Ok so it seems a lot are still fishing

erich · Veteran Member

Ok so it seems a lot are still fishing

Rossflyguy · Senior Member

Just don't fish any visible fish. If they're large, they don't scare away from the area, and stay shallow than you're good.

lightfoot · Senior Member

Lake Solano, but only since you asked. I drove by late yesterday afternoon and only saw one vehicle (2 people) fishing. They were fishing in VERY shallow water...ie trying to hook spawning fish.

Unless I have to cut through Mankas Corner to visit the parts supply house, I have been driving by Putah just about every evening since October. Only if I'm running late and swing through just before dark, I always see people fishing Putah. Often times, A LOT of people.

I believe Putah should be closed to fishing for the spawn, period. I wish it was that simple. I used to voice my displeasure with people fishing Putah in the Winter when the water flows drop. For the most part, I finally gave up and just reserved myself to believe that people don't care. You posted on here with a great question, for that I commend you. Thank you.

I often reflect on an incident a few years back. I watched a fisherman walk up to some spawning fish in shallow water. The guy was clueless and trudged/splashed right into the water. All of the fish scattered downstream into a deep hole. The person, upon not seeing any fish, walked downstream and proceeded to fish the deep hole. Hommer Face Palm Coupling that with my own experiences of when I used to "fish the spawn", I completely disagree with Ross. With that said, I'm out of this discussion.

If you made it up to the Yuba, hope you had a great day.

erich · Veteran Member

Ya I hit the yuba yesterday. No luck could use a fishing buddy for the yuba if any one interested.ya I agree I'll stick with my for plan stay offor till March I wish they would shut it done for spawn. I'll be at yuba o gues

Tuggernaut · Member

Always down to hit the Yuba

bono · Master Fly Fishing Guide

I agree with Rob, waaaaay back in the day when I fished during the spawning period, I really tried to stay away from the obvious spawning areas and found that almost completely throughout the creek I was catching spawning fish. I really feel most people that are still fishing the creek during this time either don't know, don't care or "think" they are avoiding the spawning areas. Trust me the fish in putah spawn all over the place, not just the 3 obvious spots that most people know about. That's when I finally realized that the creek just really needs to be shut down for about 3 months.

Rossflyguy · Senior Member

You can disagree with me but people are going to fish it regardless of what we say. So best thing to say is stay away from spawning fish. Focus on the really small fish if you're going to fish putah. Or fish the really deep areas like below the dam or solano.

lightfoot · Senior Member

Rossflyguy wrote:
You can disagree with me but people are going to fish it regardless of what we say. So best thing to say is stay away from spawning fish. Focus on the really small fish if you're going to fish putah. Or fish the really deep areas like below the dam or solano.

Around 35-40 years ago when I was younger and dumber I caught 2 fish just below the dam with my hands. There was a tad bit of water coming over the top of the glory hole and the fish were trying to swim up into the tube. They would make it about 15-20 feet up before getting blown back out, then rest in a small eddy before making another attempt.

We only caught a few fish right below the dam but they were all quality size. That included one monster German Brown that was about the ugliest fish I'd ever seen.

erich · Veteran Member

Ya I do agree people should stay away but they won't. Some people are just to stupid to understand. I get these guys at my work the come in and head to putah with a big box of spinners. And they just don't understand how do u push for a closer

mudhen · Senior Member

It's not a question of stupid. It's a question of snobbery. If the treble on a spinner is cut down to one barb and the barb itself is pushed in, then catching a fish on a spinner is less stressful than a 5x tippet as the fight is quicker. As for fish mortality due to hooks, Dr.Robert Behnke ,author of the seminal work Trout and Salmon in North America cited several studies on fish mortality in his book On Trout, concluding that there was no difference in kill rates between barbed, unbarbed, treble and single hooks (using bait did not apply as it IS more lethal) . I don't care if people fish with a willow wand as long as the law is followed and ethical standards are applied. There are about 3 to 4 million fly fishermen and women in America, and around 35 to 40 million people who fish with other gear ( closest figures I could find ). Given the new administration that is about to take over in Washington, we had damned well all better stick together less we find our waters polluted, diverted, or dammed. Truth be told, it might be BETTER if you guys were out on the water as you could keep an eye on things and at least educate newcomers and gear guys about staying away from the redds . Everyone here is just preaching to the choir.

End of rant....

-- Edited by mudhen on Thursday 15th of December 2016 10:11:29 AM

-- Edited by mudhen on Thursday 15th of December 2016 12:31:58 PM

Greybeard · Member

Not being a smart azz, but do the trout in, say, the Yuba not spawn? When I fished the Yuba last month, we carefully avoided walking through the Salmon redds and not fishing directly over them. Wouldn't the same apply to trout redds? Thanks for explaining.

Fornacino · Senior Member

I fish with size 18 and 20 hooks. Most of the fish I catch self-release before I even get a chance to grab them. For me the enjoyment is the "hunt": reading the water, choosing the fly, presenting it properly and having the fish take it! Whether I land the fish or not is largely unimportant.

I also find peace of mind when I'm on the river. I love to be by the water in a natural, wild environment. I enjoy nature, its colors and sounds. Two weeks ago I saw a bobcat hop around the rocks across the river. Last week two big, fat, otters swam just past my waders, and every time I go, I see a great number of birds, waterfowl, hawks, kingfishers... But I think that's why most of us are passionate about fly fishing.

I respect spawning grounds and I stay away from access areas that hold redds. But I do agree with Mudhen in his belief that our presence on the water is probably a deterrent to those who are only interested in snagging spawners and taking them home. I have the feeling that most of us don't hook more than a half dozen fish each time we're on the water, and probably handle and release half that amount. In return we restore our spirits and enjoy peace of mind for half a day. Are we being selfish? Maybe, but honestly I don't feel that our collective presence on the river is having any effect on the fish population. Certainly not as much as those fat otters do.

Nohackle2 · Veteran Member

I would just like to add that not everyone's situation is the same. I'm 71 years old with a bad foot. When fishing Putah I am hesitant to walk more than 50 yards due to a possible injury to my foot. Thus, I am limited ONLY to fishing Putah in the Winter since fishing during higher flow would necessitate a lot more walking. I've fished Putah for 40+ years and am not about to stop fishing it completely. I stay away from spawning areas and fish only the deeper water. In all honesty, I don't know how many more years I will be able to fish anywhere, let alone Putah. So, again, not everyone's situation is the same. My future is now.

East Bay Ed · Senior Member

I agree with Nohackle. I'm 70, and have fished Putah for well over 50 years. When I get the urge to fish I go. I understand there are spawning areas and I try to stay away from them. I helped point out where several of them are when they did the survey several years ago. You have to depend on posting about spanning when it is going on and rely on the good sportsmenship of those that read the info. There aren't that many spanning areas on the creek and frankly I miss the stocking that went on before Putah got its Wild and Scenic designation. On the other hand I don't miss the sick and deformed fish that they stocked in the creek. What you have to be concerned about are the bad sportmen who visit the creek. We all know there are people going up there that do all kinds of illegal things. I'm sure when you post about spanning there are people that read it and go up there looking for where the redds are and try to catch and even foul hook them. Hell, I'm sure I've seen guides up there with clients fishing spanning areas. So what are you going to do? Lament the situation, which you do, or go on with life? When I was a kid there was a TV personality, Al Jazzbo Collins, whose motto was "do what you can do and don't do what you no can do." Yeah, I know the grammar sucks, but the idea is true. You can only do what you can do. You have to remember you don't own the creek. Bono is right, the creek needs to shut down during the spanning season. And you and I know the creeps are still going to try to sneak out there. Really, the only thing you can do is control your own actions, and if you do see shady things going on then report it to Fish and Game.

Otter · Senior Member

If you have fished the creek for several years or even if you have fished the creek during the past five or so winters you can usually spot where the fish are spawning. They used to spawn all up and down the creek, but not so much anymore. Use common sense when you are out there and stay off the spawners!! Last month there were quite a few smaller fish rising to dry flies. I recommend fishing some small caddis and BWOs dries for some fun in the winter!