RIP Russian

cole · Senior Member

RIP Russian

Packrat · Senior Member

That's what blows about the russian, it can be great fishing but the window for opportunity can be so small with winter rains. I can remember a couple of years back that there were maybe 2 fishable days for steelhead.

shon42073 · Senior Member

Why dose the russian get blown out so easy ? From what I have read other rivers in the area like the guallala, garcia, and navorro can still be fishable when the russian is blown.

cole · Senior Member

I have heard it's one of the fastest fluctuating rivers in the lowet 48.� It's a fairly large river as well coupled with the amount of silt left in the river from all the gravel mining that used to go on.� The fish were almost two months late this year too.� Hopefully we'll get into some blueback steelies next month.� I haven't caught any but my buddy told me they are hot little fish.� I only count 9 days on my card for the Russian this year and three of those I was crazy to even be out there.� I hit it so hard this week it wasn't even funny.� Two days ago I found a pod of 20 or so fish right before dark and lost a little half pounder, one of the smaller fish in the group.� I only had 15 minutes to fish for them.� Oh well.

SCM · Senior Member

I thought about heading out this morning, but saw that the flows were still to high to wade. It seems like all of this winter's storms were so perfectly spaced that the Russian was fishable for about a total of two-weeks. I logged only two days on my card for 07 and never made it out for 2008. I have been told that in addition to past gravel mining, agricultural activities are also responsible for a lot of the sedmient that makes it into the River.

Cole, what is a blueback steelie?

Also, how is the Shad run on the Russian? I have read there is a decent run that comes up the River in the spring.

cole · Senior Member

I have heard from two different people about the "bluies" but I haven't seen one up close. They are a smaller run of steelhead the last part of the main run that comes up the Russian. March-April is the time normally. Their name comes from the dark backs they have. They can apparantly be pretty hot little fish for their size.� I think Shad is in May but I'm not 100%.

-- Edited by cole at 11:08, 2008-02-24

memebop · Veteran Member

Shad do run in May and June . . . but again, it is iffy.�� if the flows get low the mouth closes and the shad wait outside the river mouth.

Let's hope not this year.

Shad are cool fighters!

-- Edited by memebop at 13:24, 2008-02-24

flyfishingjunkie · Veteran Member

Bluebacks are cool little fish. I have only seen them a couple of times, as they come in late. They do actually have a blueish back

shon42073 · Senior Member

Shad are defenitly on my todo list list year. Anyone care to post some pics of shad flies that have been succesful on rivers like the american, yuba, and feather rivers.

cole · Senior Member

I just decided I am going for a Bass, Shad double this year.� The bass shouldn't be too hard.� The other might.� I was just at the shop last week and one of the guys said the shad are hot.� Steelhead setup, 8 wt. 300 grain shooting head.� Sounds like some heavy duty fishing.� I want a big carp out of there too.� I have seen some monstrous carp down there.� 15-18 pounds and carp definitely will test your fighting abilities.

memebop · Veteran Member

Shad flies are BRIGHT . . .� pink, chartruese, Red. . .�� They have�small hooks.
They get fished near the bottom.��

Shad aren't "eaters" while in the river from what I've heard.� They grab things out of agression or interest.� They also let go just as fast.�

Tight lines is a must.��

Fly fishermen seem to do better than spinners or others.�� BARBLESS is the word in the Russian river.

I've heard of people fishing with a bright colored piece of yarn do as well as those with expensive flies.�� The Russian has a snag every five feet, so spending less is a PLUS.

flyfishingjunkie · Veteran Member

There are truly some monster carp in the russian. I once saw some feeding there and tried to fish for them. Carp are really hart to catch, they are smart and have highly sensitive smell. In Europe they are considered game fish.

memebop · Veteran Member

The Lagoona, a slow moving tributary or overflow of the Russian in West County holds the biggest and easier to catch carp.� Less current to contend with. . . I've seen them moving thru the shallows while I bass fished.� Half of their giant bods exposed.� Archery would be the way if you were desparate, but I hear dough balls have hooked a few.

Go get them.� They aren't much use in the river except to mess with on a rod and reel.

Oh yeah, someone told me they would take a fly occausionally, but I can't vouch for that.

Packrat · Senior Member

There have been articles in California Fly Fisher about carp on the fly.

SK60 · Senior Member

There are books on catching them with flies; a favorite food of theirs is the fluffy cottonwood seeds which drift from the trees onto the surface of ponds or canals in the valley. They cruise and gulp them just like the gulpers on Hegben after emergers. Pattern: natural CDC feathers in a 12-14.

shon42073 · Senior Member

I caught a pretty big carp on a pheasant tail at the yuba a few months ago. It was released and not tossed. Theres huge carp in putah creek below the diversion dam.