Sunday, December 12, 2010

Quickie E-Fishing Report #3

...a reply to a conditions update for a visiting fly angler nexr week:

"...I went to the BT yesterday. There was access along Glenshire drive and two of us netted a trout apiece; 18" and 14" Rainbows during a 2:15-4:30 PM period. Both ate a #8 Hare's Ear Stonefly nymph...two #2 shot under an indicator. The water was 45 degrees at 200 cfs and clarity was good... forgot my camera and missed 2-3 great angling/scenery images...expecting some snow so access/conditions are unpredictable & can change."

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Cyber Flash!! #3

a bit delayed, but....
Well, it is official via concensus of my BB's (blog buddies); da Sheriff, Jon & Jay are concurring relative to my post of 11/21/10...winter is here.
Access, and I'm talking the ability to merely park your vehicle...to snow-shoe, glide or "snow-clump"( see NOTE below)...to the "open" BT waters from the Boca inflow upstream up to to Trout Creek, is minimal; if not improbable. The road to the LT at Boca dam is closed; snow-laden and will remain unplowed for the foreseeable future.

If you want a reliable and continuing assessment as to what fly fishing venues will afford you the best fly angling opportunities in the 1) Truckee area, 2) north of town to Quincey, and 3) west to Pyramid Lake, "follow" my BB's blogs; da Sheriff*, Jon** & Jay***and Jay***...respectively.

NOTE: "Definition #1..." posted of November 23, 2009


*----www.gilligansguideservice.blogspot.com

**---www.jonbaiocchiflyfishingnews.blogspot.com

***--www.northernsierraflyfishing.blogspot.com










Thursday, November 25, 2010

F*#k Yeah!! #2 & Thanksgiving

Actually these two thoughts are not mutually exclusive; they are inter-dependent from my perspective. I'm wishing everyone a pleasant Thanksgiving Day and I'm thanking the the BaseBall gods for my hometown's San Francisco Giants...the undisputable World Champines!!

Referenced Blog Posts:


10/3/2010----"...want a champagne shower?"
11/3/2010----SF Giants are World Champs!!!"

For you fans and non-fans, I'd like to share this You Tube video/song with you for the its refrain & complicated lyrics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGbJ2f6CHlk

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Glittering Christmas Gifts

My good bud, da Sheriff of da Canyon (http://www.gilliganguideservice.com/) recently posted a suggested Christmas gift. Hey, the gift is nice and creative, but it is really not a SERIOUS gift for someone special. If you want such contact my other bud, Johnny da Jewler. http://www.johnleonardstudio.com/.
Check out some of his original fly angling related items below. I believe these are sterling silver. My wife has "danglies" such as the earings & pendant with stone. If you want something special he'll create a one of a kind...providing you got the pesos, denaros, shekels, bread or bannanas.The above is a belt-buckle...incredible jumping trout; earrings or pendant

Sunday, November 21, 2010

End of "Regular" Season

It is official, the "regular" season is over. This also applies to my guiding season; although I did guide last year on December 5 0f last year (see December 2009's Frozen Fingers & Icey Guides).

Currently we're in the midst of our first serious winter snow-storm of the season. As of 2 PM today we've received 2 feet PLUS of snow at our back deck at our home at 6500'. The attached image will give you a perspective.
The sun has attempted to peak through on several occasions...very briefly. The snow will continue through early Tuesday. That translates to another 2 feet at my place and minimally another 4 feet on the high peaks; which I'm predicting at cumulatively high-up at 8 feet on new snow. All this bodes well for a good wet winter that will definitely benefit the local trout fisheries.
...My perpetually lighted front-yard forest

A view from our bedroom

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Name This Trout...

...and where was it caught?

Veterans Day

...just a note of thanks to those who served; willingly or not...right or wrong. I personally salute all those who have served.

PS---Received 5" of snow as of Monday morning at my place at 6500' in Truckee. Winter is pretty much here. Nevertheless I'll be on the water tommorrow (11/12) for some last licks, and as long as I can reach and effectively fish both main rivers here, the BT (big Truckee) and LT (Little Truckee).

Monday, November 8, 2010

Definition #8 DANGLIES

Danglies---

Those "must have" items that we hang on our fly fishing vests, packs or lanyards; nippers, hemos, tippet spools, floatant etc.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

SF Giants are World Champs!!!

Finally... after 56 years in San Francisco. What a wondrous journey. The San Francisco Giants are atop the baseball world. How nice it is to stick-it to all the pundits who gave SF's motley & eclectic crew of youngsters/oldsters and story-book characters...NO CHANCE...against the likes of the Phillies and Rangers. How sweet it is!

FISHING UPDATE:

Oh, been wanting to write a report. Quickly; had some snow over a week ago. The rain/snow blew-out the BT for several days and now it is flowing clearly and nicely. Best time to fish it is mid-day. You'll see few bugs; so dredging near the bottom is the best method right now. Best I've seen as of late are mostly wild RainBows to 14"...I do not count the "club" fish as legit. Generic patterns remain the staples; no sophisication needed.


The LT was fishing great for about 3 weeks with the unsettled weather; slowed a bit this last few days. Through most of October there were tremendous emergences of various aquatics...and lots of heads at the surface. Today we have nice fall weather and clear skies. The rising trout and intense hatches have nevertheless produced decent sessions for both clients and myself; 5-7 fish to hand; biggest being both Rainbows and Browns to 18". Producing flies have been; #8-12 San Juans, Eggs to BWO emergers and Midge larva down to tiny #24.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Quickie E-Fishing Report #2

"I'm suggesting the Truckee from as early as 9AM to 4PM...dry-dropper & indicator nymphing; pocket-water & pools/deep-runs respectively. Water temps are not an issue so it can be productive all day. I've been "working" the stretch between Prosser & Boca; nice managable wading flows. If your swinging you're Spey...the "canyon" has bigger water at about 450 cfs. You'll see some adult BWO's and I believe a Mahoney Dun. If you stay until dusk, you should see some October Caddis (unverified...grapevine intel).
As for the Little Truckee; the best times for rising trout is from 11AM-3PM. The most productive patterns have been small-sized 18-24; BWO emergers & spinners. The exception can be a Beetle or Ant pattern in size 10-14...if you get frustrated with the selective risers. The water flow is low at about 45cfs. All four (4) orders of aquatic bugs are present as adults; mayflies (minimally two sizes), stoneflies (16-20), caddis (three sizes...two October Caddis observed!!) and of course midges ...down to size 72."

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Defintion #7 CHEATING

Cheating:

The act of fly anglers who consciously do not de-barb their hooks while fly fishing on special regulation waters that require barbless hooks...because they want that little edge.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Definition #6---TIMING

Timing:

The perfect alignment of weather, a profuse aquatic bug emergence and steady, rhythmic surface-feeding trout. Essentially a trout fly-angler's Nirvana

Sunday, October 3, 2010

"...want a champagne shower?"...plus Truckee FFing Update


F*#K YEAH!!

This is the response from Tim "da Freak" Lincecum; pitcher for the San Francisco Giants; consecutive, two-time...2008 & 09 seasons...Cy Young award winner of the National League. The Giants just won the Western Division of the National League. I'm thinking that this response will be forever immortalized in the world of televised Major League BaseBall history!

This post is dedicated to three of my favorite people... da Dom, Swill de Beers and finally "Gonzo" McKurtis (who graciously invited me to fish with him today...but I declined having to see the SF Giants & 49er games on TV). The first two I know are SF Giants die-hards.

...current FLY FISHING REPORT:

Per the previous report..the BT is producing fish via two methods; indicator nymphing, 2-3 #6 shot, big & small tandem of # 20 Rubber-Legged, Copper John and #16 PTFBPT under an indicator or hopper/dropper using the aforementioned # 20 trailer; having been what my clients are using...small trout so far. Water still low in mid-section and temps are just fine. If you venture into the "canyon", think October Caddis PUPAE patterns , swinging such patterns in the tail-outs...advice, up-tick your tippet size.

The LT...crowded; even at mid-week! Dam to TU's '09 national TV feature in its "On The Rise" series and Andy's article in the 2005 spring issue of NorthWest Fly Fishing. Now, if someone offers me a grand...as in US $1000.00... MAYBE I'll consider publishing my 3600-word version of the LT in a national magazine (go to my homepage & click-on Little Truckee...it is there)...IMO best ever written on the subject. Yes, I can be a writing-whore.

The "Meadow" area remains unpredictable, super-low in cfs; not knowing when you''ll see "heads"...if so inclined. Ron Soskowski of Coronado CA finally seduced a 17-1/2" RB on a #22 Harrop CDC Captive BWO Dun...after we changed flies about 3-4 times to a pod of 4-5 steadily sipping 17"-22" trout. So, if looking for "technical" fly fishing head for the Meadow. I'm suggesting 11 AM-3:30 PM as PrimeTime for "head-hunting".

HINT: Otherwise, check-out inlet flows into lakes or rivers...enough said.

We're experiencing overcast skies, both drizzle & heavy downpours, thunder & lighting for the next 6 days...bring rain-gear. The fall fishing is shaping-up to be epic.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

A Resurrection

CyberFly!! is resurrecting the once famous Truckee Fly Angling Update because of requests of some of the "old-timers". It was e-mailed to a subscriber list of close to 500 recipients. It was started in '97 and ceased in late 2004...pre-blog era. I have a brief explanation of why I discontinued the factual fly fishing report on my 18th century web-site's homepage (http://www.cyberfly.com/)... and a click-on sample of one of my last entries.


The current version (below) is & will be faaaar shorter than the original, not as thorough & may or may not include its favored "Flora & Fauna Observations". Your feedback & personal reports are always appreciated & encouraged...so that others can tune-in to what you've experienced along what I'm reporting. Then, hopefully with your other additional comments this blog report may become timely & reliable advice for those planning a vist to the Truckee area. Uh...comments will be monitored for disparaging remarks or anyhing I disagree ;-)
Back to the Present:

It is officially Fall in the Truckee both visually & chronologically. The leaves are amber, gold & red...some are falling to the ground during brisk winds. The BT and LT are at low-flows; the exception being in the canyon below the Boca inflow.
Yesterday, the BT at the Loop, from 9:30AM-12:30PM produced well; about a dozen smallish 8"-11" RainBows. The hot fly was a #20 Rubber-Legged Copper John; under an indicator with two (2) #6 shot. The water was 58-61 degrees. BWO's, a tiny #20-22 (PsuedoCleon?), 18-20 Tan Caddis and a sized #14 Mahogony Dun (?) were high-lighted against the sun and/or dipping/egg-laying on the flows which were at comfortable 150cfs. A brief 1-1/2 hour session on the LT resulted in a brightly-colored 10" brown which ate a #18 Olive ComParaDun. Several larger trout were rising...consistently, but failed to eat. The water level is at minumal flows of 37 cfs. A mild breeze was present.







Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Quickie E-Fishing Report #1

Current Fly Fishing Update:
Yesterday (Sunday, 19 September) we experienced really gusty wind, which made it difficult to cast; especially guiding/instructing beginners. The previous day a relative beginner hooked and landed trout...there was no wind. Bugs on both the BT and the LT were veeeery sparse; seeing both caddis & an occassional BWO. Water temps are comfortable for the trout's feeding metabolism...and they are eating...providing you can make the right presentation & the right fly. So, what else is new.
HINT: Locals are waiting for the big Fall Browns to gather, start moving and getting active.




...my requested advise-reply to a fella who will visit from Marin county later this week:

"Nice time to visit, the autumn colors are just starting to show and we’ve had a few morning frosts….Plus the crowds are gone!

Yes, for sure erratic flows on Little Truckee; being almost too low. There is lots of “gunk”, even when doing a dry/dropper. Trout are holding/congregating in the deep water only; so pick such water OR search the shallow riffles in the absence of showing fish. This past week (even with the low flows) clients have landed Browns to 19” (#18 Psycho Prince) and 6-8 Rainbows in the 16”-18” range. The latter being duped on dries as large as #12 SawMill Ants and small as #22 BWO Organza Spinners. There has been no really specific ideal time since we’ve hooked & netted trout as early as 8AM to 6PM. If I had to pick one time-frame I’d say 12-4PM.
There has not been any consistent rises to bugs. We’ve been seeing very sporadic BWO in the 18-20 size and caddis from 12-18 range. There are tons of midges and the “surface-sippers” (the old SS; Nazi trout we call them) are leisurely ingesting them. A client said he actually saw a trout jump-out of the water after a low–flying dragon-fly…interesting, never thought about them…even knowing they are an effective top-water pattern in some lakes in Chilean Patagonia. The big Truckee is now in really fine fishing shape. The water temps are ideal. We’ve been on the water as early as 8 AM; generally leaving about 1PM. Some bugs, nothing really notable and few rising trout. Largest trout this past week has been a 17” RainBow which ate a #16 Red Copper John. Other productive flies have been #14-16 Elk-Hair Caddis with smallish droppers such as #16-20 Rubber-Legged Copper-Johns in various hues. We hven’t netted any Browns. I can’t tell you what’s happening at dusk because I haven’t been there.

I’ve been “working” the lower Glenshire stretch (getting a bit too low) and preferring the venue between Boca inflow upstream to the Prosser creek inflow; there being about 200 cfs. Below Boca it is 500cfs; hence, for me, “combat-wading”. If you have the stamina and sure-footedness venture into the canyon below Hirschdale because the largest trout in the river are there. Best options would be indicator nymphing with generic big/small patterns...plus lead.


So far the Browns have not been gathering for the spawning rituals, but that can be occurring soon as we continue to get the cooling, early fall weather.

I am busy…today doing “administrative” stuff at home; then occupied with “work” to Sunday. Then, Tuesday the 21st, I leave Silver Creek and will return the 27th …for some personal fly-fishing (with my bamboo rod)…I’m getting a bit excited."




Monday, September 6, 2010

North Fork Yuba II

This North Fork Yuba scene is another 4-6 weeks away...no computer enhancement.


Fall is a wonderful time to visit the NFY. The weather is really pleasant; it is shirt-sleeve or light-fleece time...carry a packable wind/rain shell though. The water is low and absolute cystalline. It is no-hurry-up fly fishing; late mornings to late afternoon. "Prospecting"* with dry flies will produce feisty rainbows that aggressively inhale your #14-16 generic patterns.


During late-October evenings you'll witness flights of October Caddis...so a huge dry/small nymph dropper tandem is always a good ploy, even during the day. Best to look for shaded areas, aside rock-outcroppings and under stream-side vegetation if you do the daytime angling with the aforementioned rig.






*Speaking of "prospecting".....placer gold-mining is now officially illegal on the NFY. As anglers we no longer have to be vigilant about stepping into deceptively deeeeeep dredging holes. Another up-side is not rolling an ankle-leg-bone-busting-boulder; having become unstable from suctioning-out its underpinnings. Also the dredging equipment, floating sluice boxes and 8" flexible suction hoses will not be anchored on the water. But, still be conscious of tripping over cables and lines strewn about the defunct mining claims....sometimes hidden amongst the stream vegatation & rocks.
































Saturday, August 28, 2010

Quickie E-Fishing Report #1a

Per several requests in lieu of my preaching, rants and general B.S.--- below is another current, succinct fly fishing report. By far it is easier for me to merely relay reports I'm giving to inquiries from existing & prospective clients than attempting to write a esoteric, well-written & creative piece.

"...how’s the fishing?
Simply “FAIR"at best… The big Truckee is lowering, but still a
bit warm. Best times are in the AM, dry-droppers in the pocket-water
and indicator-nymphing the deep runs or pools…with lead. The Little Truckee has been ramped-up during the 10 days; shutting-off
bug emergences & rising trout or sight-fishing to them. The best
technique has been indicator nymphing and if you’re lucking you
may see a sipping trout in the AM and dusk in the slick water.
Been up a couple of times since we went out. Did pretty good on little ones.
That is what we’re seeing on both rivers. The largest trout during the last week was an 18” rainbow which ate a San Juan Worm, on the LT…few risers even in the evenings
...LT it is currently close to 200 cfs; about 2 weeks ago it was 40 cfs.

...What’s working?
Call...I’ll give you current info as to conditions and what is working. Things can change. I do know we’re expecting some cooler air temps, rain & thunderdstorms this week-end; that can change things for the better. Hopefully this week-end's weather will create a change from the tough"dog-days" we've been experiencing the last 4-5 weeks.

During the last two weeks the best on the LT has been is 6 hook-ups and four lands to 18". On the BT, at most, 5 small ones to 14”. As I've mention, I'd rate things fair at best.


HINT: Lake inlets are a good prospects right now."

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Quickie E-Fishing Report #2

Here is my e-reply report to an inquiry from a fella in Chicago who wanted to do some golfing & fly fishing (...and escape the heat in the mid-west) in the area:

"The Truckee River is lowering but still too warm...AM fly fishing is best. The Little Truckee is rising (releases from the dam)...few fish rising and few bugs emerging...so there is limited dry fly fishing. Most productive fly fishing on both rivers is indicator nymphing.

Best possibility of consistent dry fly angling is on the North Fork of the Yuba; an hour north of Truckee. It is a beautiful mountain, freestone stream. The stream-bred rainbows are smallish; 6"-11".

The weather in the Tahoe area has been in the 75-85 range with clear skies and at times gusty winds. These conditions are forecasted for minimally the next week. We’re awaiting cooler nights as a precursor to the start of Fall…hence cooler water temps and less crowds."

Photo Essay...North Fork of Yuba

As I promised, below are images of my favorite "north of Truckee" water that I visit with clients during the "dog days" when the water on the BT is too warm and the LT is too crowded in addition is getting pounded by TOO MANY GUIDES (most being "takers" & not 'givers"...see my post of 10/17/09). I've had clients tell me that the North Fork reminds them of streams they have fly-fished in New Zealand...excepting the size of the trout. I wouldn't know but NZ is on my agenda; possibley during 2012.



Saturday, August 21, 2010

Road Kill

If you spend anytime on the mountain highways and small roads you will undoubtedly see a lot of road kill. Most road-kill is ubiquitous; deer, coyote, raccoon & numerous small varmints such as squirrels & chipmunks. The rarer sightings are of bear and porcupine; the latter seen last Wednesday. I've never seen a mountain lion or bobcat splattered and smeared on the asphalt.

Early in my fly fishing addiction I'd carry a "road-kill kit" entailing a very sharp blade, desiccate powder and plastic bags. There was a point in time when my freezer section had an abundance of bird carcasses, deer and varmint sections...mostly tails.

Eventually, I quit. Mostly because I never really did of lot of fly tying having worked lot with my hands at the family craft business at San Francisco's Telegraph Hill ...so I didn't need the catharsis.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Like Thunder & Lightening...

Both this last Saturday & Sunday we experienced late afternoon, booming thunder, faint lightening bolts & drizzle. This climatic change was welcomed since we have had an extended period of hot weather & cloudless skies.

If this weather pattern continues it bodes well for the fly angler to adjust their tactical thinking. Specifically, there may be 1) cooler flows because of more cloud-cover 2) more extended periods of bug emergences instead of those of short duration and 3) less wary trout because less bright sunshine will encourage longer stays in feeding lies; in lieu of protective holds and cover. Hence, more chance at opportuntinistic drift feeders.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Yo-Yo Flows & "Other Hatch" Report

Since my last fly fishing "prime-time" report of late June, regulated flows have played an important part as to WHERE, WHEN, WHAT and HOW to fly fish the local Truckee waters. In addition to being aware of the inflows from Lake Tahoe, Prosser and Boca, other seasonal phenomena have to be accounted for; specifically water temperatures and the summer-time "raft hatch" on the Truckee river.
Throughout the month of July flows were unpredicatable. Initially the BT out of Lake Tahoe was at 70 cfs then progressively ramped-up to its current 331 cfs. The increase was welcomed because the flows were receding, but, the increase in water temps was not welcomed because the lake was inflowing from the surface.

We've been on the BT are early as 7 AM and leave around 1 PM. At the latter time water temperatures are subject to your location. I've recorded a 62 near Bronco creek & at the NV/CA border (image below), 64 at the "loop" and 66 along Glenshire at "Cat-House Hole". The other opportune time is to be on the water during the last hour of light. Then you'll see various-sized Caddis and Little Yellow Stones. Unfortunately there has not been a lot of rising trout. Lead is required. Below Grey's Creek Pancho briefly had on a very large Brown that effortlessly topedoed through a whitwater chute...breaking off a Crawfish pattern. Typically for the BT, the catch is small Rainbows & Browns in the 7"-11" range. One can get complacent; then you get a grab & solid hook-up for the bigger guys in the 16" plus range...be ready.

About the "raft-hatch"...it is all about timing it; assuming you want to MISS IT. The upper river from below the dam to the River Ranch Lodge is quite a scene. It is almost like bumper-cars (...not to mention a lot of eye-candy); especially on week-ends. Times to avoid this hatch are from 11AM-6PM.
If venturing into the Canyon; the permited (50 rafts), "guided" whitewater trips' only ingress point is at the Boca (Little Truckee inflow) ; no earlier than 10 AM. The only egress point is at Floristan; no later than 5PM. Also, the rafters are NOT ALLOWED TO DISEMBARK. If you see such report them to Nevada county. Here's the earliest arrival timing; 10:30 AM the pocket-water above the Hirschdale bridge and 11:30 AM at Grey's Creek.
After Labor day week-end the "hatch" will subside substanially.
The yo-yo flows have also influenced the fly fishing on the LT. It had been at a low of 40 cfs for about a month. Then it was ramped up to as high as 240 cfs...then quickly down again to...you guessed it, 40 cfs. Talk about an adjustment in tactics; from sight-fishing to use of lead and back to a spring-creek game of sight fishing. Nevertheless some quality trout have been netted. The range has been two Browns to 22"* and two Rainbows to 20"**. There are no numbers though; a good session with a client being 10 hook-ups and 5 lands. Most sessions are 1-3 landed. Unlike spring & early summer we're starting to see smallish 8"-12" Browns & Rainbows.


As far as bugs to anticpate; PMD, surpringly BWO's, Midges, smallish Caddis.
We are also anticipating the appearance of the Flavelina (Little Western Green Drake...sized 10-12)

*#16 CDC Biot PMD Comparadun and #20 Purple Coppper John

**#18 CDC Biot BWO Comparadun

August is a great time to venture to the North Fork of the Yuba. Here you will find cool mountain springs that generally provide the NFY with 10 degrees less water temps than the BT. The trout aren't huge, but, very willing. This is a classic "quick-action" river. Use of attractor dries in the #14-16 range and droppers in sized 16-20 will produce good numbers of wild rainbows. A large trout is 12-14"; most are 6"-9".

More of "north of Truckee" in future posts; mostly in the form of an "eye-candy" photo essay of opprotunities in this uncrowded area.










































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Thursday, July 29, 2010

Definition # 5--- POSITIONING

Positioning:

Where the fly angler places oneself so that they can make the most ideal presentation to a trout or to a location where a trout is likely to be lying.

As an aside relative to a stream's "regulars":

It is a dead give-away that an angler is totally unfamiliar with a specific water when they set-up right where the trout hold! There is no harm if they position themselves away from where the trout are since they will not spook the trout into hiding. BUT, if they position themselves at the least ideal presentation location (on the trout!!); the next angler has to rest the area for an inordinate amount of time before the trout return to their feeding or prime hold from which they where spooked.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Definition #4--- DEATH GRIP

Death Grip:

Simply, breaking-off a trout because of not giving the trout line. Alternately known as not giving the trout its "head"or not letting it run and take-out line. The break-off can occur at a leader knot or hook knot. Either way, It is a clean break (no "pig-tails"...poorly tied knot); strictly "pilot error."

There are three types:

1-grabbiing/stopping the reel's handle as it spins line off the reel
2-pinching the line to the butt section of the rod with one's line-hand
3-pinching the line to the rod handle, between the reel and control finger

There is a higher probability of the death grip to occurr with fly anglers who are relatively new to the sport and/or those who are not accustomed to fighting large trout.

Friday, July 16, 2010

A Guide's Dilemma

What is a guide to do in the heat of battle? Bark-out commands like a rabid Smokey-da-Bear-Capped DI (Drill Instructor...having experienced a few) or stoically say nothing & let the client go with their instincts? I'm sure the answer is somewhere in between.

Over the years I've realized that most of my streamside incantations occur when I'm guiding/instructing a beginner or intermediate fly angler (whatever the latter means) who may have limited experience hooking, playing & landing a decent trout. With an experienced fly angler, generally, a lot less encouragement & coaching is required.

The more intense scenarios by this emotionally unrestrained Italian's yelling & screaming probably totally discombobulates the client's instincts of what to do. Actually I'm still trying to temper my behavior & there seems to be some progress...after all these years. Lots of times I do apologize if I was a bit too vocal & most times the client says it was OK or they were not offended by my behavior. I'm sure there have been times when they may have white-lied a bit.

When your adrenalin is pumping and your client is into a big fish there is a tendancy...for sure...that both of you want to net the trout. Of course I have ulterior motives; my personal gratification since I'm actually fly fishing THROUGH the client. But more important to me is the elation & sense of accomplishment that the client may experience. I call this notion the "shareable world"; the passion of mutual experiencing an event. Plus, I/we do enjoy the high-fives, fist-bumps or primal-screams that occur at the net and/or upon the realease.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

3rd Big Bug of June..adult?

I was was guiding on the upper BT on Wednesday and had a brief conversation with a fly angler who I've had e-note communications with since we met at the Pleasanton FFing Show. He mentioned all the Golden StoneFlies he had seen. I mentioned that, personally, I have not seen any adults...yet. Nor had I see any shucks on the boulders. Admittedly, I have not been in the canyon for over a week. Was he speaking about nymphs?

He returned a perplexed look, as if saying "Are you blind?". No, although I do wear corrective lenses & is the reason why I may be alive because I opted-out of becoming an infantry officer in Vietnam. I was being honest and I have to surmise that the adults are prolific in the canyon which he had visited the day before. Yes, I have received reliable intel of them in the canyon; which is a great location to be now for aggressive, "combat-waders" since the flows are below 575 cfs....hint.

As soon as he ventured upstream I returned my focus to the client. Then, I saw ONE shuck of a Golden, amongst a cluster of at least 50 little Yellow Stone exo-skeletons on the downstream side of a mid-stream boulder. For sure, there are plenty of the latter flying around and in the bushes..............with an impressionistic #14 down-wing pattern getting attention at the surface. Regardless, use the NYMPH of the Golden, it will draw attention...below...for more consistent hook-ups.

Yeah, I know it is more of a rush to see that explosion at the surface.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Prime Conditions Have Arrrived

Finally the BT is coming into fine fishing shape. The melt is almost over. Water temps are getting near the prime-floor-temps of the 55 degree mark. Bugs are hatching and some trout are eating on top. But for consistent success nymphing remains the most assured tactic of success.

Right now I personally focus on the stretch from the Boca inflow to the Donner Creek spill-in. This area requires less combat-wading. Unlike like the da Sheriff of da Canyon * whose turf...Hirschdale to the CA-NV stateline, is big water (...and admittedly a chance of larger trout), my clients have not netted a 5 pounder yet.

*www.gilliganguidservice.com

One such trophy was on for an extended, 3-4 minutes struggle last Tuesday, June 22nd.
It ate a #16 Rubber-Legged, Flash-Backed Hare's Ear It rushed downstream, pocket to pocket and finally into a large pool. I'm saying "Great...now we can net it!", thinking it was ready for the net...it simply uncorked.

March Browns, BWO's, Green Drakes & Yellow Stone adults are being observed mid-day. The take has been wild RainBows to 17-1/2" and Browns to 20" and the real native Mountain WhiteFish to 19".





The LT , below Stampede Dam, was lowered to 30 cfs today!!...geez. At 40cfs for the last 3 weeks we've been sight-fishing. Casting to RB's & Browns to 20"; most in the 15"-18" range with the rarer 12"-13" RB. It has been mostly dry/dropper fishing. The producing dries are #10 Green Drake Emergers, #12 ParaChute Black Flying Ants, #16 PMD Cripples and #18-20 CDC,Grey, Biot ComParaDuns. These flows, IMO, are really too low & may be detrimental to the fishery's health. Most especially de-watering the "nursery", side channels, which is where the newly hatched minnows reside.

Gary Amendola from Ohio even managed to land & release a flying trout...

and his fishing partner, Phil Murphy managed a beautiful Brown

The small creeks will remain in ideal conditions for the next couple of weeks.































These small running waters host beautifully-colored Brookie & RainBow in the 6"-10" range. A 12 incher is considered a "hog." An ideal rod for these little jewels is a 2 or 3 weight rod. I'm still a small creek junkie and will visit them whenever the opportunity is there...such as now!

One last comment...Now is an opportune time to visit lake inlets. Over the years we've had encounteres with some out-sized trout. Most of the time we probe the deeper water column; stripping streamers and occasionally wind-drift sub-surface fare under an indicator. If one is lucky an angler can also encounter a very decent surface rise to both Damsels and Callibaetis