Current Fishing Reports

keith bigelow · Webmaster

Current Fishing Reports

bono · Master Fly Fishing Guide

The flows at Putah Creek are at 612 cfs today

Kegger · Member

First I would like to thank the creator of this website!!! Fished all over area 5 today with pretty good luck. A lot of small non-natives mostly on black zebra midges and brassies.
Flows were about 500'ish and overall it was a fun day. The biggest surprise was someone's net floating down stream which I grabbed. It's a Brodin in pretty good condition. If any one knows who lost it, give me a shout and we'll get it back to the rightful owner. Tight lines... Kegger

Josh · Member

Just got back from my vacation in the Virgin Islands and the fish welcomed me back to the creek in grand style. Got out on the stream at about 11:30 and fished just upstream of the bridge. In the span of an hour, maybe an hour and a half, I hooked 8 fish and landed 5 (all landed fish were wild). The smallest was about 6 to 7 inches, the largest 13 to 14 inches.

The big guy put up one hell of a fight, aggressively taking line every time I got him close to the surface. When I finally got him in the net, he was very dark green, with almost no silver on his sides, and no visible red stripe at all. In fact, between the fight and the coloring, I was thinking maybe he was a brown?

Anyway, 3 of 5 (including the big guy) took a #16 George's peeking caddis, the other 2 took a #18 olive midge, and a #18 red zebra midge. Seems like every time I go out, the fishing just keeps getting better and better...

Josh · Member

Had another pretty good weekend on the creek. Managed to get out for a few hours both Saturday and Sunday, and was not disappointed. Here's the box score:

Saturday - Started fishing just upstream of the bridge at around 10 AM. Moved downstream of the bridge about 12 PM and fished until about 1 PM. Hooked 4 fish upstream of the bridge, and landed 1 11" rainbow on a #16 WD-40. I did better downstream, landing a beautiful 16" bow on a #18 tan fox poopah.

Sunday - Got out about the same time I did on Saturday, and fished downstream of the bridge for a good 3 hours. The fishing started out slow, but turned real hot as the day wore on. Hooked about 10 fish, landing 4. Two were smaller (4"-5" at most), the other two much larger (12"-13"). The last fish I lost was a real heartbreaker. It stayed on the line long enough for me to get a look at it as it dove for the bottom of the creek� It was 18" at least... Anyway, of the landed fish, 3 took a #16 prince (both 4 inchers and one of the 12 inchers), the other took a #16 copper john. The lost pig took a #16 tan fox poopah.

FHTFYR · Newbie

A little late report but fished the creek friday above and below the bridge, flows were hovering at 600ish. fished 7am till noon I landed two fish about 10-11" on a 16 Prince one of my friends landed two more on the same, The biggest one came from another friend landed a nice 15-16" Bow on a red Copper John sz 16, we were not able to get a pic of it because I was nice enough to attempt to net it for him and knocked it off . The CJ was the hot fly he landed about 10 fish on it ("Landed" with out my help) all for all great day on the water!

It was cool I we actully wached a bait caster pratice catch and release and also made sure the fish were revived before letting them go

TMS · Veteran Member

Sounds like things are picking up

I'm planning on an early AM excursion this Friday. Time to tie some midges. Thanks for the reports. Thom

DQ · Newbie

Glad to see the current reports from Josh and FHTFYR.

I'll be in the area (first time) last week of September. Breathables or Neoprenes? We fish the San Juan here at home this time of year in brathables, and wear shorts. mid 80's-90 degrees and water is 42 degrees year round. We're set for princes and copper johns, but will have to find some poopahs. Here the biggest nymph we use is probably a #20, or 18. Sounds like we can go bigger on the Putah. Anyone have reccomendations for some creeks close to Colfax as well?

Thanks from Farmington, NM

Check out www.ifly4trout.com

FHTFYR · Newbie

DQ,

There are much more experienced people out there on the creek but I wear breathables all year and shorts until the ambient air temp does not allow usually October. I've had good success with flies up to size 14, bring what you have and pick up a few here. as for Colax a short drive will put you into some great water the North Fork American and Bear creek. If you know someone here that knows the water great if not there is a company called Stream Time that prints a map on the American River It's like 6 bucks (good buy). The map details alot of good holes, riffels, and access. Good luck and tight lines!

P.S. Post before you fish, people outhere are known to fish together and tell WHOPPER stories!

chemdoc · Senior Member

I haven't seen much posted in the past regarding fishing streamers on the creek, but I have been doing so throughout the summer with some success. I read an article by Dick Galland regarding a method of fishing streamers on the McCloud and decided to try it on Putah. Given the lack of space for casting in many areas, it works very nicely. You simply hold the fly while letting out line on the water, normally water with a good current. Let the line float downstream until it is a tight loop. Then simply release the fly and let it float downstream and sink. Once the line has straightened, retrieve the fly. I have used both a floating line and sinktip, depending on the depth of the water and current.

I went out on Sunday and caught six fish in an hour on an olive bugger, which is not unusual if you happen to find a spot where fish are holding. During the course of the summer, the hot spots have changed, so you have to move around. But when you find a good location, it can be great fun.

-- Edited by chemdoc at 11:15, 2005-08-31

JT · Senior Member

I fished the creek on Saturday near the bridge. The flows were nice, around 500. I hadn't fished the Putah in about 2 months. I took a class over the summer that stole all of my fishing and fly tying time. The day after school got out, I went to Utah to do some fishing,though. The fishing there was awesome. The Putah nymphing techniques worked well. Back to Saturday, I only fished for a few hours in the morning. I landed 2 hatchery fish, 1 on a #20 zebra midge & 1 on a #16 fox poopah. I landed 1 fat 15" rainbow on the fox poopah. I lost a bunch of others, including a nice fish that appeared to be around 20". He either took a #18 hare's ear or a #20 WD40. I had him on for about 5 minutes when he just spit the hook.

DQ · Newbie

Hi all

Leaving NM tomorrow for Napa, and will fish Putah on Wednesday 9/28 for sure. Any reports or advice will be appreciated. Will be checking this board, and my direct email is dquinton@sisna.com

Thanks for alll the posts.

DQ

Otter · Senior Member

The fisng has been great!!! Lots of big fish. Get the flies down deep. I have been fishing the last two hours of daylight, and the big fish are chomping micro mayflies, midges, and brassies. I ran into a couple of hunters between access two and three on the far side of the river. I was wondering if they were poaching or if they were hunting legally. They were hunting quail, and crossed the river at the low water riffle between #2 and #3. Greg, do you know the regs? I am a little concerned about getting shot while trying to fish, as I have flushed several quail while walking the trail on the far side of the river.