There are new regs this year and if you don't like heavy crowds there are lots of other options that fish well in the winter. For example, last weekend I fished the Middle Fork of the American and did really, really good on dries towards evening. I won't say specifically exactly where but Mosquito Ridge Road will get you close. If you live in the Davis/Sac area it's the same amount of driving time or less than to get to Putah.
I was up on the S. Fork last weekend for a few hours around Kyburz. Didn't fish it since I was only passing through.
However it had a nice flow and some real fishy looking water.
It was a bit cold(relative to what us flat land thin bloods are accustomed to) early in the day but it still would be very fishable. Also no one was on the river.
I have never fished it myself, however I intend to down the road. I know ChemDoc has fished it quite a bit.
i used to drive through there all the time going up to the carson, there is some really good water to fish from whitehall all the way up. a few places it get pretty step but really good hole. let me know when you wanna go captain and you know i am there. i havent really fished it but i kinda know where the holes and places to fish are, and from what i hear dries work great on the south fork.
the middle fork isnt that one that meets the south fork meet at hwy 49
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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.
