- One of the most common mistakes I see Putah Creek anglers make is fishing water that is moving too fast. Yes, their indicators are moving at the same speed as the current. However, I can see that their indicators are moving downstream too quickly. They might be able to catch some small fish, but the odds on catching a bigger fish are probably small. Of course, learning what "too fast" of a drift is takes experience, but it is something to think about if you aren’t catching fish.
- The slower and shallower the hole you are fishing, the more important stealth becomes. When I am approaching a spot that I believe holds good fish, I try to stay far enough downstream that I don’t spook the fish. Stealth is less important if you are fishing a riffle or faster water, but it becomes much more important if you are fishing a slow moving channel or pool. Remember that if you spook small fish that dart upstream, you may be spooking all the fish in the area upstream.
- Fish become less spooky when there is overhead cover. The cover can take the form of an undercut bank, and overhanging bush, shade or surface ripples due to the wind. When there is overhead cover, the fish are prone to go shallower.
- Getting a "good drift" is normally thought of as getting the right drift speed. However, the other component of a "good drift" is drift direction. A "good drift" should be in the same line as the current is flowing. Here’s an example of what happens quite often. You make an up and across cast that lands 20 feet from shore. By the time your indicator drifts by you the indicator is now 10 feet from shore. You think you got a "good drift" when, in actuality, the drift direction was not correct. Sometimes this make no difference. But at other times, especially when you are trying to catch big (and wise) fish, it can be very important. Example: One day I was fishing a pond from a float tube. At the bottom of the pond the pond narrowed to a faster moving section that I call a glide. Not wanting to spook the fish in the glide, I got out of my float tube and cast to the glide from many different angles. None, however, produced the proper drift direction. When I was about to quit for the day, I got back into my float tube, positioned it directly above the glide, and made a long, directly downstream cast. Since I was floating directly to the glide, I knew I was only going to get one cast. When my indicator floated through the glide, a 20 inch rainbow took my fly. I am convinced that the reason it hit my fly was that I finally had the right drift direction.
- You find a spot that you think has very good potential. If it is fishable from both upstream and downstream directions, consider fishing it from both directions. If you fish it from downstream, remember that your fly line can create extra drag on your flies which can accelerate the drift and lift the flies off of the bottom. From upstream the inertia of your fly line can actually slow down your drift allowing the flies to drift deeper. Some spots are better fished from downstream while others are better fished from upstream.
- If you see a good fish rise upstream, take note of where it rose. Good fish often stay put until they are spooked. So even if you get to the spot an hour later, there’s a good chance the fish will still be in the vicinity.
- If you are using colored indicators, red indicators are usually easier to see in bright sunlight. Yellow indicators are easier to see in low light or shady conditions.
- If you are using 5X tippet and an improved clinch knot, make the knot with 4 ½ turns. My non-scientific knot testing (done at the kitchen table) proved to me that 4 ½ turns made the strongest knot both for fluorocarbon and regular mono tippet material.
- Sometimes desperation is the greatest teacher. One day I had done very poorly at the stream. I was heading back to my car when I spotted a potential spot to fish. It was not quite as deep as I would have liked and the current appeared to be a bit too fast. But I was desperate. On my first cast, I hooked and landed a 17 incher. The next week I hooked three 16-17 inchers from the spot and landed two of them. In the next few weeks I landed another 16 incher, a 14 incher and a couple of small fish from the spot. Then they raised the flows that was it for that spot. The interesting thing about that spot was that it was almost directly in front of the path leading to the stream. So it was easily spotted by everyone who walked down to the stream, but I guess I was the only guy desperate (and lucky) enough to fish it. BTW, that particular spot never produced another fish in subsequent years. Go figure.
- Desperation example 2: One of my former favorite spots was an open area where I could move up and downstream very easily. One day I tried walking up the stream making upstream and up-and-across casts. No luck. I then worked my way downstream making down-and-across and downstream casts. No luck. I was about to quit the area when I decided to try some directly across stream casts. Normally this is not a preferred direction to cast since drag would set in after only a short drift. However, on my first cast I nailed an 18 incher. In the next 20 minutes I landed a 17 incher, a 15 incher and a 14 incher. My desperation move of casting directly across stream had saved the day.
- Desperation example 3: Same area as example 2. I was not having any luck throughout the section. As I was just about to leave I spotted an area just to the left of a weed bed quite a ways upstream. The water looked a little shallow and it didn’t look that "fishy", but I figured it was worth a cast or two. It was a lengthy cast, but I managed to get my indicator just above the area. As my indicator floated downstream a fish hit my fly; when I measured it, it was a 20 incher. The following week I made a cast to the same spot and landed a 19 incher.
- Desperation example 4: I was fishing another of my favorite spots, but was not having any luck. All of my "go to" mayfly, midge and caddis nymphs were just not producing any decent fish. In desperation, I tied on a Brown San Juan Worm. I had previously had only limited success with this fly. On my first cast I hooked and lost a 17 incher. On my next cast to the same spot, I hooked and lost another 17 incher. On my third cast, nothing. I figured I’d rest the area and during the break I would change to a Red San Juan Worm. On my first cast with this fly, I hooked another 17 incher, but this time I landed it.
- The learning curve for fishing Putah is NOT linear. Yes, the more time you put in, the more you learn. However, sometimes you will pick up key pieces of knowledge that will dramatically change your success rate. You may discover a "honey hole", maybe you’ll learn how to "read" more types of water, or perhaps you’ll discover a "hot" fly that the fish can’t seem to refuse. Whatever the reason, you fishing success will jump up suddenly.
- Try to catch a fish "off guard". By this I mean try to cast to him before he recognizes your presence. One example of this is when you suspect a large fish is downstream near the far bank. A long down and across cast followed by a large upstream mend can sometimes place the fly in front of the fish before he knows what's happening. A fish than is unaware of your presence will sometimes take even a poorly presented fly. While on the other hand, a fish that is aware of your presence may reject even a perfectly presented fly.
- Be open to different approaches to flyfishing a stream. Joe Humphreys, a well-known Pennsylvania angler who once held the state record for brown trout, advocates the use of a LEVEL (i.e. no taper) floating flyline. He also uses a Pfleuger Medalist reel, one of the most inexpensive fly reels ever sold. If you have ever seen one of his videos, you know that he is an exceptional fly fisherman and I suspect he would do very well on Putah Creek.
Final comment: I have fished Putah for almost 40 years with the majority of trips coming the last 15 years. Although I believe I know how to fish the stream, I think that the biggest advantage I have is that I have a good understanding of where the better fish will be at any given stream flow. I have kept a fishing journal for 14 years and have always recorded the stream flow. Thus, the night before a trip when I go to the CDEC website (cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryF?s=put) to find out the current stream flow, I can start formulating a strategy of where to fish the next day. When I get to the stream and make my first cast, I’m fairly certain I’m fishing a location with good fish; I don’t have to waste a lot of time trying to find them.
That is the one tip I would love to throw into the mix. One thing that Putah has taught me is that trout are predators. Sure the trout there love small flies, but big trout ( I mean big trout) are like most americans: they get big by doing two things eating a lot and expending as little energy as possible. Small flies work great when you drift them right in front of a fishes face, but they often times wont travel very far to grab it. The best explanation of this was told to me by good ole dad: " if somebody was throwing sunflower seeds at you all day sure you would eat them as they went by, but you wouldn't run across the room to grab one, a hamburger however, you see that going by and you'll likely chase it down the street.
I have been fixated on throwing buggers and sculpin on Putah lately. It can be slow but you tend to only need one good tug to make the day worth wile. Things I have learned about buggers so far on Putah: 1) fast short strips / twitches (at least during the summer). The bigger fish I have run into tend to be lethargic (probably because of the warmer water) 2) I have found fish in really tight to the bank (if it is deep enough). 3) Move a lot and cover water buggering isn't like nymphing, if they want it they want it, if not you probably wont know they were even there and move on 4) if you get a chaser don't stop, pausing will ofter turn fish off of their predatory tracking. Additionally if you get a fish you see chase and not take, try a brighter bugger on your next cast.
This is advise I didn't learn on my own but it has worked for me. But the biggest rule of buggers is to fish em. One cast wont do it, you have to commit to fishing it all day, might get skunked but really who hasn't had that happen on the creek.
Another topic that wasn't covered initially: Moving. One reason drift boat guides are so successful is they move a lot. Why present 10 flies to 1 fish when you can present 1 fly to 10 fish. I have begun floating the creek from below 3 to Solano bridge. Covering water is extremely effective in finding fish. Holding water can change for a billion reasons. Like the above I have found fish in one spot and then never again in the same spot.
Hopefully this helps add to the tactics list and I firmly affirm everything Nohackle2 stated. Just felt like throwing 2 more cents in
