Shad...A change of pace

What with all this unpredictable weather; on Sunday I decided to venture off the mountain in search of Shad on the American River. Two days before the flows at Nimbus Dam were ramped-up from 5000 to 7000cfs. In reality I know diddlysqaut about shad fishing ; having done it only twice before. So I relied on the advice of Al that the flow increase could slow things down a bit & make the shad more difficult to locate.

So I anticipated little in the way of fishing, but looked forward to visiting with a couple fly fishing buddies (we've been to Chilean Patagonia together)...catching-up with each others lives. I met Al Smatsky, who operates Excellent Adventures and Dan Mc Daniel (3-times president of the Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishing) early in Sacramento and we went to the American river (I have not idea where the put-in was)"Geez Al get-off the phone, I need a net job here!"
Action wasn't as torrid as what I've heard of shad fishing; but we were getting solid tugs and landing a few. The skies were overcast and there was an occassional drizzle, but very minor.

There were wild yellow irises throughout our drift. At lunch I chance to get close and admire them...

We were using 7 and 8 weight rods and casting 250-400 grain 30' heads; both integrated lines and shooting-heads with shooting lines. Regardless ro their samllish size the shad still put up strong struggles and good bends in th rods.

Adjusted Prognosis...Slightly

Come on....it just stopped snowing in Truckee! This endless winter is getting to be a bit too much. Here's a image of my back deck & forest. As I mention in my 4/20 post (Quickie E-Fishing Report VI); "...keep in mind that spring mountain weather is unpredictable"...yes indeed.The locals have been out wetting a line and when the weather breaks a bit are finding fishable water & willing fish . This is the time of year is when we hook & net some hefty trout; not many but of quality . Fall is the other time we tag the larger trout.Actually, my crystal-ball has been pretty accurate. In my May 10 entry, Peaking & Trend Lines I predicted that we were a "...MINIMUM of 3 weeks out" for settling and improved fly fishing conditions. The flow trend-line remains steadily downward; so we're "...definitely in a waning period." relative to snow-melt.

This current blow may retard my previous predictions...not much...say one more week, so now let's say good times are as close as next week on the BT. Behind town and downstream to the Prosser Creek inflow; currently the flows are a manageable 346-360 cfs. near my preferred bench-march for wade-fishing of 300 cfs. The further upstream to Tahoe City, the less turbulent the flows; 68 cfs being released from the lake at Tahoe City. Below Prosser the flows are near 600 cfs and way too heavy below Boca inflow at 1450 cfs. The major caveat now is WATER TEMPERATURES; still below 50 degrees, we need a few up-ticks above that number for prime-time.
Per April 7th's More Snow?!!...Seasonal Prognosis; "Expect the hatches to be compressed and intense...but later than normal...late year for the BT...negatively impact the fishery (read:crowds) on the LT...BT big boys & girls will not be stung for a long while...down deep...plus is that the smaller streams will be fishable for an extended amount of time..." This latter excerpt was written close to two months ago and it still seems accurate. I guess my crystal-ball is functioning properly.

Lest We Forget...Memorial Day

Let's not forget what this week-end is all about. It is for honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice...their lives...for the freedoms we all enjoy today.

Take a moment to ponder and say a silent "thank you" for those that have proceeded us; those who stepped-up when their country called. Right or wrong...they went. I salute all military veterans and most especially today those who remain in our memories.

TRUCKEE TRIVA #2 Answer

Mickey Culter has the correct answer to TT QUESTION #2; Martis Lake.

Butter has guessed Sagehen creek, on the west-side of highway 89, up to UC Sagehen's Research Facility. The regulations there are ZERO kill, no bait and artifiicial barbless hooks only. My recollection is that Sagehen's special reg water was, chronologically, the 4th in the eight (8) special reg waters within 1 hour's drive from Truckee. I'm guessing the regs started in the mid-late'80's.

NOTE: For some reason Google is not allowing me to post this replying to the answers by Mickey & Butter...any help is solicited.

TRUCKEE TRIVIA # 2

There are eight (8) special regulation waters within one hour's drive of Truckee.

Question #2:

Of these, which body of water was the first to be designated for special regulations; alternately known Wild Trout or C & R water?

Bend Orgeon's ORVIS NorthWest Guide Rendezvous

During May 12-13 I attended the ORVIS Guide Rendezvous in Bend Oregon. I had never been there, although I've always wanted to fish the Deschutes river for its Redsides and the famous Salmon Fly hatch. I didn't fish, but want to return there again to fished the river.

After spending a night at Weed CA at my sister-in-law's we had a pleasant drive through southern Oregon via highway #97.

Sport Shop in Crescent Oregon

Tom Evenson leads a seminar at the Ameritel Hotel; topic being Internet marketing. Tom is ORVIS' western ELOG (Endorsed Lodges, Outfitters & Guides) director.

Jeff Putman demonstrating/instructing Spey rod techniques on the Deschutes river
"Hole" #2, one of 18 challenging tests on the Casting Course at the Old Mill area along the Deschutes river....ORVIS company store in the background. There was a 3-hole challenge event amongst the attendees.; suffice it to say I did not win any of the first 3 prizes...

Peaking & Trend Lines

BT/LT Junction...one of two channels below Boca inflow...currently at 2220cfs !!

We've been in the midst of heavy snow-melt starting the 2nd week of March. During this 2 month period there has been four (4) "peak & ebb" cycles relative to snow-melt/flows in the BT; specfically from data I check-out along West River street in Truckee to the Prosser inflow.

The four "peaks" generally ascend during a 8-10 day period (weather related of course); then subside . The first occurred at 400 (2nd-3rd week of March) and second at 375 cfs (1st week of April), Then, showing an ascending trend-line with the latter two peaks at 625 (2nd-3rd week of April) and 850 cfs (ending today). I'm guessing that the latter is the last peak for the year in the aforementioned stretch of river. So we're definitely in a waning period. Now we can fine-tune our crystal balls and predict with more certainty optimum times for fly angling...in the near future...MINIMUM of 3 weeks out.

Again, I'm speaking mostly about the upper stretch of river above Prosser creek inflow. This area is more reflective of the natural run-off because there are 6-7 creeks along state route #89 and, IMO during this time of year, both inflows from Donner & Martis creeks are insignificant relative to my assessment of wading/fly fishing conditions. Prosser & Boca dams have strictly man-made releases, although reflective of the melt, but are less natural.

Now is the time to explore the small creeks and streams. As for the LT; it is totally dependent on when they lower the flows below the dam; currently at the high 600's.
...a 'small creek' Rainbow