ALL: THE SPAWN IS ON AND ITS TIME TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT HIGHLY VISIBLE FISH IN SHALLOW WATER ARE SPAWNING FISH. DO NOT FISH FOR THEM AT ANY TIME WHEN THEY ARE IN THESE AREAS.
AVOID WADING NEAR THEM AND THE GRAVEL AREAS AROUND THEM. THE BEDS THEY CLEAR (REDDS) WILL SOON BE FULL OF EGGS OR ALEVINS THAT ARE EASILY CRUSHED BY BOOTS. THESE YOUNG ARE IN THE REDDS FOR UP TO TWO MONTHS, AT LEAST UNTIL THE END OF MARCH. DON'T WADE THESE AREAS UNTIL APRIL.
IF YOU SEE SOMEONE DOING EITHER OF THE ABOVE, EDUCATE THEM AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON AND TO REDUCE THE "I DIDN'T KNOW RESPONSES".
HERE'S A STATISTIC FROM THE DFW SURVEILLANCE THAT OCCURS EACH WINTER: DURING THE LAST TWO WINTERS SURVEILLANCE PHOTOS SHOWED A TOTAL 335 FISHERMEN FISHING REDDS. 35 WERE STANDING IN THE REDDS.
My friend and I went up to Putah a week ago and saw the conditions you referred to at one of the parking areas. There were signs posted alerting everyone to the spawn. In these signs, it said that the spawning areas that were supposed to be off-limits were "designated by the roped off areas". To our surprise, there were not any roped off areas at all, despite being able to see the fish in the shallow run, clearly a spawning area. It was obvious to us that we were not supposed to fish that area so we moved on, but someone who doesn't get it or doesn't care would have a perfect excuse to throw a line in there. Someone may want to make a change to that sign, or actually rope it off.
I fished the creek today and froze my a$$ off. Started raining at about 10am and temps dropped down to 40 degrees. By 1pm I couldn't feel my hands anymore and called it a day. Fished some of the deep holes at access 3 with no luck. Saw one big fish on the move but didn't get a single hookup.
Was planning to go up and take a look at the redds by the resort but was borderline hypothermic and I went home.
It was very quiet out there today.
Was planning to go up and take a look at the redds by the resort but was borderline hypothermic and I went home. It was very quiet out there today.
Not much to see up there other than a couple of people fishing. I'm not sure why, but the upper area sure found a lot of silt. Down low still looks good.
Yeah it was a tad cold yesterday. I spent just over 30 minutes at the upper area yesterday "looking to see what I could see" (old old song line :) ) and the rain kicked in at 10:55. Made visibility pretty much nada so I called it. Heading back up in about an hour.
On a side note, it is frustrating as hell to see people that I've talked to last year about the habitat work/fishing redds etc, back at the creek pretty much doing the same thing this year.
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Winter eats heat the way darkness swallows light. The terrors of failed power and frozen stems are stymied with fire, smoke and white ash.
335 people? That's absolutely disgusting numbers, but expected. If that isn't a good enough reason to close the creek in the winter I just don't know what is. Give the creek some time off..
- Nic
I was out there again today and had just one small fish. I got to see a lot of fish on redds, I won't say where, but the spawn is in full swing.
I've changed my mind about fishing this time of year. I'm done until the spawn is over. It was really cool seeing those fish do their thing and they should be allowed to do it in peace.
I was fishing one hole where I saw a big fish moving around, it was only after fishing it for a while that I saw the hen and saw the redd at the head of the pool. I shot some video of the fish and left for home. I'm pretty happy I didn't hook up.
Even when you think you aren't casting at a spawning fish you might be.