I just checked the flows, and they appear to have jumped from 77 cfs to 590 cfs in a period of an hour. A change like that can put a serious damper on the fishing. If true, why would they change the flows so quickly? The glory hole couldn't be spilling over yet.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
Just curious, being new to Putah Creek and interested in sampling the fishery. Do they blow a warning when they increase flows, or post the warning somewhere? If that increase had been real, it would have been bad news to be in the water when it occurred.
Funny you should mention that. To the best of my knowledge the water release is controled by somebody akin to Homer Simpson sitting at a desk in Sacramento.
I've fished Putah for over 30 years and have the water come up on me only once. I was fishing just below the upper bridge at the small island. The flows were reasonable and with a little careful wading I was able to cross to the island.
I was sitting on a rock fishing when I noticed the water getting muddy and a lot of weeds ect starting to float down. It didn't take long to figure out the flows were increased. I never heard a siren/horn or anything else. By the time I made it back to my crossing point it would have been suicide to try and get back. I ended up climbing through the trees on the resort side to get out and just barely managed that.
Imiges of the coast guard airlifting me from the top of a tree did come to mind.
That took place back in the early 80's. Things may have changes since then, granted if you are a ways downstream, near some fast water or have old man ears like me you wouldn't hear a horn anyway
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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.
