Trimming the bushes ?

shon42073 · Senior Member

Trimming the bushes ?

Cole Davis · Senior Member

Yer not fishing also??? confuse

SK60 · Senior Member

Shon-any cutting, including trimming a few briars is illegal on publically owned property on PC. Even DFG has to have permission to trim on PC. But we all do it to save our waders on the trails and I doubt Yolo County would raise an eyebrow about this kind of snipping. It is worth reporting it to Cal-Tip for the record, but realistically, there's no resource to enforce the law.

Otter · Senior Member

This was not mere trimming!!! Someone drastically altered one of the key spots on the creek. The best part of this spot was you had to be able to cast to fish this spot. Now it is in my opinion ruined... There is a big snag there too...

On a good note there is a new warden on the creek. Pinch those barbs!

AfricanAngler · Senior Member

Well me being many thousands of miles away I think I am safe from suspition in this matter. confuse If it is in fact were I presume it is I have lost many a fly in that spot but it (the spot) has also forced me to become a better caster and more thoughtful on how to approach fishing spots. A fishing buddy of mine would hate that spot as they were not patient enough to learn how to deal with it.... If that whole "bush" is in the creek that spot is truly ruined and a resounding "Well Done" goes out to the culprit!!!

It is also sad to hear that now the spawning fish are about to get 'busy' that the creek has got its highest fishing pressure. I am sure there are a few of you that will be on the creek regularly to chat and help educate our fellow fishers on the creek, especially the news guys who don't know different, much like myself 3 years ago!!!

georgek · Veteran Member

Couple things... why call out "shiny new wader types" for the crowding? At one point everyone here and everyone who fishes was a shiny new wader type. I went out yesterday for probably the last time until march/april. caught four fish. As i was walking down to the water I came across a fish head that had been clearly taken from the creek and gutted/cleaned for eating. I took some pictures if anyone is interested. The fish was at a spot that is fairly close to the road. Wondering if this is worth passing along to anyone? (Specifically the location in order to monitor it)

SK60 · Senior Member

GeorgeK: Please email me the picture. Otter: did you get the Warden's name? This kind of evidence should be passed on to him.

georgek · Veteran Member

Im at work until tonight, I will email you the picture when I get home tonight

East Bay Ed · Senior Member

There used to be some great holes that I used to love to fish. Ten or fifteen years ago someone, I suspect from the camp ground, went in with a chain saw and really opened them up. I was sort of happy at first, but then I discovered that the fish didn't stay in the holes after that because there was no cover. One thing I've learned about fishing Putah Creek for close to 50 years is that if a spot becomes too easy to get to and or too easy to fish, then the fish will not stay there.

SK60 · Senior Member

The prespawn fish are now getting spooky with all the foot traffic. I watched a large female today that was holding in a deeper spot that is used every year. As soon as my silohuette appeared above the skyline she swam off. She was back a little later after I moved on. Talking to a number of you, the podding up of the large fish seems to be hit and miss this year. I hope that doesn't indicate a bad year; more hopefully the unusually low flows are just slowing things down.

Bob Loblaw · Senior Member

As a self confessed member of the "new wader" brigade (though after just a couple of trips to Putah nothing looks new anymore) I have to comment that its not us you have to worry about hammering fish. We just hammer trees, bushes, our boot laces and the occasional sunken log. Rarely fish.

bono · Master Fly Fishing Guide

I totally agree with Ed, as I too have had holes ruined due to increased access on Putah. Secondly, yeah we all have to remember that we all had shiney new waders at some point and we have to respect that.And lastly Bob that's some funny stuff btw I'm still hammering some of the things you mention!! Bono

shon42073 · Senior Member

OK the new wader comment was out of line, My apologies. Last weekend was my last trip to putah until probably next fall sometime. I'm just a bit irratated to have my last trip there ruined by crowds and the cutting up of my favorite hole.

ONEWEIGHT · Senior Member

Dr. Bombay, we all know how precious these streamside bushes are to your post-Bombay recovery sessions, as demonstrated on the Truckee one June morning.

DrDan · Administrator

Holy cow! That's not a trim at 2.5, that's a butchering! I wonder what they were thinking. 😣. I hope it doesn't kill that hole. Did they want to get the $5 worth of lost tackle?! Not only hat but they left the cut tree limbs on the bank. It will likely wash down and become a snag later. Really short sighted! Dan

Blue Wing · Member

Could be the kayakers???

DrDan · Administrator

Not sure why kayakers would care about that particular tree. It wasn't in a position to act as a strainer. There are a lot more spots I would cut out if that was what i wanted to do. Dan