Being A California "Old-Timer" Fly Angler

You know you're an "Old Time" California fly angler when:

1---You fished  the Upper Sac starting in  '70 way before "the '91 spill"

2---You fished  Martis Lake at its "Wild Trout" opening in '79 and  it's hey-day of the '80's

3---Your first flyrod was a fiberglass 8' 6-weight...'70

4---Your first graphite rod was the industry's first production rod by Fenwick...'74

5---Fished  the Truckee River before there were special regulations...'70's

6---Fishing the McCloud River before at the arrival of the Nature Conservancy...'70-'73

7---The nostalgia of "Opening Day" in California; when there was no winter trout stream angling

8---Being one of only three (3) fly fishing guides in the Tahoe/Truckee area...'84...currently a joke!

9---Reserving a cabin and fished Hot Creek as early as '72...using the hot springs before its closure

10-Fishing the Merced River in winter; outside western entry to Yosemite, highway 120...mid '70's

Lest We Forget...

...what MEMORIAL DAY is about. It commemorates and honors those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today...Never forget them.

For those of us who stepped-up, got drafted or did not serve;  never forget the close friends we have lost.

Early Season: Truckee & Little Truckee Rivers

         Let'em Breathe!

Relative to this year's huge snow-pack and the melt that we're currently experiencing; my March 3 2019 post, Springtime Trout Fishing...Timing, Venues & Strategies remains spot on.

For sure, a minimum of 4 weeks, more likely 6 weeks, behind a "normal" season remains a viable/reliable prognosis...gleaned from my four decades being laser-focused on Truckee area waters.
In lieu of late-May thru July, I project early-July thru August being prime-time for all tactics; entailing "dredging" or "purist" dry-fly angling in the north Tahoe area; especially the LT nd BT

In the "Grand Canyon of the Truckee"...fall-time, not now!

     "...May to the start of June can be an “iffy” proposition for the start of optimum fly fishing conditions; wholly dependent on what remains of the previous winter’s snow-pack, its percentage of water content and resulting melt/run-off. During this period, one’s best methods are to hug the river’s bottom strata; where the fish rest.

     Waning spring marks the arrival of the unbeknownst, but locally beloved, “Big Bugs of June”; Western Green Drakes, Golden Stoneflies and huge, winged, Black Carpenter Ants. The Green Drakes and Golden stone adults do not appear in great numbers, but they are present and the trout are aware. The former two insects will emerge over a three-four-week period while the Ant’s appearance in the region is more intense and short-lived; as brief as 3-4 days only. 
     These food items provide hungry spring trout high-caloric morsels. The trout are on alert. Tactically, search for these ambush feeders; toss your big dries along cut-banks, under over-hanging stream-side vegetation, shallow-riffles and pocket-water. In the past out-sized trout, in the 20”-25” class, have abandoned caution and succumb to their voracious appetites, vacating  the depths to bust the surface for these big bugs. During this waning “post-melt” period, you can experience explosive, top water takes."  ……….Truckee River Primer, California Fly Fisher, November 2017

So, a fly-fan’s first, real chance to trick a trout to the surface remains the month June. Now, water temperatures supplant flows as the more important consideration...most especially on the BT. The stream occupants are aware of the "Big Bugs of June" and on the lookout for the opportunity to ambush such high-caloric morsels.  

HINT: NOW! is the time to search the small creeks (still too high & cold!) and lake inlets, subject to access.

a throw-back..."Have Boat*...Will Travel"..

* in lieu of "Gun"

Watching the Truckee River's Flows

Ideally, a smooth melt; as opposed to an erratic melt...is preferred during this early-spring on Truckee area waters.

Pre-melt angling HAD been picking-up...until the rising waters that have occurred starting the 1st week of April...It has been changing day to day. With the receding snow; access is readily available.

There are two phenomena I observe this time of year; water flow and water  temperature. Right now, of the two, water temps are of lesser concern. Tactically, with high-volume, early-melt flows...simply, look for the proverbial "soft-water". Something to think about...the "precise holding water changes with the tempo of the snow-melt and rise and fall of the flows" (quote...Dean da Raven).

Along the Glenshire sector at 1800cfs

..                                        

Lots of water to share...right now

Skwalas

Recently Jon Baiocchi wrote an extensive article in California Fly Fisher magazine about Skwala stoneflies.

I saw the below, succinct fishing report about Skawala angling on Montana's Bitterroot river from an old acquaintance from my Hat Creek days in the '70's, Chuck Stranahan . Chuck owned Hat Creek Anglers and moved to Hamilton Montana in the early 80's (?).

I though I'd re-post here because it is very timely advice right now...in the Truckee area.

"Dry fly skwala action continues on the Bitterroot - in spurts, but it's great if you catch it right. You have to be out there casting. Early afternoon, when water and air temps are best, produce the best dry fly fishing. Nymphs, from #8 skwalas to small food-form nymphs, soft hackles, and (ugh!) pink San Juan Worms work best when fish are not on top.Sunny days are slow on top, overcast days are best. Fish are robust and in great shape."

5

Sage Words from the Icons #15

"I fish because I love to fish. Because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful, and hate the environs where crowds of people are found, which are  invariably ugly.

Because…my fishing is at once and endless source of delight and an act of rebellion…

because trout do not lie or cheat and cannot be bought or bribed, or impressed by power,

but respond only to quietude and humility, and endless patience…

Because mercifully there are no telephones on trout waters…in the woods I can find solitude without loneliness…

finally, not because I regard fishing as being so terribly important,

but because I suspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant

…and merely not so much fun"

ROBERT TRAVER

NOTE: All images of southern Chilean Patagonia...There's absolutely no  need to travel to the distant southern hemisphere...beauty and great trout fly fishing is in your backyard...seek it!

FRANKISM #3

Let'em Breathe!

This Frankism  seems to work considerably more than the  majority of the time...

 Use of Weight:

"When in Doubt...Add"