I headed out to the creek this morning for the first time since February. I saw a hatchery truck pulling away from the resort side as I got there. I was glad I brought my float tube today. I didn't want to hook into hatchery fish on every cast. I didn't hook many fish today, but the ones I did hook were good-sized. The smallest fish I hooked was 18". The biggest fish was absolutely ridiculous. He dove deep, ran way downstream, and swam around a big rock. I couldn't slow him down or follow him fast enough, so the rock sawed through my tippet. Oh well. The massive headshakes and screaming run were worth it. There were lots of damselflies out and tons of small black midges. I saw a few alderflies, and the bottom of my float tube was covered with mayfly spinners when I was done. The wind kept things interesting, but it turned to be a good day.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
Nice...Sounds like a great day out on the creek. I was at work all day, so you defiantly had a better day than i did especially with the smallest one being 18". Can't wait to get out!
Thx v much for your report. I'm new to using a float tube, and I haven't taken my float tube on Putah at flows any higher than 100 cfs or so. At 500 cfs, as it is now, do you need to anchor the tube or can you safely hold on the edge of the flows? and btw, does nymphing still work or do you need to chuck streamers? appreciate your thoughts! thx
I float the slower sections. Stay away from rapids. One thing that is really important is to find a place where you can safely get out of the water BEFORE you get in the water with float tube. I could have easily killed myself last year, because I didn't scout the area well enough before getting in the water. I got lucky that time.
There are lots of eddies on the creek, so you can hold on the edge of the current with no effort. I've never used an anchor.
I have had success with nymphs under an indicator. I've tried streamers with no luck, but Chemdoc has caught some nice fish with streamers in these areas of the creek.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
Hi JT thx v much for your thoughtful reply. it sounds like it might save me a dunking, and maybe worse! nice to know that Putah isn't necessarily off limits at higher flows! thx again j
Those fish are tricky even out in the wide open. If there is one rock or submerged branch in the area they will head straight for it. Lost a few big ones last weekend. Any fish on a damselfly nymph? Where's the pics JT? I know you were getting a waterpoof digital.
I got a few pictures of an alderfly and a couple more of an otter. I still haven't taken any pictures of a fish, though. I don't usually take pictures of the fish unless someone else is there to take the picture for me. I didn't try a damselfly, but I thought about it. All of the fish took a small black midge.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
Where is the best spot to put in for float tubing during the higher times? How do you fish it from a float tube?Do you fish from out in the middle or from different spots? Best to stay on the edges or the middle with the casts and nymphing... indicator how high from the fly and split shots how high from fly and how many?
Thanks Robbie
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Fishing isn't a matter of life and death....
It's much more important.
Fish were hitting the surface, but I rarely fish dries so I don't know of any dry fly action. I'd be more inclined to fish a streamer than a dry.
The midge was a #24 black drowned midge. If you look at the edges of the creek and on every rock sticking out of the water you'll see the midges that it imitates. As far as where to fish, concentrate on the "edges". Search for the keyword "edges" on this site to find out more. The slower sections of the creek can be really deep. I fish as deep as I can. If you put the indicator too far up, you'll have a really hard time landing fish. Just don't go too much deeper than the length of your rod if you're using an indicator. I bring a few indicators in different sizes. I change them depending on the current and the amount of weight that I'm using. I constantly add/remove weight according to the area that I'm fishing. I use an indicator that barely supports the weight of my set up, because some of the takes are super subtle.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
.... Sounds like a great day.
