putah float tubing

bono · Master Fly Fishing Guide

putah float tubing

Otter · Senior Member

That sounds like a lot of fun, I haven't floated below the Dam in a while, but I would have to agree that the late evening is the time to catch the lunkers up there. The last couple of weeks I have been floating above No 1, as I have been too lazy to carry my pontoon boat up to the dam. The last trip above No 1 I was drifting just below the tree swing and hooked into a very fat 19" female. It seemed about 8" wide and was literally as fat as a football. It took forever to land, the fish would only come up a foot or two with full pressure then submarine near the bottom. When I finally got the fatty in the net, I measured it out to 19". Off the chart on my tube's ruler. Later that evening I landed another big fish that was jumping like crazy. I would estimate it at about 22" as it was well off the 18" chart. Landed a few other smaller fish in the 16" range, and lost quite a few fish. The fly of the day was a red brassie size 16. I have tying them on 2488s and always add a dun or white CDC puff before adding the peacock herl. Cut the CDC puff short to represent an emerger. I just looked at the flows and they are down to 420 CFS. I am heading up there today to try out some areas that are wadable in these medium high flows. Looking back I have had some of my best days on Putah when the water first drops to around 400 CFS.

chemdoc · Senior Member

Having never fished up by the dam, Greg, I was wondering how far up you go when tubing. I know there is a fence partway up from the 128 bridge. Do you go past that to put in, or can you kick upstream against the current? And here is my inexperience showing. Are you fishing the leech as a streamer or under an indicator? I was under the impression that leeches were streamers, but size 16 seems small for a streamer. And a last question. Will you be selling this hot new fly on your website? Thanks.

Phil

JT · Senior Member

Bono,

I just read your post with your new fly. You said that you use ostrich plume for the body. I assume that you wrap it around the hook as herl. Do you weight the hook? I've seen other leech patterns that have lead wraps on the hook, but it's made so that the weight is flattened out. Then, when the herl(or dubbing) is wrapped around it, the body is flat. Do you tie your fly like this, or do you leave it round? I don't know if it would it make a difference to the fish.