I ran out to the creek last night just before dark. I got out of lab late, but after a long day of school, I needed a break. I started fishing about 6:15PM, so I got about 30 minutes of fishing in. The water is crazy low (46cfs)! I still found a couple of willing fish, though. The biggest fish landed was a typical wild 15"er. He was jumping all over the place. I hooked one a little bigger that threw the hook. There were tons of midges in the air. I also saw a few BWOs and a couple caddis. The caddisflies matched the size of the larvae that Otter posted. Last night's fish were caught on a #20 JT Special and a #20 Drowned BWO dead-drifted under a tiny yarn indicator. The indicator was about the size of a #14 Elk Hair Caddis. Maybe that's why the bats kept picking it off of the water.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
I also went yesterday - arrived at 3, scoped the river for an hour, and got in around 430. - caught a few - largest was 15". The low river is great - fished with a 6' 3" wt Sage SLT - had an amazing time. It was the first time I fished with this rod, and the first time that I fished 3 wt. tons of fish were jumping, but they looked tiny. Water looks more clear than it was last time I was there. I used an X-Caddis (size 14) with a size 18 Green Rock worm dropper 12" down - Lost 2 rock worms to fish, but had zero snags due to 6' rod. best Putah experience to date - total creek-ing experience right now - good Hot creek practice I suppose. I tried dropping the blockhead caddis, but no luck. green is good I think
JT, I pulled up to the creek at 6:15 last night. Flew into my waders and hustled down to one of my favorite low water dry flying spots hoping to find some rising fish. Got to the spot to see lots of rings in the water. Oh yeah they're rising. 3rd cast bam lil 14"wild fish slammed me on the swing. Got 4 to hand swinging an emerger just under the surface.... Fished till dark lots of fish rising. Got off the water at 7:15. Great way to end a workday. Might just do it again tonight.
I was thinking about breaking out my 3wt, but the fish are still hot. If you hook a big fish with a 3wt, it could be trouble. I've caught them up to 23" on my 3 wt, but I don't think it's time yet.
Matt R, I might be able to pull of Wednesday evening trips, at least until daylight savings time ends. Hopefully I can get out of lab earlier next week. We'll see, though.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
Was thinking of getting up to the Putah by 7:00 am Sat. morning. I assume that there is good activity on the Putah early in the day as well as the evening hatch time?
I have had my best luck on the creek between 9AM and 2PM. The fishing can be slow earlier in the morning, but if you want to fish one of your favorite holes on a Saturday, you better get there early. Saturdays can be crowded, especially if the weather is decent. Evenings can be good when there has been good insect activity throughout the day. You might catch the tail end of a hatch or find fish feeding on spent insects.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
Sometimes I wish I still lived in Sac so I could drop down to the creek with these low flows..
Been itching to fish my 3wt BIIX on Putah. I swear the tip of a BIIX (or BIIt for that matter) will bring more fish to hand
But for now I'm stuck in school and hitting the NF Feather when I get a chance. So different than the creek. But plenty of hard pulling bows like the creek
JT - you got a "special" now? Why have I not heard of this? And send me the recipes for these damn little bugs of yours. Drowned BWO too. Otherwise I'll end up fishing a spinner drowned.
Oh, and uh, I got size 32 hooks if you care to tango with em. They're about the size of this "C"
I've seen JT's Special, and it looks like the most complicated fly to tie ever. I've seen them at work when Brian used them... Biggens. Then Brian gave me one to use... Biggens, but none landed.
you time will come my young paddyone. hahaha. use the force and thou will catch biggens, hahaha. ill be at putah early morning till about 10 with my boss and bosses son, gonna try to get them on some planters at that spot.
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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.
thats the ones, they are my jt specials, sorry eric. thought you knew. oh ya and i dont have any more, might have to meet up with you again jt. dont know the next time ill be out there again. i have to pull something out of my arse at work, all we need here is doc holiday and some tumbleweed and we will have a western.
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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.
IT MAY ONLY TAKE A MINUTE, BUT THE FISH CAUGHT WILL LAST YOU A LIFE TIME.
wow thats good i should go into advertising
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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.
so what the heck is a JT special then? You can't name it unless you are going to offer it to the public . Otherwise it should be called JT's special secret!! 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 must admit thats pretty funny. WoW I cant imagine tying a fly in a minute, I'm thinkin about giving this fly tying thang a go around. Seems stupid for me to keep going to a fly shop and droppin a bunch of money on fly's, I mean $1.25 for a midge, freakin ripoff. I had a midge that was workin great in the morning on sat. it was a #20 black with red wire wrapped around it. It was my only one and it was home tyed by someone else. Midges look really easy to start with.
Ask MattR about the JT Special (he named it). In fact, he described it in another thread before. Here's his post:
"The special is a lil midge pattern pretty much like any midge really small, bead(or not), thread, maybe some ribbing (or not), a lil dubbing here and there (or not). You can make it any color you want to really."
Midges are good to start with. They're pretty basic and catch tons of fish. They're good for building confidence in your tying. Just don't be afraid of trying something new. Come up with your own concoctions. That's all the JT Special is--my own little super concoction of midge patterns. In my experience olive works really well, as does black.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
Matt, I've thought of selling flies, but I feel bad about doing it. I would be selling them to people that I met here on this site, a site put together by Bono for his business. Because of this, I don't sell them. I've just been giving a couple away here and there to fishermen that I meet. Often this involves some sort of fly swap where I can see new patterns and get new ideas.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
So when JT and I were fishing the Truckee I'm telling him big fly = big fish, and tie on a golden stone or Schafer 3D or DD Crayfish (what the hell did I tie on?) and JT goes:
"How about this Micro May?" Me: "What the hell is that? What size is that thing?" JT: "#16, its pretty big"
He caught plenty of fish though!
But fishing Putah a lot we start thinking small. Always small...
I'm so happy I can bounce a #8 brown rubberlegs and a #14 cased caddis all day on 4/5x tippet.
hehe now I remember that is a nice little tie and quite simple too. Oh and nice pattern description that is hilarious!! 
