Where have all the fish gone?

Fornacino · Senior Member

Where have all the fish gone?

DrDan · Administrator

I was out today. The fish seemed to be in deeper slots. Certainly didn't see numbers, but the fish I touched were nice size. The water is LOW and a bit stained. My favorite tight-line stretches didn't yield anything. All my fish today were on the bobber with small flies and light tippet.

As a side note, my FLPHF (Flies Lost Per Hour Fished) dramatically increased today blankstare

Fornacino · Senior Member

Good to know you hooked some fish. I tried WD-40, Micro May, PTN, Bird's Nest and few other in sizes 18 and 20...5X and 6X tippets. Will try again on Friday.

Otter · Senior Member

The fish are in there, but they are moving through the creek feeding in a few spots and then moving back to where they live most of the year. There was a monster BWO hatch where I was fishing around 4pm. Smaller BWOs than most other rivers. Hogan's S and M is always good choice, but you will need to use smaller hooks like 20s and 22s. RS-2s in size 22 and it is always good to have an upper fly that is a caddis size 14-20. The bigger fish don't seem so interested in midges these days….

Rossflyguy · Senior Member

I've had the same results the last two weekends and I haven't been goose egged here in awhile. It's becoming personal now lol. I tried flies from 20 to 14 and in many different spots that usually hold fish. The fish seemed more active beginning of Feb. I'm thinking the water releases are making the water much colder. They aren't eating unless you hit them in the nose. Hopefully this warmer weather will get them going.

Berryessie · Senior Member

It's been pretty slow for me too so far. All signs point towards good fishing but the fish just are not turned on yet.

DrDan · Administrator

I thought for sure I would get blanked today. There was a nice BWO hatch ~1:30. Two to hand after that. I also think that the releases have made the water just a bit colder and the fish just a bit less grabby. My stream thermometer read 55. Nice size fish in the system right now.

Fornacino · Senior Member

Finally three trout took my flies yesterday. My thanks to Otter for suggesting Hogan's S&M; I tied a few in size 18 and 20 the night before and caught a trout on each of the two sizes, and the third on a Bird's nest. All between 14" and 16".

I took my first bath in the river as I was fishing in hips deep water. Slipped on slick rocks and fell backwards. Unexpectedly, the current started to take me in deeper water. The wading staff is all but useless in this situation. I started grabbing bottom rocks and pulled myself backwards to shore. Fished with my back soaked the rest of the day. Good thing it was fairly warm and sunny.

shon42073 · Senior Member

Made it up to putah for the first time in well over a year yesterday. It was nice to fish good old putah. Not much has changed, Few more signs, A good thing. 4 hours slow paced fishing for 2 to hand. Nice fish healthy full of fight. Came on Rs 2's olive, And Brown.

iamamultitasker · Senior Member

Fornacino,

I'm glad you're catching fish on Putah, but I never thought the Otter would become an S&M enthusiast!

Seriously, that fly saved our butts the last time we were on the Yuba and fishing was slow. S&M was the only thing working.

Finally, for those who wonder what S&M means: Sacramento Mayfly. Straight from the mouth of Hogan Brown.

-- Edited by iamamultitasker on Wednesday 11th of March 2015 10:53:43 AM

DylanG · Newbie

I was out on Putah for about 5 hours yesterday, didn't see any fish at all. Talked to a few people as they passed by, they were having no luck at all. Maybe we were all in the wrong area, I'll try some different places in a few weeks.

Fornacino · Senior Member

Got skunked again last Friday. 6 hrs of fishing different spots. The usual nymphs didn't work. I even tried soft hackles drifting down and swinging around...but it was a beautiful day to be out by the water...the usual consolation prize.

gotmyzerolimit · Newbie

Fished for 5 hours yesterday. Saw no fish. 3 weeks ago did real well. Higher water may be the difference. The valley is beautiful now. Lots and lots wild flowers and weather is perfect, so no regrets.

clubby · Member

Sorry to hear. What were you fishing with? I'm headed up this wkd, and was going to start with some birds nests with S&M droppers, and maybe some WD40s.

Kaiteo · Member

Hit the creek for a bit this afternoon for first time in weeks. Hit a few spots and I threw the normal stuff and nothing. Then on a whim I started swinging a sculpin pattern and bingo. Three big healthy beauties. First time I ever swung something at Putah. It was a kick. Talk about having the fly slammed :)

LelandFly · Veteran Member

Kaiteo wrote:
Hit the creek for a bit this afternoon for first time in weeks. Hit a few spots and I threw the normal stuff and nothing. Then on a whim I started swinging a sculpin pattern and bingo. Three big healthy beauties. First time I ever swung something at Putah. It was a kick. Talk about having the fly slammed :)

As we say at Leland. Fish don't have hands and must inspect anything that looks like food with their mouth. If a hook is attached.. bingo! I also haven't had great luck swinging and / or stripping streamers on putah. All signs point to it working with the aquatic life, size of fish, etc. Next Time, I'm giving it a chance a bit longer.

On The Yuba a few weeks ago same but opposite thing happened. Nymphing all morning... nothing. Then I break off on a snag and instead of re-tying a whole new rig I use the 6 feet of leader left, tie on a chubby chernobyl dry fly and 3 fish in an hour. Way more fun than the ten caught the day before nymphing with an 11' 5-weight.

Fornacino · Senior Member

5 on hand (Bird’s Nest and Hogan S&M) and 3 lost. But I'm not sure how much the nymphs had to do with the catch. It was a
weird day! The first trout I hooked had the hook on the outside of the bottom jaw; maybe I lifted the rod just after the fish had rejected the nymph. The second fish, a nice 12” rainbow, gave me a hell of a fight, turns out it was hooked at the base of the dorsal fin (snagged?). The third, a 10” rainbow was hooked by the tail, right where the fleshy part ends and the tail starts, I have no clue as to how that could happen. The forth trout was on the line as I lifted the rod to start another cast. The fifth was the only legit catch.

The bad karma accumulated from more or less snagging 3 fish caused me another bath in the creek. Fortunately this time I was returning back to the car at the end of the day and had a change of clothes in the trunk (from a lesson learned before).

Turns out, as I logged-on this evening to check water flows, that Putah creek flow went up right after the noon hour today from 225 cfs to around 260 cfs. No wander I had trouble getting across on my way back.

Hatethebait · Member

LelandFly wrote:
As we say at Leland. Fish don't have hands and must inspect anything that looks like food with their mouth.

Wait.... fish don't have hands?

DrDan · Administrator

Looks like more smaller fish moving back into the system as the flows are increasing. If the historical trend holds true, we will be seeing >300cfu by the end of this month....

Wpolo · Newbie

Great day out today, more people than fish. Lots of amazing wildflowers. Ran into a fellow Bay Area gal asking about the area. Should have got your info, would have been great to carpool. Email me wpoloman86@yahoo if you want to head up, you seem awesome and the fishing a only going to get better

DrDan · Administrator

302 cfs this morning. A bit earlier than usual.

-- Edited by drdan on Sunday 22nd of March 2015 06:23:48 AM

DrDan · Administrator

Out for a couple hours this morning. Flows increasing to 320 while I was wading. Lots of veg coming downstream. Already difficult to get to some of the spots I like. Gave up after a couple hours. Will need to switch to high water areas and techniques (which I'm STILL working on). If anyone has any tips for higher flows.....

DylanG · Newbie

Thinking about heading out to the creek today, any suggestions on where to go and what to throw?

Thanks!

shaunsquid · Newbie

Sound like S&M is doing good for people. What size? I am a rookie and have been on the Putah the last 3 Saturdays with only one 4 inch brown to show for it. I think I am just going too big on my patterns.

Rossflyguy · Senior Member

Shaun do you have a pic of the brown?

clubby · Member

Went out on Saturday and caught 2 in the 6-7" range in the first 3 mins, then got blanked for the next 4 hours. Caught them on a size 16 black bead bird's nest, natural color (if you want to know what the little guys eat). Mainly high sticked, but also tried swinging some streamers. Also saw huge waves of vegetation blasting through some of my holes, which probably didn't help.

Fornacino · Senior Member

I'll echo drdan in asking if someone could share his/her knowledge on how to fish high flows at Putah. Flow is nearing 600 cfs and looks like it will stay high for quite some time.

BTW, Lower Yuba is fishing pretty well right now and it's the closes alternative I know to our local stream. I've had some success with the same nymphs I use on Putah...Bird's Nest, Hogan's S&M and Micro May. Also had limited, but very exciting success drifting a Partridge and Orange soft hackle fly. May not take as many fish as nymphs with indicator (suspender?) but much more rewarding.

Rossflyguy · Senior Member

I'm headed out this weekend since I like fishing high water. I'll let you know how I do.

SK1983 · Member

Hey Rossflyguy, how was the water this weekend? I am thinking about a trip on Friday, but will go to the Yuba if the Putah is blown out.

Fornacino · Senior Member

Anybody fished the Putah this weekend? Would love to hear a report on the fishing with high water.