still to come" -DaVinci
Chuck I cant tell ya how many times I figured there was no fish in a spot that I have been fishing for an hour or so and then finally one will hit, there all over the place. Like Matt said were i fish has alot to do with how and what i wanna fish that day, depends alot on my mood.
worst is when you have been throwing flys for a while with nothing and then all of a suden the fish start rising all over the place and it occurs to you that they have all been laughing at you for the last half hour.....
I tend to agree with JT...the edges always hold fish. But again, every day is different. You can catch a 22 inch hog (like yesterday) and fish the same place, with the same flies the very next day (like today)with only one hit and have them jumping right in front of you all day giving you the finger. I look for the deeper water...fast into slow...with edges and shelves, rocks and plant material. Fish like cover and protection.
I recommend everyone get a good pair of polarized glasses and go looking for fish. I like the ones with the light brown lenses the best. They make fish stand out better. Look for flashes, shadows, outlines, and movement. That is probably the best way I can think of to find out where the fish are. Once you see them, you know exactly where to cast.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
Finding (catchable) fish is very much tied to when you fish and how many anglers you are competing with. If you get to the stream early or fish remote areas, you will probably have more consistent success since the fish have not been fished over. If you arrive mid-day or are in a lot of competition for fishing spots, even the most productive spots may not produce since they may have already been pounded by several anglers. I almost always fish really early for this reason.
I always set up in the water I'm fishing. When I string up at the car I'm a little too ready to go and might step on a fish I could cast to otherwise. The best way to spot a fish is by not fishing sometimes. I have scared too many good fish that way. That goes back to what type of "edge" you might fish.
