When will the creek be fishable once more? I looked at the USGS graph and estimated by the end of the month the flows should be below 1000 cfs. I was looking to fish below monticello on Monday, however.
I went out yesterday. Flows are high and the water is stained and has a lot of debris. I think it would be a process of frustration. It was a BEAUTIFUL day though!
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You could always head up to the lake and give bass fishing a try. It is THAT time of the year. I'll be on the North end in the morning fishing from a kayak.
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Winter eats heat the way darkness swallows light. The terrors of failed power and frozen stems are stymied with fire, smoke and white ash.
When I used to fish the creek a lot more than I do now, I fished the creek twice when the flow was above 1000 cfs and I did manage to catch fish. The first time the flow was 1100 cfs and I caught a 14 incher fishing the seam of a backeddy. The second time the flow was 1400 and I caught a skinny 17 incher at the edge of a pond-like section. These were the only fish I caught. So without a doubt the fishing was very tough. If you really want to fish the stream, find the slowest water you can find with decent depth. These are pretty much the only places I've found where you have even a small chance of catching a fish.
High water tactics should work regardless of the waterway. Think of the Truckee: find the slower water if you can. Cold water and high flows means low metabolisms and lazy fish. You'll have to put it in their face. If the weather follows the forecast we could see flows drop 50%+ in the next 7 days which would make it a bit easier to assume where fish may be holding if you're u familiar with the geography. I don't see the reason to rush a good thing there are other options right now. If you're looking for a challenge? Give it a whirl, why not.
-- Edited by skylerjohnb on Friday 10th of March 2017 08:56:29 PM
-- Edited by skylerjohnb on Friday 10th of March 2017 08:57:40 PM
A thin layer of water is still pouring into the glory hole as of today at about noon. I presume that once the lake level falls below the standpipe, creek flow will fall more rapidly.
A fellow fly fisher was just leaving as I rolled in with by bike. He fished most of the morning with no grabs, though he saw a large trout jump out of the water.
