Anyone been fishing lately

lightfoot · Senior Member

Anyone been fishing lately

PC20 · Veteran Member

The hypocrisy is thick when it comes to glory shots and bragging... Locals? What exactly classifies a local and why the sense of entitlement?

I chat with Skylar quite often on the water and find him to be an upstanding young man... I wish more of his generation had his passion and ethics!

Seems every year the conversation turns into this anger/conquer and divide mentality by some... Until the creek is closed by the state during the spawning season there's no need crying over spilled milk. People have every right to fish. Why bad mouth them?

Skol Bandit · Senior Member

There really is no reason for the anger. As far as trying to keep Putah "a secret," that's kind of a ridiculous notion. Anyone who fishes for trout in the Bay Area, knows of Putah Creek. And, as for pictures being an ego thing, I understand that point and it does make some sense for the fishes safety and not to publicize to add extra pressure, but some people post it because of the love of the creek - to simply share their fun experience and joy of catching a nice fish in the creek that we all enjoy fishing. You shouldn't get "jealous" when someone posts a nice fish and assume they are bragging. That's not why most people are posting the pictures. And, as for telling people what flies to use or which spots are good, I know I really appreciated the helpful advice when I first started fishing the creek and I appreciate the advice when I fish any new water. It makes for a more enjoyable time. Why do you want to deprive other people of having the ability to fish a nice spot? Just so you can fish it alone? Move to the middle of nowhere if you want that, not the Bay Area.

Fornacino · Senior Member

I think that the largest source of frustration, for anyone coming to fish PC, is finding crowded parking lots. Unlike most other rivers in Norther California where shorelines are open and widely accessible, Putah Creek has "fishing holes". You can't just walk up and down long stretches of fishable water. Vegetation, shoreline geography, and lack of trails make it impossible to walk more than a few hundred yards. If the fishing hole you're familiar with is taken you have to get back in the car and drive someplace else hoping to find an empty parking place and spot to fish.

With that said, most of the folks that I met on the river over the last 3 years have been friendly to me and more than willing to share their knowledge of the river, and even their fishing spot. I always return the favor.

As for the fishery's health and the damage inflicted by the pounding of nymphs, flies and streamers by the storming crowds, my feeling is that the fish are safe (with the exception, of course, of spawning grounds). Most of the fishermen I see on the water practice good catch and release techniques (though some I noticed don't use barbless hooks). The popular holes may get a lot of pressure, but there are many other places where people can't get to.

Rossflyguy · Senior Member

Deprive people? You won’t get sympathy here. I think we all want to fish alone. If you wanna combat fish check out the American River or the Feather. I think pics are fine but don’t post locations of fish you caught because people don’t wanna find fish for themselves. You’ll learn that fishing PC.

Charlesnu · Member

As this is my first season fishing PC I like the suggestions, locations and pics. I am still learning where one can go and end up wasting a lot of time hiking just to find water I can't effectively fish. But standing in line to fish a hole is not fun. Especially when I am driving 90 minutes to get there. 4 and 5 are basically useless given these crowds.

Yesterday I found a new area I hadn't parked at before. Fished alone for an hour or so then saw three others. Caught one fish and felt the whole deal was a success.

On balance, this fishery seems to be adapting to the pressure. If poaching stays down and the fish get their winter break then we should all be thankful and optimistic.

Fornacino · Senior Member

So, where's this new area you found? :)

lairdbaird · Veteran Member

The fish getting a winter break is one thing I think most of us can agree upon at least as of the last few years? What goes into getting a winter closure implemented? Can anyone with experience dealing with DFG chime in?

Rossflyguy · Senior Member

There’s more to just closing the fishery during the spawn. Winters relies on the revenue from the fishermen coming to fish PC during the winter. This has been brought up by Steve Karr. It would take a lot to get a spawn closure for PC. Luckily these fish spawn in many places on the river. No that the river has moved around gravel I’m sure these fish will spawn in new places. PC has always been pressured during the spawn. It’s sad to see but it’s not illegal. Just have to educate people. If they seen PC 7-8 yrs ago compar to present they’d appreciate leaving those fish alone.

-- Edited by Rossflyguy on Monday 13th of November 2017 09:53:15 PM

-- Edited by Rossflyguy on Monday 13th of November 2017 09:54:22 PM

Charlesnu · Member

New to me. Deer sign. Smallish fish but that area is beautiful.