Hi, I'm new to fly fishing and live in the bay area. What would be some good lakes or streams to fish around silicon valley? Also, I have researched about Putah Creek, and if I were to go there, where would be a good place to start and what would be some good flies to have there?
Your options are limited for fly fishing in the Silicon Valley area. You could get into some bass/crappie fishing at any of the lakes in southern Santa Clara County....Uvas, Calero, Anderson, Coyote Creek. You could also try some the lakes heading towards Santa Cruz....Loch Lomond, Stevens Creek Reservoir.
As far as Putah goes there isn't really a good place to start. Its a pretty difficult place to fish due to: high summer flows (tough wading), tight vegetation (think poison oak/blackberry brambles) along the creek, and heavy fishing pressure. That said, the best way to unlock some of the mystery is to explore all of the public access locations and then maybe consider some bushwacking to new areas. There are fish located throughout the creek so a little exploration and persistance will likely pay off.
Good luck and post a report if you get into any fish.
alright thanks a lot! Yeah I've been fishing the campbell perk ponds and may go to stevens creek reservoir this week to try on. Any tips for there such as what to use and where to fish on the lake? Alright, I will try to make a trip up there this week possibly, but not sure I can make it.
I haven't fished any of the lakes in Santa Clara for years so I can't provide any specific tips or locations. You could try contacting Fly Fishing Specialties in Los Gatos (formerly the San Jose Fly Shop I think). They might be able to give you some tips on the area lakes. I think the SJ Mercury News also has a fishing report.
Well all I have been going on are the perc ponds in campbell, I'm actually going there today again with a friend. When I use a fly rod, I usually just put on a wooly bugger or what I think is a pheasant tail nymph or either a gold ribbed hare's ear. I have caught some trout there with it and it seems to work fine. If not fly, then just power eggs always works for me, or night crawlers work well too.
The campbel perc ponds are near downtown campbell. The trout are dinkers and are only really planted in late Jan. This is probably the worst place to actually learn to catch fish, but it is a great place to learn how to cast. There are fly casting ponds towards the back of the park and alot of people are taught there. A great place to eavesdrop on some free lessons.
