High Flow Fishing

Otter · Senior Member

High Flow Fishing

coolbee · Veteran Member

Decided to head up today even though we just got a nice flow bump to 600. As expected, a tough day of fishing, although I managed one fat 18 incher to hand and a few more takedowns to boot.

What was working was 6x and 7x tippet (water's high but gin clear), big dark colored flies, and lots of shot fished in softer sections. I had some luck with dark lords, red san juans, and smaller red midges. Again, fish slow water. Even with lots of shot, the fastest water simply isn't holding fish right now.

Wade carefully. You simply can't fish some holes right now. The bottom of guide hole is way too deep to wade. I don't know if you can still cross to the island upstream, but I didn't bother trying. Crossing at 4 is definitely not an option.

Also, keep your eyes open. I didn't see any rattlers, but I ran into three garter snakes sunning below the bridge. The reptiles are out, so make sure you look before you step.

vince · Senior Member

Are you fishing these hatches on dries Chris? I still fantasize about catching fish on dries at Putah (even tiny fish!).

coolbee · Veteran Member

Landed that 18" on 7x. Although I know what you mean otter, 7x is like a strand of hair. I break it sometimes just tying my knots a bit too forcefully. And I did have a grab in that same slot that broke off on the hookset.

As for bugs, I had a smaller BWO or mayfly dun (I'm no entomologist) about size 16 or 18 land on my hand yesterday. Lots of bugs coming off.

Otter · Senior Member

Vince 99% of the time I am fishing nymphs or soft hackles on the creek. The big fish rarely rise during most hatches...

JL has been very successful fishing the lower creek with dries in the late spring and summer. He is somewhere back east now. He used to fish the lower creek, but apparently there is a mountain lion in that area now. Try some low floating yellow sallies or caddis fish early or very late to get fish on dries. Trico spinners if you see a small swirl.. sink em for more success.

vince · Senior Member

Soft hackles: neat. I just decided to fish these more. Just bought a hungarian partridge back. Do you swing them on slow water on the creek? Don't feel like you need to reveal all your secrets though

During the summer I used to fish the access 5 island a lot and would always see kids wandering (pretty far) from their parents. Might be worth hanging up a sign or two warning folks. Kids really bring them out from some reading I did. Over half of cougar-related deaths were kids (http://www.cougarinfo.org/stats.html).

See, and my experiences so far have only been with the cougars that stalk young men in bars, drinking cheap oaky Chardonnay. They're really dangeorous too.

Otter · Senior Member

I found the article in the new Fly Fisherman by Yvonne Choinard to be interesting. He says get back to the basics, stick poles or Tenkara rods and soft hackles. I am close to agreeing with his thoughts!

As for the Cougars in Yuba City watch out!!