First I just want to thank Greg for hosting this great resource!! Give me a call man, hopefully you dont have anymore football meetings to go to!!

 Hello everyone, I am new to this board and this is my second season fishing Putah. I fished yesterday and did very well. I did well, but stayed true to what seems to be the norm for me this year( losing the big guys ). I did however land a 5lbs brown, so it wasn't all that bad. Overall got into about 12 fish , with the bite being really good between 8-12, then kinda disappearing. Below I have listed what I do and oul dlove to hear your opinions...  I will say this, regardless of your opinion on what I am about to say, last year I did not fish the slower water!! So, if you feel my success rate is due to this please explain why, before flaming me as i still land 90% of my fish in slots, pockets and tail-outs. Thanks

1. The flies:

 Now typically i dont use the same tactics as most do on this stream. Having guided in Alaska, i learned if you want big fish, usually you have to present them with a big meal or one worth looking at. Now as you read this don't laugh at me, but do trust that it works and you will catch bigger fish! I learned this is no different on Putah, thanks to a gentleman who has fished this river for over 35 years. So, typically bigger flies means a nice attractor for the point fly (size 12 glow-bug, real-egg, unreal-egg. etc... in chart, or yeallow). Now heres where i may lose most of you, lol! For my dropper i go with a size 16 flashback PT, Hares, etc... the flashier/buggier the better. I have tested this several times in the fast water section between 3-2 and in the slower runs in other sections and fish will take this rig! maybe not the smaller fish, but the big boys will! I will also double-up with a a size 16 as my point and a size 18-20 CPB as a dropper. Whats a CPB? Well, its my own custom epoxyback baetis that I tie "Yongs Special" style for the body (tapered) w/ a very buggy dubbing and green flashback (I also tie it as a emerger with CDC, or a tungsten BH I paint green). Another dropper i sear by, is a zebra midge (tungsten head tied small on a larger size 16 egg hook).

2. How i fish:

 I like the czech style tight line nymphing on Putah (tight-line, no indicator). Hint-hint on another point flie i like, in brown with a buggy thorax dubbing in black. The other style I like is the angle-drift with a drift-rite indicator. I think it doesn't matter if you use an indicator or not, but what is important is your presentation; I mean both you physically as well as your offering! Dont wear bright clothes!!! Move through the water with a little common sense. I typically will fish upstream, so I can stay at a relative discrete angle to the fish (always fish this way when using the drift-rite). I have found however for tightline fishing you kinda need to stay parallel to them. Regardless, if you move quietly you can get on top of these fish (bows and browns alike). Watch the sun and keep you shadow off the water, both yours and your rods.

 Well thats about it. I can honestly say that I have gotten into at least 10-15 fish on every time i have gone this year. So far this year I have lost more of the bigger fish than I have landed, but my success rate this year has greatly improved since using tha above mentioned techniques. I would love to hear from you guys about my technique! I truelly feel this board is a great resource and encourage all to post!