9/24

GLMann · Member

9/24

Matt R · Senior Member

Yes it is common to hook fish that big,(that's why we love the creek) just landing those pigs is the uncommon part of the deal. I'd say I land maybe 1 out of 5 of the 20+" that I hook in the creek. They're good at shaking small hooks and plenty big to break your line. Still fun as could be wether you win or lose the fight...

JT · Senior Member

I fished the creek on Friday, 22 Sept. I landed quite a few fish: two were 20", one was 18", another was 15", and many smaller fish, including a lot of hatchery fish. They must have stocked the creek this week because there were tons of hatchery fish. People at the resort were hammering them, too. I didn't know that they planted the creek this late in the season. Anyway, this time of year it is very common to hook big fish on the creek. I don't know how many I have hooked/landed in the past few weeks. It's been fun without all the crowds like the winter. Like Matt R says, it is common to hook them but landing them is a little more difficult. They are experts at shaking the small hooks necessary to hook these fish, especially when they're barbless. They will test every knot in your rig and try with everything they have to break you off. In my experience it seems they succeed at escaping about 3/4 of the time.

shon42073 · Senior Member

i fished this past saturday and sunday all day both days and landed about 10 on saturday and about 6 on sunday, i hooked a fish that would easily go 22 inches but i had no chance, this fish was totally in control, it jumped completly over a log had to jump a good three feet in the air and wrapped my line around it and came off, this was near access point three, i caught and landed a 28 incher same spot about 15 years ago, but that was with bait, sadly. i agree that they must have just planted because i was surprised at the number of planters i caught, didnt think they planted this time a year. i keep hearing people state that putah gets alot of pressure in the fly only season, sinve this will be my first time fishing the fly only season was wondering if it gets crowded during that time, cause i really dont like to contend with crowds when i fish, thats why i refuse to fish the resort/dam area.

Brundoggy · Veteran Member

There was a kids fishing derby at Lake Solano over the weekend. A buddy said they stocked the lake for that.

Mike

Nohackle · Senior Member

I was talking to Greg Schuerger (former Putah Creek guide out of Sweeneys Sports) one day about losing a lot of Putah Creek fish. He suggested that I tie some of my flies on a Tiemco 3769 hook. A 3769 size 16 hook has the gap of a size 16, but the length of a normal size 18 fly. He said that the fish don't seem to be bothered by the large hook gap. For me, anyway, I must say that I feel more confident that the hook won't pull out when I am fighting a big fish.

bono · Master Fly Fishing Guide

I will have to agree with "the other Greg" the 3769 hook really does stay put compared to some of the other smaller gap hooks and is by far the hook I use most when fishing smaller flies.By-the-way if you're reading this post Mr Greg please call me and maybe we can go to the Buckhorn for dinner and a few beers (my treat..........) only if I dont forget my wallet!!