Don't Fish on the Redds; General Discussion

LilWhippersnapper · Senior Member

Don't Fish on the Redds; General Discussion

brian clemens · Senior Member

the only problem that i see is that a lot of people fish putah, flyers and baiters, putah brings in a lot of money for the state for its size, between lisc and tackle, its nothing like the american, or the sac, but really for its size its fished harder than those double its size, and thats because it is so close to urban areas and well its a great fishery. if you had putah up in the mountains, like the carson, or the walkers or something like that, bet it wouldnt be fished as hard, but so close to urban areas doesnt help it at all. i would love to see them stop dropping in thousands of guppies, and make it all catch and release, but dont know if that will happen anytime soon.

all we can do is hope for the best, and educate those when we can.

JT · Senior Member

It would be difficult to place boundaries around redds.� How close to the spawning beds would one be allowed to fish?� What about the not-so-well-known redds?��The point�is that bigger spawning beds would be easier to regulate.� However, there are�scattered redds throughout the creek.� Most people don't know about them, because they are more difficult to recognize.��It would be much easier to close the creek during the spawning season than�create a regulation which prohibits fishing on the redds.��

Psyfisher · Veteran Member

The only workable solution would be to mark off the area that commonly has Redds in it.� Post it with a permanent sign and make everything in that area off limits during spawning season.� It's too hard to identify redds to target them specificly, but if they are particularly dense in one area year in and year out, they could close that section for the winter, but allow fishing elsewhere.� Otherwise they'd have to close the season, and it sounds like DFG dosen't want to do that.� Personally I'm glad since it gives me a chance to thaw out, and get some fishing in while on vacation.� I wouldn't mind if a section of the creek was closed off though.� I'm going to try my hardest to avoid the redds, but some signs would be nice.

brian clemens · Senior Member

they do this fairly well on the lower kings, that have areas that allow bait, other areas, that are flies and art lures only, and they also have parts that no fishing is allowed, i think this would be a great idea to add to putah during the spawning season, to have particular area with redds either taped off or marked stating no fishing in this area, or even that section or run would work as well.

JT · Senior Member

The part of Putah Creek that we fish is only a few miles long.� Closing parts of it doesn't seem very�practical to me.��I believe the DFG would close the�whole creek during the spawn before they closed part of it.�

A recommendation from one of the guides on the creek�was to place signs in the middle of the major spawning beds alerting anglers about the spawning fish.� The redds wouldn't be closed to fishing as far as regulations go, but you couldn't possibly get a drift through the area with the signs in the way.��The main problem with this�is putting the signs in place before the spawn and removing them before the flows increase.�

brian clemens · Senior Member

i think its possible though, get it when the flows are way way down before the spawn, get some 15 ft or so long metal poles and hammer them into the mud, then bolt signs on them, that would work, it would be hard work but is possible. the signs can be taken off after spawning is done and the poles can stay in the ground or be taken out. thats a great idea though. i like it. id be up for lending my helping hands to get this done.

JT · Senior Member

Putting the signs isn't the problem.� I'm sure many people would be willing to help.� Problems arise when the Glory Hole spills early in the spawning season.� The poles would get ripped up and end up somewhere downstream.� It would work during a year when the Glory Hole doesn't spill over.

windknots · Senior Member

I think signs in the creek would be an eye-sore and a maintenance nightmare.� They'd be just as effective on the banks in trafficed areas above the high water marks.� Wading on the redds is a problem that needs some attention but it's not a silver bullet that will improve the fishing.� Stomping on the eggs will certainly have an impact on individual redds, but there are some studies out there that suggest that it doesn't impact overall population.� A year round single/barbless/no kill management strategy that relies on wild fish vs hatchery would do more to improve the fishing.� That may p-o the hatchery truck chasers, but there are plenty of other places they where they can catch some swimming pool trout for the grill.� Then there's minimum flows and habitat yadda yadda I'm repeating myself time to shut up....

Bugger · Senior Member

I agree with Windknot here... no hatchery fish, C&R only with artificial lures and better habitat management�would have�mush more�impact on the quality of the fishery.� And at the same time probably get rid of many of the idiots that are ruining the experience for the rest of us... Then, maybe it will be easier to educate those left about the redds.

Stefan707 · Member

Am new to fly fishing and I havent fished Putah yet, but I plan on fishing it many times during the upcoming months. I'm doing a "senior project" on fly fishing, and have a "mentor" or teacher that is suppose to guide me along my project. I havent gotten to far into the project, but in our brief discussions the one thing my mentor stressed was the conservation and ethics of fly fishing. I wont fish Redds after this forum.

Prince11 · Member

This probably sounds like a stupid question but I plan on fishing Putah in a week or two and want to make sure that I dont fish the redds.� How can I tell where the redds are? Are they easy to see?� As long as I can recognize where the redds are, I will not fish them.

shon42073 · Senior Member

Do some reading of past posts, You'll learn a little something and I'm sure you'll find a post or two on what� a redd looks like. Good luck on your Endevor.

-- Edited by kbigelow at 18:16, 2008-01-28