Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
RETURN to Putah Creek Trout -> Putah Creek Fly Fishing Forum -> Putah Creek Fly Fishing -> observations of 12/26
Post Info TOPIC: observations of 12/26
ONEWEIGHT


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 571
Date:
observations of 12/26
Permalink  
 

Cliff, Alastair and myself met at Putah today to conduct some study work at the creek that we are doing in coordination with Fish and Game.  In conjunction with this, we make an effort to converse with people out fishing on the creek about what is going on at Putah.

First stop, 4 teenagers are fishing with bobbers.  I get a chance to talk with them and they are aware of the regs.  They say they are fishing with "artificial worms" on barbless hooks and that the Game Warden was by in the AM and inspected them.  Who knows what's true or not.  It took them about 3 minutes after we got there for them to pack up and hit the road though.

We talk to 3 people at the bridge, one of the guys is fishing 2 pair of fish that are doing their thing.  Cliff is very politely going over the new C & R status with this guy and attempting to enlighten this genius that he is fishing on the stock which will perpetuate the trout population of the stream.  Suddenly he tail hooks a fish and off it goes.  Thankfully he loses the fish.  Legal fishing, I guess, ethical fishing . . . no way.  
I somehow got a laugh seeing him pack up in his Prius and head out.  So concerned about the air, but not the wild spawning fish . . . what an oxymoron it seemed?  

Next stop, an area where trout should have been stacked into the redds doing their thing.  We had seen a few vehicled parked there on the way in.  When we get there, 0 fish are working on the redds.  They were all in the run in deeper water.  I would imagine that the people fishing the redds had spooked them all back into deeper water earlier in the day.  This is where the problem of fishing the redds occurs.  All will probably end up fine in the end, but when people chase the spawners,  this is what occurs, the fish do not actively spawn as they should.  SO maybe people can continue to work other areas of the creek if they must fish.

Let's NOT continue what we just went through here.  I'm just passing along my observations of the day and some of the bit of humor to be had from it. 

__________________
LilWhippersnapper


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 909
Date:
Permalink  
 

Good job guys. Way to educate.

__________________
Mama said bait fishing is the devil!
joshfish


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 12
Date:
Permalink  
 

i was at putah on the 24th. took the dogs for a walk and was checking out the creek. saw a couple pair of huge spawners above the bridge. after i left i saw someone walk down and fish right over the spawning fish. i probably should have said something but i didnt. he didnt catch any of them before he moved on but i dont know if he came back to that spot later.

__________________
SK60


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 987
Date:
Permalink  
 

I think the tail hooked fish would be considered "snagged" if a warden was looking on. That would definitely be illegal whether intentional or not.

__________________

PCT Contact Info: putahcreektrout@gmail.com, SK60@putahcreektrout.org

Address: Putah Creek Trout, 1520 East  Covell Blvd, Suite 5, #331, Davis CA 95616

Visit our website at www.putahcreektrout.org
Xnjb707X


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 236
Date:
Permalink  
 

I also was out there last week and ran into several people fishing on redds, I too explained to them what they were doing and they left.. Sometimes people listen and sometimes they don't. If you guys need any extra help counting redds/fish etc, I'm usually out there on Wednesday's letting my puppy get some exercise and some off the leash training, get at me.


- Nic

__________________
Tbug


Newbie

Status: Offline
Posts: 1
Date:
Permalink  
 

Greetings everyone. I'm new to the forum and Putah Creek and thought I would seek some advise on where to fish that would not disturb the redds. Are the redds located in specific areas or spread throughout the creek?

__________________
Otter


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 817
Date:
Permalink  
 

The general regulations are fairly vague on snagging.

b) Snagging is prohibited. Snagging is defined as impaling or attempting to impale a fish in any part of its body other than the mouth by use of a hook, hooks, gaff, or other mechanical implement. This definition does not include activities otherwise authorized under these regulations for the lawful use of a gaff, bow and arrow, or spear.
(c) It is unlawful to kill, or retain in possession any fish which has not voluntarily taken the bait or artificial lure in its mouth. Any fish not taken pursuant to these regulations, shall be released immediately back into the water.

Basically from the general regulations if you snag a fish you must release it back to the water.

I have been following how the King's River Group has been improving their waters. This is a valley water close to Fresno. From what I have read they are doing a tremendous job.

1. They have spawning areas marked and they are illegal to fish.

2. They have been improving the spawning by using vibert boxes to fertilize eggs and release wild fish on the river.

3. They are supporting DFG with funds to patrol the river.


I think we could do this with donations and support!!!!


__________________
chris
hobbs


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 108
Date:
Permalink  
 

Great work to all, keep it up. Oneweight....dont worry about starting things up again. The way you worded your post was very beneficial and educational. Thanks.

__________________
hobbs


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 108
Date:
Permalink  
 

Tbug wrote:

Greetings everyone. I'm new to the forum and Putah Creek and thought I would seek some advise on where to fish that would not disturb the redds. Are the redds located in specific areas or spread throughout the creek?


Thanks for asking about this subject. Some basic rules of thumb to avoid spawners:

- Try to avoid fishing above Access #1 because the majority of the spawning occurs in the upper mile of the creek.

- Dont sight cast to big fish (ie, larger than say 14"). Its hard to resist but if you spot a big fish its most likely a spawner this time of year, so dont cast to it. I really like just seeing those big fish. Its especially fun to watch spawning behavior.

- Avoid drifting your flys over or wading through gravel bottomed areas. If you must wade, stay on rocky bottoms or rock hop.

- Fish deeper, rocky bottomed areas with moderate to fast current. This is not spawning water.

- And of course practice good catch and release and follow the regs.

Have fun out there and thanks again for being considerate. Feel free to pass this info along to fellow fishermen when you're out there on the water.

Robert

 



__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
RETURN to Putah Creek Trout -> Putah Creek Fly Fishing Forum -> Putah Creek Fly Fishing -> observations of 12/26


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard