Spawners on the redds

SK60 · Senior Member

Spawners on the redds

Xnjb707X · Senior Member

I was out there on wednesday on a picture taking/check on the fishys session, and I checked atleast 5 or 6 redds, including the few main ones that are usially huge and they were all empty. The redds I did see were small and not as large as they have been in the past. Maybe this has to do with all the built up weed growth that is in the water, but we would need a high flow rain year to clense the stream. I've read that in Colorado on some of thier tailwaters they will force a blow out in the night hours to clean out all the excess weed growth and silt. Maybe something like that can be done for putah. With the lack of the size of the redds, and lack of fish on them makes me worry.

- Nic

Packrat · Senior Member

I have not been there this spawning season but from everyone I've talked to, they have not seen very many fish on redds like they have in the last few years.

the big j · Veteran Member

I fished it in late November and spotted one near access 4. It actually stood out from the bottom, so I was quick to notice. Had about a 14" trout gaurding it and some smaller guys in the vacinity. But a week and a half later, it appeared abandoned. Seen nothing else since.

brian clemens · Senior Member

i can say that this yr compaired to the last there are not as many redds as usual. they are in the usual spots but not as many. i have noticed that the fish are spawning where ever they can. the usual seams that i used to fish below redds are not active spawning areas. below the bridge the fish have moved from the flat area that is usually about 1.5 ft deep and have moved literally infront of the staircase. in some runs there are very little redds when there used to be a crap load, but now have moved into the run below them because there is no weed growth or silt.

there is one area that i usually over run by spawners that isnt as much but i was just watching this area just the other day and counted well over 20 fish in this one area that is known for its redds. lots of playing, chasing, diggin and active spawning pairs.

i was talking to mx19 awhile back, and he brought up a great idea, i actually was talking to jt about it as well. we should all have a mowing party on putah. everyone bring a rack and just before spawning season starts we go to the active spawning areas and clean all the weeds and try out best to move the silt around. just a thought. i know i would be up for it.

-- Edited by brian clemens on Saturday 2nd of January 2010 06:12:46 PM

Xnjb707X · Senior Member

Lets just hope for some heavy .. heavy rain to help the creek on its some what natural course (being a tailwater). To push the silt and weeds out. After the high flows of Dec 31 05 to Jan 1st 06, that was the ultimate river cleaning right there. Even tho the flows were way out there it did alot of good for the creek. Anyways if nature is lagging on doing its thing then I'm down for giving ol' mother a little nudge and cleaning out the creek of the weeds ourselves for the rainbows to spawn. I just havent seen it this slow for the spawn... but they could be on a late spawn? I mean I have seen them spawn in the later winter months like in Feb and even in early March some years..

- Nic

bono · Master Fly Fishing Guide

First and foremost the bottom line is that there just are not as many fish in Putah as there used to be, period. The usual areas that they used to stack up prior to the general spawn ( sept,oct) the fish are either not there at all or about 10% of what used to be there. I also totally agree with everybody about the abundant weed growth and siltation,I remember about 20 or so years ago we had a series of drought years and experienced the same issues we are now,in fact if I remember correctly the silt was even worse than we are currently seeing.The fishing did suffer a bit for a few years but I do admit I think the fishing and amount of fish in the system is worse and lower than it was back then.On another note myself and my two sons took a canoe trip down lower Putah from diversion dam to just past the town of Winters. We were looking for evidence of spawning salmon for Putah creek council but came up empy handed,what we did find though was a mess of beaver and about 7 or 8 dams of which we tried to disassemble to allow passage for the fish,we'll keep looking. BTW there is no longer access to the area below diversion dam its all private and no trespass is allowed.

dave408 · Member

I was out on Dec 21 and saw three reds with fish on them - not up by the bridge, however; further downstream

THE BIG PIKER · Veteran Member

All you guys are so full of it , there are so many fish around it's unreal !! You just got to use the right method to locate them as follows ;

djwattswatts · Member

Brian and i were talking about the weeds also and doing something about them sounded good, is that something we can do if so lets make something happen and work together as a team. !

Otter · Senior Member

It appears that the fish are spawning later this year due to the heavy weed growth and higher than average flows. The colder water is killing the weeds and the fish are moving up. If you are out there make sure to educate fellow anglers. I saw a member of PCT waving his arms and educating up by the bridge in December. The fish have been spawning since October, mostly in deeper water. Watch where you wade!!!

SK60 · Senior Member

djw-any alternation to the stream bed requires permits from multiple agencies (DFG, Army Corp, Bureau Reclamation, etc). So even raking weeds or gravel has to be approved. It's not likely that will happen this year but could be planned for next year.

PCT has met with SCWA to discuss spawning habitat improvement options so some options may be coming soon. In the meantime if you see fish on the Redds please report it here as we need to collect information on the level of activity.