Been a while sense my last blog post…been very busy with all
sorts of things in my life, so been a bit lax on updating. Spring is here one
week and winter is here the next right now. Last week was gorgeous even when
the wind was ripping and this weekend in the cold weather and today a nice
storm moved in though it will be back in the low 70s by the end of the week. I
have spent a lot of time on the water recently so I will start with some
reports…
Lower Sacramento
Trout – March is by far one of the best months on the Lower Sac. I have
been fishing between Anderson and Jelly’s ferry mainly but did spend one day
floating from Posse Grounds to Bonnie View. Fishing has been good to very good
with LOTS of opportunities each day to hook fish. On some days the grabs have
been very quick so hooking up can be a challenge others they seem to jump on
the fly and the molasses I am dazing off watching birds hook set can get it
done. Best bugs have been rubber legs, Hogan’s Amigo in Brown, Hogan’s March
Madness Nymph, RK Flutulator in March Brown, #18 Amber Wing Prince, #18 Dark
Lord, and a few other small mayfly type patterns. Clarity could be an issue
with the recent rain as it rained pretty hard in a short amount of time but I
am sure it will clear shortly if it is colored up.
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| Lower Sac Trout |
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| Lower Sac Trout |
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| Lower Sac Trout |
Lower Sacramento
River Bass – I spent one day out exploring some spots for Largemouth
and Smallmouth bass and it still seems a bit early. Water temps in the river
are 57-59 and back in the sloughs the water temps barely get over 60 so with a
window of 55-65 degrees to kick spawning in it should be any time. I fish sub
surface pretty hard and found a few willing fish but no one on beds or looking
like they were looking to spawn. Who knows though as the river is a tough one
to figure out.
Lower Yuba River
– I continue to hear that fishing has been really good with great dry fly
fishing but I continue to stay away with flows around 550cfs. The word on the
street is that flows will come up to 1500cfs in May some time so as the Lower
Sac is traditionally tough in May I will spend most of my trout days on the
Lower Yuba.
Lower Feather –
Spring Steelhead - Fishing
remains consistent for adult and half pound spring run steelhead. The recent
rains should help move any fish that have been waiting up river. Swinging flies
and drifting nymphs have been catching fish about as equally well. The giant
spring caddis have started to hatch and swing flies on floating lines and
intermediate tips along with fishing dry flies should get going through April.
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| Not bad for the first fish of the morning. |
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| Nice Spring Steelhead from the Feather |
Trout Season –
Opens here soon…a few weeks away. Fishing should be good early this year on
most trout water. I will most likely get up to the NF Feather with in the first
few weeks to get my licks in up there as with the drought fishing is going to
be tough ounce the water warms up. I would say the best advice is go early this
year. Don’t wait to long to get your trout days in as this summer is going to
be a tough one for trout fishing in the mountains.
…That said spring and summer striper fishing is going to be GOOD
with limited interruptions from run off the stripers will be active and fishing
should be good May-September. Low water means good weeds and great bait for our
resident and migratory fish. Book early this year as dates are already getting
taken up.
Music Report
– I have been all over the place lately…kinda on one of my Pandora kicks,
listening to all my random stations on Pandora…my favorites are my Lucero
Channel, Chuck Ragan Channel, and Ryan Adams Channel…… Gas Light Anthem Channel
is good one to. I haven’t really bought any new Albums in awhile either even
though I have listened to a ton of stuff on I Tunes looking for something to
buy just haven’t pulled the trigger….
NEWS FLASH –
I am really excited to announce that I have signed on with Spy Optics as an Ambassador/Pro. Spy has a long history in the surf,
motor-cross, snowboard, skate, rally car, etc…with goggles and eye wear and
they are getting into and developing lenses and glasses for fishing. They have
signed myself and my good friend Conway Bowman from Bowman Bluewater in San
Diego to help develop a fishing line of glasses. I have been working with a bunch
of proto types of lens tints and have a bunch of new pairs of glasses for
clients to wear in the boat. The thing I am most impressed with so far is no
matter how dark the tint of the lense Spy has developed the ability to maintain
true color penetration – meaning that everything stays true to its color, so
changes in water color that indicate depth or the color of a bug all remain
true no matter how dark the tint of the lenses…pretty cool. It is really fun to
work with a company on the ground level to develop a specific fishing line of
glasses. Check out spy at http://www.spyoptic.com
and make sure to watch their video below on “Happy Lenses”
Appearances – IT
IS FLY SHOP FAIR/EXPO SEASON!!! FREE BBQ, RAFFLES, PRESENTATIONS, AND NEW
PRODUCT!!!!
I will be at the Fisherman Spot in Van Nuys, CA this weekend,
April 11 and 12th, in Southern California presenting both Saturday
on “Northern
California Stripers, Bass, and Shad on the Lower Sacramento River outside of
Chico” and on Sunday I will be working the Simms Fishing Products booth and
then presenting on “Northern California Tailwater Trout and Steelhead” - Check out www.flyfishingexpo.net for more
information and full slate of presentations and events…
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| come one come all |
I will have the Cast Hope booth at the Kiene’s
Expo on April 18th promoting what Cast Hope is doing
in the Sacramento Area. The booth will be set up next to the Simms Fishing
Products booth. Come one come all Nor Cal for free BBQ, new products, and
raffles. Plus great conversation with me and anyone else hanging around the
Cast Hope/Simms Booth.
Sports Report…I am so excited
for the start of baseball season. The giants looks good last night in the
opener but starting pitching is going to be a questions going forward. With
Cain and Peavy skipping starts with health issues I get concerned. That said
the top of the order looked great last night and Brandon Crawford came through
in the bottom of the line up…Casey McGehee looked decent in his debut though he
missed a ball to his back hand down the line that I have seen Pablo snag MANY
times. That said he followed that up with a 6-4-3 double play so what ever and
Pablo when 0-5 with 3K’s and Casey went 2-3…so far so good. Only 161 games left…