Hey Anglers,
I have been reading the forum with much interest and this is the first forum I have ever joined so in advance, excuse me if I am long- worded.  I am interested in fishing Putah Creek tomorrow, Thursday December 30.  I want to get 1 last day out of my 2010 CA license and get my new Simms boots wet.  I have only fished Putah once before and came home and immediately bought a wading staff and some carbide studs for my boots.  I got skunked but that was OK as I just love to be out there on the water. 

My background is that I live in Antioch and used to bass fish on the Delta about 4 days/ week with a buddy who was a semi- pro and had a boat.  I got the fever and spent loads of $$ one summer (6 rods, reels, and a gobs of takle) and didn't think there was anything more fun.  Then I started salmon and steelhead fishing on the Trinity and Sacramento.  Uh oh... and I thought bass gear was expensive.  I have been fly fishing for about 7 years and still consider myself a 'rookie' cause I really wish to learn more about the waters I fish and technique.  I am a catch and release angler though I will occaisionally take a salmon (I don't eat it but enjoy inviting friends over that do). To date I have still not boated a sizeable steelhead on the Trinity.  Hooked a couple of 10 pounders- real nice fish, but lost them before I could take that picture and release them back into the wild.  I have fished in Alaska 3 times and there is absolutely nothing that compares to hooking, fighting, and releasing a 28" trout or a 12 pound silver- still looking to hook the 30 incher.

Last year my wife got me a Sage 8wt. with a Lamson Hard Alox reel and I would like to think that this is the last high dollar set-up I will ever need, but I know better.  I keep a list of my 'Dream fishing gear' and it totals over $3,000.  Hard to justify the cost with one kid in college, another in high school, travel softball, mortgage, braces, etc.  I would like to upgrade my 5wt. (currently a Pflueger 6wt. with Okuma SLV reel), and purchase a 3wt. set up for when I fish the tributary that flows into Trinity Lake, where we vacation each summer.  This year for Christmas I got some Simms wading boots and a high tech vest from a company in Colorado called Otto.  I researched many vests and just could not justify plunking down the $$ for a Simms G4 or a Fish Pond and came across the vest from Otto.  Very nice, full of pockets and features.  I always carry a backpack when I fish and this vest comes with a roomy backpack attached- for $85.  I would highly recommend checking this company out.  They also feature their own brand of rods & reels.  I am eyeing their reels for a 5wt. and 3wt.  Has anyone ever seen or used them?  They are machined from solid aluminum with carbon fiber drags and look to be pretty sturdy.

BTW.  Great post on how not to fish the redds at Putah.  This is the kind of information I seek BEFORE I go fishing.  I love to fish and want to make sure I am contributing to the longevity of the precious resources.  Reading these posts, it sounds like you folks would be hella fun spending time with on the river.  Sorry for the length of this post, just wanted to give you some background in who I am.