Lower Putah

georgek · Veteran Member

Lower Putah

Ty · Senior Member

It looks like it may take a while for fish to start using the new stream area. I know previously, the creek was loaded with fish, mostly pikeminnow, some bass and trout here and there. SK60 may be able to give more info on that.

Here is a pic from yesterday afternoon looking west towards the Railroad Ave bridge. Looks very different.

SK60 · Senior Member

One reason to narrow the creek is to increase current flow and lower water temps, especially during summer. Trees are being planted to provide eventual shade. One hope is trout will populate the stretch and provide a fishery.

Probably the only way to get numbers of trout is to plant them. Otherwise, it would have to be catch and release to have any fish to catch. Planting isn't likely to occur because of the threat to native fish like the winter chinook run and central valley steelhead that are believed to appear sporadically in the lower creek. The salmon are the main reason that the lower creek is now permanently watered and a lot of attention is paid to their safeguarding.

Trout have been efished beyond the 505 overcrossing in the last few years, but the numbers were small. Also, below the diversion dam there is little public access and the owners will call the sheriff if you are on their property.

Lots of nonnatives like LM/SM bass, bluegill, carp, occasional stripers coexist with native pike minnow, hitch, split tail, and sacramento suckers.

georgek · Veteran Member

Is the diversion dam east of 505? About 10 yards upstream of the bridge in the photo above there are a couple private property signs. Do those apply to the area right down on the creek?

SK60 · Senior Member

Diversion dam is west of Winters. Posted property is to the high water point or to midstream depending on water rights on deed. If you go, you need to float the creek between public access points (putin/takeout) . Be warned that some areas are too narrow for anything but a canoe or kayak where the clay banks have been incised by flows. There are long stretches of little current where you paddle, paddle, paddle.