My experience jives with Wormfree's.  

I am a big believer that presentation is the most important factor.  I recently fished a  #16 Copper John with a #20 black Zebra Midge or #18 brown BH PT and I was taking most of the fish on the upper/larger Copper John.  I'm convinced that this was the fly that was lower in the water column, nearer to the bottom (I put my split 6-8" above the first fly).  I think this is the more important factor - get down on/near the bottom.  I am going to try a Wooly Bugger my next time out...

Later in the day when some fish were making some splashy rises, I was taking fish at the end of the drift and on the swing.  Most fish were coming from the smaller trailing fly at that point.  Likely, they were looking higher in the water column at that point.

I just listened to the podcast Ask a Flyfisher with guest Rick Hafele on common nymphing mistakes... He places another split BETWEEN the two nymphs... I may give this a try...  It will probably cause even more hang-ups/ fly loss on the Putah but it may help keep BOTH flies down...  Anyone else do this?

He DID state that one of the most common nymphing mistakes was using larger nymphs than they should.  He typically uses nymphs <#14 unless he knows there are larger bugs that the fish are feeding on (stones).  While there are no large stonefly in PC, there are plenty bait fish... 

Hi ryan, 

I myself am somewhat new to the creek. I have fished it around 6 or 7 times ( although that may seem like a lot Putah creek is a hard or harder stream to get a handel on). My best experiences have been with really small flies, smaller the better, black and olive green seem to do the trick most o the time ( by most of the time i have been skunked several times regardless) presentation needs to be low and slow. Slow your swing by adding weight and high sticking if possible. Just lettig the indicator drift through may be too fast for the fish on the bottom. Ive been told if you are picking the occaisonal weeds off your flies you re in the right spot. Acess is usally rough but now is the starting time to go with flows dropping for the fall.

Now that flows are low Im determined to get out there and find some good fish. I may be up there fishing it early the 28th and 29th. I' always looking for someone to fish with simply because I dont like being out there alone. If you or anyone on the board here is looking for some quiet company Id be happy to join. 

-Ryan

925 596 1112

I've tried wollybuggers and other streamers with no sucess. Thats not to say that they dont work I'm positive it is user error... I Always make a point to try a streamer but just haven't hooked in yet with one but i guess thats why I gotta keep trying. 

I will make a mental note to try that. I've herd it before but hav forgotten to try it. I've herd something along the lines of fishing this  at a dead drift/downstream mend/ no indicator?  I've been hearing a bit of chatter latly about ditching the bobber loke indicator i use because it throws off te drift of the flies below it.

I agree that more than anything it is technique. Ive caught a handful (by handful i litterly mean one that i held in my hands) that was in the 20 inch range. But that was 13, well over a decade ago. This past year since ive taken fly fiahing back up ive caught a few small ones in the 10-15 inch range. I keep wanting to fish putah more and more because I have seen quality fish while ive been there, and i know that cathing fish is not a matter of luck, it is a skill an requires practice. 

Also pickup up a rock can tell you a lot about whats in the water. I tend to pick up a rock closer to the riffles. I dont find as many bugs under rocks in stagnant water. 

Quick question: I know talking about spots can bee a touchy subject but at this time of the year when the flows drop are there more fish pushed up towards the bridge or am should I still focus on general pool that look like they hold fish. I ask because the last two times I fished putah I crossed at 5, I had never been on that side before and really liked the look of the water /acess. I guess I'm asking at this time of the year what is the fishing compairison between 5 & the bridge?

Otter wrote:

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Here is a fly list for the next couple of weeks

Caddis: Soft hackles 14-16, birds nest tan or green 14-16, fox pupah 14-20
BWOs: SandM 16-20, RS-2 18-22 green, micro mayfly 16-20
Midges black red and green 18-24

Take off the bobber!!

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 Thanks Otter for the extra effort. Good advice here!

Ditch the bobber huh.? Have you been learning anything from that Japanese stick you're swinging? Are you still swinging it?

Tenkara was the leading cause to me ditching the bobber. I haven't used them for 4 years and it's mostly, because of the tight line fishing of that particular style that led me to it. Less clutter, more fish.

It's a good guess and in part is true. Position is one of the most important parts of all fly fishing. When I teach it I always emphasize "position, position, position". You can make a beautiful cast but if your angle of approach/position is off your line gets drag and your presentation is crap. You can approach a holding lie from many angles but there is only one "best angle".

But the key aspect of the tenkara rig is the ability to keep most if not all of the line off of the water. It takes many of those bad angles out of the equation because you're avoiding line drag, providing better control of the drift, thus fooling more fish and spooking less fish. It's bred for mountain streams, weightless flies, for average size trout. Think short game, not really a long line big fish setup. It's a niche style and won't replace my rods with reels but it's a hell of a lot of fun.

As one of the early adopter's in the US, I've built a solid foundation with the technique in the last 4 trout seasons. Building from 36 years of fly fishing, I can honestly say that done properly, tenkara it is the most efficient way to fish "small creeks and streams."

Everywhere else put on a dry fly, put on an indicator, put on a Euro setup, or a streamer, send some line and give 'em hell.

Thank you all. This is quite helpful. I may get over there tomorrow and I'll let you know how it goes.

And flyfishingjunkie, that's a really fun idea!