I made it out to the creek for a few hours this morning with dtp916. I got to try out my new 4wt and net. I ended up going 2-for-4. I had 2 hook-ups on a #16 Fox Poopah, but both fish spit the hook. Then I tied on a little midge and landed a 21"er on my first cast. I moved to another hole, and the midge helped me out again. This time the victim was a 19" male. The water is still pretty murky but definitely fishable.
__________________
"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
sweeeet bro, now i am wondering if i should go to putah tomorrow, man this sucks, AR steelhead with a 7wt, or putah pigs on a medium action 5wt. man this is a tough one.
well its about a 65% chance of me hittin putah tomorrow. so if anyone would like to join let me know.
but you know what will happen, ill go to putah, and the AR will be fishing well due to the over cast, colder temps, and some rain. i can see it now.
so maybe i will do both, hit the AR in the morning, when its hot, then around noonish shoot to putah, or visa versa,
hey jt pm sent
-- Edited by brian clemens at 12:29, 2008-02-19
-- Edited by brian clemens at 14:53, 2008-02-19
__________________
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 managed several fish yesterday morning, all 18". Not as many people as I had expected, but it was very busy by 1 PM (which is when I left). Nice to meet you flygirl, your pink indicator is sweet. I'll have to make a yarn one for my girl
Some pics ~
'Landon Mayer' in training "They just stack up right there...right there, just stacked like cards"
Hey JT ... welcome to parenthood! <--me most of the time.
-- Edited by Lahontan at 22:12, 2008-02-21
__________________
"You tell yourself that it will be both educational and spiritually uplifting, as all imaginative excuses for goofing off are." John Gierach, "Music of the Spheres".
I think the giant net makes you look smaller. I didn't even recognize that was you JT. That has to be one of the biggest nets I have seen. I did see someone using a giant drift boat net about a year ago by the bridge, but other than that you win. I am sure you will be landing some 30 inchers on Putah with that one.
I am sure you will be landing some 30 inchers on Putah with that one.
That's the plan. The bigger net is nice when you have to reach to net bigger fish, especially from a float tube. For those interested, the dimensions of the net are 32" X 22" X 16".
__________________
"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
wow i cant believe that is jt. i couldnt tell at all. sweet fish bro. and they stack up there huh. i know where thats at.
__________________
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 was interested in your commment about "slow ass water". I have generally avoided the long flat stretches along Putah because there doesn't seem to be much structure to key on. Have you had success in fishing this kind of water? With the lack of clarity how do you gauge the depth? Have you ever used a float tube to access these stretches? Any thoughts would be appreciated! Incidentally, I am thoroughly enjoying reading the posts to this site.
John, Welcome aboard. Bigger fish do hang out in the slower water. Most people don't have the patience to fish this type of water, though. In the summer months, it's nice to have a float tube. If fishing from a float tube stay away from fast water. I got into a tricky situation last year. Focus on the long slow pools. Fish the "edges". Edges could be the edge of fast and slow water, the edge between shallow and deep water, the edge of the creek itself, the edge of weedbeds, rocks, or fallen trees. If more than one of these "edges" are combined, even better.
__________________
"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
Like JT stated, Edges are good, Especially droppoffs. Anyone that has fished with me a few times on putah knows my favorite spot on the creek and its very slow water. No need really to key on structure because in these spots the fish do not hold, they cruise. Depth ? I use a long leader about 12 feet with about 2 feet of dropper and put my indicator within a foot of my flyline. If fish are rising I uuse no weight usually emergers or a soft hackled wetfly, If no fish are rising then I'll get down deep as possible. The problem arises when you have wind blowing upstream because the current is so slow it can cancel out any drift, then if it is blowing down stream just a little bit is good because it'll let you cover more water quicker, But if its blowing down stream to hard then you will have to much of an unatural drift. I also find that its in your best interest to keep surface disturbance to a min. Because the fish will spook in the slow flat water. It takes patience, I'm talkin drifts that will last several minutes, Almost like bobber fishing. The other good thing is you dont ever have to worry about getting up there at the crack of dawn to get a spot becuase nobody fishes these spots. Putah is about 4 miles long and every bit of it has the potentail to hold fish.
Thanks to JT and TheCaptain for your detailed and illuminating responses. It gets me excited about both the prospect of "new" water and the challenge of a slightly different approach.
hi captailn thx for your reply. would you clarify what you meant by "long leader about 12 feet with about 2 feet of dropper and put my indicator within a foot of my flyline." Does that mean that you use both an indicator (at end of fly line) and an attractor fly with about 2 feet of tippet to the dropper fly? I'm trying to visualize... thx
<--me most of the time.
