It's been a busy Autumn for me, but I finally got out to the creek this Wed. Was it ever crowded for the middle of the week. There were cars at almost every good spot so you had to pick around to find fish. I have a lot of sympathy for those who can only fish the weekends!
The fishing started out slow. Got grabs, but mostly from small fish with one 17" exception. People fishing around me appeared to have similar results.
Around 5pm, however, a decent BWO hatch started up and I felt like I was in the exact right place for this. Suddenly, I was getting a hookup on every cast. Most were 12-13" fish, but about 5 of them were tanks, one appeared to be well over 20". Unfortunately, the bigger fish all came off and the biggest one (who was on for 10 minutes or more) escaped right about when I thought he was in the bag. Still, the sheer level of action for about an hour was just awesome especially since I was thinking there were no more fish in that spot up to that point.
Goes to show you, when the bugs are there, the fish will eat them and your fly if it's a good imitation.
First and foremost Beautiful fish! For some reason i have been finding the creek just as crowded on the week days as on the weekends . Maybe because everyone decideds they can beat te croud at the same time. I had a similar experience the other day with exception of the bwo hatch, but I left the creek around 4. I plan on goong tommorrow so maybe I'll stay a little later and see if i can find myself in one of those hatches. It thrills me to know that this season is starting very promising!
Season never ended. Everyone one is there because the water has dropped to low levels. Most prior fish the low flows because it's easier for them. Personally I lie the higher water.
Definitely, A LOT more folks on the creek this fall compared to all years post-2008 (my history with the creek). Probably reflects the stronger population -- hard not to catch fish right now, even if the bruisers are still far and fewer between than the 1-2 yr-olds. Still, I'm glad there is good reason to fish the creek and it brings the folks out. Hard to beat a day on the water, anywhere.
Just a reminder to lurkers: educate yourself about the upcoming spawn (plenty of references on this site). Myself and others usually quit fishing Putah near the end of October to avoid disturbing spawning fish. Of course, legal fishing continues through the winter, however, if you like the fishing, please respect the fish. The future is y(ours) to decide.
Season never ended. Everyone one is there because the water has dropped to low levels. Most prior fish the low flows because it's easier for them. Personally I lie the higher water.
Seasons yes there are four. Maybe I should be a little more clear next time this "fall" season is looking very promising.
Hawkeye: I hear ya on hangin it up for the spawning season. Might go a few more times here before the end of te year but I think its about time to point the wheels elsewhere. Some stealhead fishin is starting to sound good!
I seen a redd today with a couple fish on it. Time to be careful where you step and leave paired up fish alone. Fishing was good today but the fast water drop definitely pushed the larger fish into the frog water. I think it dropped at least a foot from when I started to the time I left. Lots of healthy young fish in the system.
The week of October 28-Nov 1 you are going to see a lot of DFW biologists and PCT volunteers at several sites from Access 5 to The Bridge electrofishing and cleaning spawning areas. You may not get to fish your favorite site during that week.
thanks for bringing up the spawning issue, I guess its that time of year again! I will not be guiding again this winter but I will be doing classes here and there. I am a little worried about the increase in pressure on the creek especially this time of year when the flows are low, it brings back memories of shoulder to shoulder fishing over the spawning beds and literally not being able to find a place to fish. That was back in the 1980s and early 1990s. I really believe that was the beginning of the downfall of Putah. Hopefully with the efforts of the good people of PCT and an ongoing awareness from scources like this site and from anglers and guides the same thing wont happen again.I say close the creek down during the spawn.
Fished it for the first time in about a year last Sunday. I must say I am impressed with how far the creek has come in just the last few years since the current regs. have takin place. Lots of fat healthy small to medium sized fished. Just a simple caddis/rockworm fly, Some dubbing, and wire on a scud hook.Saw no sign of spawners or redds.
I was out last Saturday. Lots of small and medium size fish. The larger fish haven't moved out of the deep holes yet to spawn. I saw a redd and a fish guarding it a few weeks ago but that was it.