Trinity River Steelheading

I had the chance to fish the Trinity River a while back with my long time friend Blake Larsen and another old friend and guide Mike Hibbard. Mike typically guides the Trinity from mid September through January or February every year. He is one of the most respected guides on the Trinity River. We had a great couple of days to say the least.

Here is a video of our trip with Mike Hibbard. Thanks again for being the quintessential steelhead guide. You can contact Mike at www.mikehibbardflyfishing.com

 
Trinity River Steelheading from Clay Hash on Vimeo.

Fishing the Klamath River December 2009

I traveled to Northern California this week to fish the Klamath River with Craig Neilson of Shasta Trout. I went with Blake Larsen a long time friend and fishing buddy. This was sort of a thank you trip to Blake who is my Project manager for my Custom Home Building business. We were hoping to hit the river and catch some action for the winter run steelhead. We had communicated with Craig Neilson earlier in the week and he said that it had been brutily cold. There were times last week where he had to use hot water from one of his thermos bottles to un-freeze the anchor rope for his drift boat so he could set the anchor. None the less they had been catching fish. The fishing had been good for half-pounders and winter run steelhead. So we were prepared with lots of insulated layers, waders, fleece gloves, hats, rain gear etc. This was a steelhead trip after all. It's not steelheading unless the conditions are miserable.

Blake had traveled down on Monday morning, leaving Truckee in a light snow storm. We had planned on leaving Grass Valley at about 5:00 am. With the snow on the highways we left at about 5:30. Our plan was to meet Craig Neilson at about 9:00 in the town of Mt. Shasta. We made good time and were able to get there on time.

We were going to be fishing a 5 1/2 mile stretch of the Klamath River below Iron Gate Dam. It is about a 50 minute drive north of Mt. Shasta. This portion of the river is east of Yreka and almost touching the Oregon border. It is more of a a high desert environment. Not really what you think of when you contemplate Northern California or South-western Oregon.



On the way driving to the river, I had a vision of taking my sunglasses off my rear view mirror in my SUV, and my lanyard with my license and steelhead card attached to it. Unfortunately it was still hanging there in Grass Valley, Smart! Fortunately there was a gas station real close to the river where I could pick up another one. We set up our shuttle and were on the river at about 11:15 to start the fishing day. This is later than everyone had hoped for, but at least the temperature had warmed up to a balmy 39 degrees. The day started with a solid high overcast and was looking to improve during the day. We later had periods of full sunshine. This steelheading isn't that bad!

I was rigged up with a thingamabobber with a tapered leader that was about 8 ft to 9ft. above the split shot. I had one lead shot and one AAA standard shot. I started with a size 10 troutbead with a size 8 egg hook. A second fly, which was a brown rubber legs, was tied to the hook bend of the egg hook.

Blake was rigged up basically the same with a troutbead, except his bottom fly was a fly similar to an Idlwylde Fly called a "Fuglybug". This fly had been good in November of the Klamath.

Later in the day a BWO hatch came off and and we added a BWO nymph as a third fly. We also tried an Alevin pattern. That was pretty much it. That's what had been working for Craig earlier in the week and there wasn't much need to start changing and experimenting with a bunch of different flies. The steelhead were either going to eat them or go back to sleep.

On Monday we caught some half pounders early on, had a couple of hatchery steelhead landed during the rest of the day. It was a "steelhead day" as compared to a November "egg bite day" when there are a lot of salmon in the river and every trout, half pounder and steelhead are gobbling up eggs. We only saw a couple of late salmon and Craig stated that the salmon run is done. Subsequently, even though the steelhead still will take a troutbead, a lot of the half pounders have already migrated down stream. The numbers of fish in the river in December are less than in November when the salmon are thick. Don't get me wrong there are still half pounders in the river just not as many as in November. Essentially if your after a big number day head up there in November when the salmon are thick and if you are looking to land a large adult steelhead head up there in December through February. It also pays to keep updated as to the timing of the steelhead run. Check out Craig's fishing reports at http://www.shastatrout.com/ before you go.

Blake with a "typical" Klamath River "Half- pounder"



As mentioned we also fished an Alevin pattern on both days and had sucess with it. The photo on the right is the "Fox's Fertilizer. We used a fly similar to this one.

On Tuesday, the air temperatures were warmer and there was a drizzling rain off and on for most of the day. There were a few runs where the fish woke up and the bite turned on and was steady. Of the two days, Tuesday was definitely more of the "numbers" day. We had the river to ourselves on Tuesday and I believe that also made a difference.

The fish seemed to be pretty sluggish on both days and we had the feeling that you had to drift a fly across their noses, essentially be right on the line or in the right slot. Once hooked most of the fish just hunkered down and "dogged it". We landed a number of larger steelhead with the biggest once going about 23". Blake hooked a fish that was larger than that but we lost when it wrapped itself up and popped off.

Blake with Craig ready at the net

Teamwork Pays Off - Blake with a nice "Hen Steelhead"

Even I get lucky once in a while!

Craig Neilson is also an accomplished switch rod enthusiast, so we set up in a few runs and swung flies with switch rods on both days. This was another reason that I wanted to head up there. I was using my Sage Z-Axis 11 ft. 6 weight switch rod and Blake used one of Craig's switch rods. We were rigged up with mini Skagit Heads attached loop to loop with a level running line. I had a 7 ips versaleader attached to my Skagit Head. Craig worked with both Blake and I on the spey casts that we needed to incorporate when fishing from the front and rear positions of the drift boat, from river right and from river left. The casts required change with the front and rear boat positons and also from river right or river left. Swinging flies from the drift boat is sort of cool, it's like having a portable rock that you can stand on and fish from where ever you want it. There is some coordination that you have to work out with the two angling positions but we really didn't get tangled up much at all. I will say that if you just casted willy nilly and paid no attention to what the other caster was doing it could get messy.

The water temps were in the low 40's and getting colder which Craig said tends to put the steelhead off the bite. Steelhead tend to get grabbier as water temperatures increase. Even by 1 degree. He says in pays to monitor water temperatures closely. Buy a good stream thermometer and keep records of water temperatures. If a warm storm was coming in after a period of colder weather. Head to the river and start swinging flies. Good to know.

The Klamath is a great river to swing flies for steelhead and booking a trip with Craig would be a great learning experience with the added chance of landing a 10 pound or bigger steelhead when swinging a fly.

Give Craig Neilson a call at 530-926-5763 or e-mail him at craig@shastatrout.com. You will thank me for the heads up.


Make a Tradition!


Clay

You can see this blog and others at http://www.flyfishingtraditions.com/

Lower Yuba - Opener Above Parks Bar Bridge

December 1st, 2009

With much anticipation I hooked up with my friends Blake Larsen and Frank Rinella to fish above the Parks Bar Bridge today, December 1st. We all have been looking forward to fishing above the bridge to see what kind of shape the upper river is in. The river below the bridge has been fishing pretty tough for a while now and we were excited to see if some of the fish from the lower river had possibly moved upstream. With flyboxes organized and full, rods strung up and ready to go I drove to meet them in town. We met at 6:00 had a cup of joe and headed for the river. Our plan was to float about 2 1/2 miles of the river down to the Highway 20, Parks Bar Bridge. We took care of our shuttle and left Frank's truck at the bridge and headed to the river to launch my drift boat.

We arrived at the river at about 7:30 to the sight of a number of fishermen already on the river. It was a little brisk in the morning requiring a sweater or wind shell but warmed up pleasantly as soon as the sun climbed higher by about 9:30. During the day of fishing we saw a number of pontoon boats and a three drift boats including mine. We were able to float downstream before them and had the 1st drift at most of the runs. All in all it there were less people on the river than I had anticipated and compared to my past experiences for the December opener.

Frank fished using his 6 weight switch rod and nymphed without an indicator using the "Tight Line" method. Blake started with an indicator setup but switched as he wanted to try this method. We were able to fish casually and non-pressured for most of the day with many stories told and experiences shared. I think this is what I like about a day on the river as much as fishing. There are always new things to be learned and wisdom's to be shared. It was a great day with great camaraderie with old and new friends.

Well, what about the fishing?

Some of my observations and thoughts are;

• We caught enough fish to keep smiles on our faces

• We lost enough fish to be able to give each other a hard time about losing them.





• I was a little disappointed that we didn't see much evidence of salmon redds on the stretch we floated. There were some small fields of redds but not near as many as last year





• We saw two or maybe three salmon.





• We did not see much bug action although we did see a few midges, BWO's, and Baetis





• We were able to hook up using quite a few different patterns."Troutbeads", PT nymphs, Hogan's Olive Military May, Hogan's Red Headed Stepchild, Golden Stone, Prince of Darkness, Burks HBI. The fish seemed willing to eat what was put in front of them although the "Troutbeads" were our best producer.






• The trout were where we expected them to be and were located in the runs below riffles, deeper slots and eddy pools. I don't remember seeing a caddis at all.





• We didn't see much action when fishing the riffles or the tailouts. 1 fish caught in a tailout.





• A lot of the runs were fished by wade fisherman prior to us fishing them and when rested still produced hook-ups





• We were able to fish a number of areas that could only be fished properly from a boat and were probably the first to fish these areas.





• A crew working on salmon carcass surveys said that the amount of salmon carcasses were low and they seemed disappointed in the run this year, hoping for bigger numbers.





• We still need some weather to change the current pattern and to hopefully bring additional fish into the system.

The Yuba is a wild and beautiful river and we all need to work to protect and enhance this fishery so our grandchildren will be able catch a native trout and steelhead here close to home.




Clay

December Sunset on the Yuba

You can see this and post blog posts at http://www.flyfishingtraditions.com/

Trinity River Steelhead

Thanksgiving Day, 2009 - Happy Holidays

It's finally feeling like winter is on its way here in Grass Valley. The air has a crispness to it that only comes as fall turns colder to winter. We're getting the organic turkey ready to put in the BBQ and family is on its way. My Mom and Dad are coming from Idaho and Laura's brother Mark and his family and kids are coming the day after. Zack is excited to have his three cousins over to play around with. The kitchen will soon be filled with the aromas of a savory dinner in the works.

My thoughts have been turning over the fact that it will be prime steelhead season on the Klamath and the Trinity River as soon as the weather really starts to turn and move in. November and December are usually the prime time. I really should hit the Trinity as I fished the Klamath with Zack about a month ago. In years past, I've hooked up with my friend and guide Mike Hibbard and fished the Trinity this time of year, but he's now booked every day from the beginning of October through some time in January. He has repeat clients that book the same time slot more or less each year. Sort of hard for me to comprehend booking a trip a year in advance. I always thought that when the steelhead were in and the time was right you headed up to Junction City and went fishing. What if the fish are not in? What if the weather is terrible and you'd be fishing in a snowstorm? I guess it's steelheading, you pick a day a year in advance, plan it and go. It could be epic, you may have to hunt down and find the fish and figure where they are in the system and if you get skunked that's also steelheading. I guess that's the way it's becoming with all the good guides on the Trinity. I guess I'll just have to hitch up my "Fishcraft" raft, get a couple of buddies to share the gas money and head up there one of these days.

I've heard from many sources that in the last couple of years the fishing on the Trinity has turned into "Combat Fishing," with it hard to find open water to fish. The steelhead runs have been very good the last two years so every one and their brother is there trying to hook up a steelhead. This is actually why I didn't go last year. The last time I went down the Trinty River, was two years ago in mid November, I went with my friend and fishing buddy, Blake Larsen. We were fortunate enough to hook up with Mike again. If I remember right, we were able to fill in a spot that was canceled by a client of Mike's. I got the phone call and we went. We got to the put in around Junction City at about 9:30 and there were a number of drift boats already on the river. We headed down the river in Mike's drift boat and there were other drift boats and wade fishermen in every slot and run for at least a mile, but it's kind of hard to tell distance when you're drifting along. As Mike rowed down the river he told us of a story where a guide from "The Fly Shop" in Redding showed up and rowed the whole river from the put in to the take out and was not able to find a spot to have their clients wet a line. That's what they mean by "Combat Fishing."

Mike was hoping that no one had got that far down stream yet and as we rounded a bend in the river Mike muttered, "All Right, nobody's home". We parked the boat and got out and started fishing one of his favorite runs. Anyone else coming down the river had to keep moving further on down and leapfrogging to find open water.

On that day, the weather was fairly warm and overcast, so we were looking forward to the possibility of a successful day. We were lucky enough to find this prime open slot and this run lately had good numbers of steelhead in it. We parked the drift boat, spread out and fished that run for what seemed like 4 or 5 hours. I stationed myself at the head of the run where the riffle dropped into a slot and Blake set up to fish the run futher down stream. I think I was "schooled" about five or six times before I finally got a nice steelhead in my hands. I was fishing at the head of the run feeding my indicator and flies downstream into the slot. There was a dropoff and the steelhead were stacked there. I was fishing with an indicator, plenty of shot, an egg, a sort of purple/blue Copper John and a Mercer's Poxyback Stonefly. The fish would hit, the indicator would go down, I'd set and all hell would break out. The fish would run straight at me. I was having a hard time managing my set and could not keep up with the steelhead running right at me. As soon as I got the slack under control and felt the fish, gone! They would shake out the hook. This happened about 6 times. Mike was coaching me how to strip set and keep my reel and stripping hand at my chest and try to set sideways and low. But for me at the time it was not computing. When a 10 pound steelhead hits everything that I was being coached with went out the window. Mike would just laugh at me and just would say "Keep after it, you'll get it." Eventually I did and started landing fish.

On this subject of setting and fighting fish, if you ever get a chance, you should check out a video by Kelly Gallop, "Streamer Fishing for Trophy Trout with Kelly Gallop". This video has a section where he talks about how to set and fight fish and talks about rod position and hand position. "Keep your hands in a box." His pointers are applicable to almost any type of fishing. It's the best example I've seen of what Mike was trying to work with me on the river. But once again, you may rationally think it through, but when a freight train of a steelhead hits, all the should of, could of, goes out the window. At least it was for me for a while, until my adrenaline settled down and I finally got the hang of it.


I was fishing with a Sage Z-Axis 6 weight and after I settled down I hooked a fish that went 10 maybe 12 pounds. I imediately thought why the heck didn't I bring my 7 weight. It took me down stream into a deep pool that was probably 20 feet deep. the water was crystal clear and this steelhead just dogged it on the bottom. I couls see the fish the whole time which made it sort of nerve wracking. It was like I was hooked to a log. I could hardly move it. Mike was coaching and said, "You've got to start pumping him up and putting pressure on him or you'll be there all day." So I did, I'd reel down and pump up, reel back down and pump up. I'd do this and slowly the fish would come up, only to race back upstream and then I'd have to start all over again. I finally was able to get it to come it up, but it still wasn't close enough to net and down it went again. By this time my forearms were burning and I seemed way under gunned with my 6 weight. I really thought I was going to break it. When I finally got it close again, the fly popped out. Gone! Mike just said, "Let's go get another one."


It the meantime, Blake was fishing below me in a section that was shallower and more of an even "walking speed" run. He would hook up and the fish would typically turn and run downstream. He was being much more successful landing fish than I was and he let me know it. That's what friends are for, right? The angle that Blake was fishing from enabled him to set sideways which provided a solid hook set and put pressure on the fish almost immediately. The fish hooked in this part of the run would either shoot upstream and then turn and gradually start moving downstream or they would feel the hook set and turn and go downstream immediately. He could then work the fish into shallow water and tail it or have Mike come down and net it. This current speed was also helpful to hooking, playing and landing the steelhead from this area. This is probably justification by me for not landing as many fish. But what the heck, I think it’s true!




Mike was kept busy coaching me and helping Blake and I land fish, once I figured out my hook set. We hooked and landed fish regularly, How many? To be honest I really don't remember but it was plenty. If I remember right Mike rigged Blake up with an egg on the point and then trailed with a larger nymph, like the Blue/purple Copper John, and then trailed that with a smaller nymph like Morrish's Anato-May. This I am sure of. The Anato-May was a hot fly all day.


We still had about 3 or 4 miles of river to fish so we packed up and headed downstream at about 1:30 or 2:00. We would side drift the runs the rest of the way to the take out. We would float down a riffle and Mike would eddy out the boat and anchor and we would fish the slots from the boat and then keep going and side drifting as we moved downstream. We hooked and landed more fish doing this.


The fish that I remember most on that day is the one that got away. Go figure! We had just drifted down a very shallow riffle that the boat had banged it's way through and were fishing a bouncy slot along some willows that was about 3 to 4 feet deep. I had shortened up my indicator and we were side drifting the slot, my indicator went down, I set the hook and the fish tore up stream, while the boat was still going down. Mike eddied out and the fish ran up through the shallow riffle that we had banged through and you could see the steelhead's whole back out of the water as it ran up. Big! Mike quickly rowed back upstream as far as he could. I thought that it was a goner but I kept pressure on it and hoping. It gave up and turned around and started back down stream. This fish probably went 14 pounds. Who knows? It tore downstream and Mike followed it. The fish then headed river right where there were two downed trees with root balls and limbs underwater. It was a tangled mess. Where did it go, straight for the sticks. I did all I could to keep it away but no luck. Mike rowed downstream and we could see the fish downstream of the snags. The only problem was that my line was snagged in a branch between the boat and the fish. Blake jumped out of the boat with the net and somehow got the line loose. As soon as this happened the fish moved into the middle of the river where the current was the slowest. I thought to myself, "we may actually land this bugger." The fish didn't stop. Directly across the river was a tree with a big root ball at the bank. This fish them swam straight to the root ball and stationed itself under the thick of it. Mike rowed the boat over and there it sat, directly in the middle of this mess with my tippet again tangled in the branches. It was six feet from the boat but there was no way could we net it. All I had out of the guides was the indicator and tippet. I stuck my rod tip under water and tried to work loose the tangled tippet. As soon as the fish felt the slack, the fish just bolted upstream. Gone! Game over! Mike made a comment something like "I've never seen a fish that pulled off a stunt like that." It's my clearest memory of that eventful day. Funny how that is.


Blake landed this beauty further downstream when we drifted through a riffle and just entered a nice slot. Kudos!





When we got closer to the take out we got to another deep slot that has a history of holding fish. There's a shear rock face that goes straight down into the river and creates a deep slot along the river right side. The run is probably 200 ft long. The water in this run moves slowly downstream and there is a foam line that you run your flies along. "Foam is Home." Sure enough my indicator had a slight down and I was hooked to a large steelhead. This was the perfect place to hook a large steelhead, but landing this fish was not easy. We worked and worked it and finally were able to secure it in the net. Whew!





That's a big fish in a big net!

This could be you. I've got to get back up there, its been too long.





Once again, Mike Hibbard, you are the man! I'll tell you now and I'll tell you again in the future. Call Mike for a day with an exceptional and hard working guide. Mike is a independent guide and takes pride in that fact. If you want to find out how to fish the Lower Sacramento River and the Trinity River give him a call.



Make a trip to the Trinity a "Tradition"



Wishing everyone and all of your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving.



Clay



You can contact Mike Hibbard on his cell phone at 530-526-5535
You can check out Ken Morissh's flys and the Anato-May at www.idylwilde.com


You can see this blog entry and past ones at http://www.flyfishingtraditions.com/

Lower Sacramento River with Mike Hibbard Sept 2009

Fishing with Mike Hibbard on 09/13/09

Being that I decided to create the Fly Fishing Traditions blog this November, I have decided that I will periodically post stories about past trips to various destinations. Hope you will find them interesting.

I have booked a trip with Mike Hibbard of Redding, California for my birthday for I believe the last 5 or 6 years. This is what you do when you buy a drift boat and spent a lot of time rowing instead of fishing. You hook up once in a while with a guide who in my case becomes a buddy friend and get a fishing fix.

Mike Hibbard is a quality guide and person. He knows the Lower Sacramento and the Trinity River intimately. He is a independent guide and if you want to fish either of these rivers I would highly recommend that you contact him. His phone number is 530-247-3970 and his cell phone is 530-526-5535. You won't be sorry. In fact call me and I'll split the guide fee with you!



Mike had fished the river the day before and found that a small BWO nymph was working. The fly was a Mercer's Glass Bead mayfly in black. It was a size 20 or maybe a 22. There were lots of the small mayflies coming off the riffles. I know when I fish the river that I just don't go that small for the robust fish of the Lower Sacramento. But on this day it was the ticket.

Mike's typical rig is setup with a tapered 3x or 2x 9ft leader. He used to use a "Boles" indicator in blue or green but like many of us has changed to using a thing-a-ma-bobber. He sets the indicator about 18" to 24" below the end of the flyline. The shot is set at a rods length down from the indicator, usually about 9 feet. from there he goes with 3x fluorocarbon to the first fly, 4x fluorocarbon to the 2nd fly and then 5x fluorocarbon to the last fly. This is a rule of thumb for the Lower Sac.

On this day I was rigged with a size 14 King Prince, to a size 14 birds nest and then to the size 20 black glass bead baetis.

Zack was rigged up with a #14 cinnamon Fox Pupa, to a Sloans' Mighty May and then to a size 18 Hogan's S&M nymph.

Mike will typically start off with six different flies as he says on the Lower Sac each day the fish may want something a little different. By giving the fish multiple choices you can then focus on what they want to eat on any given day.

The fish seemed to want the smallest bug on this morning and we then had to figure out how to keep a hot Lower Sac rainbow on a small size 20 bug. Its not easy.



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Zack and I hooked up with a double and we were able to net both of them at once.
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This is the famous "Posse Ground" riffle.
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Zack hooked this fish at the top of the riffle and fought all the way down to the soft water to land it. Probably 200 yards. That's a smile for you!
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This is the willow in the concrete bunker at the end of the "Posse Ground Riffle" Always a good spot!
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I guess this is my "karmic" reward for sharing the rivers with my friends and family from the view of my rowers seat.
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This is the "Sundial Bridge". If you are in the Redding area fishing or just traveling through stop and take a stroll on the bridge. It's worth it.
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Zack with another chunky Lower Sac rainbow.
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If you live in Northern California you have to spend some time on the Lower Sacramento River. It is a world class fishery and is only 2 1/2 hours from Grass Valley and Nevada City. Give Mike Hibbard a call and he will hook you up.

Make a "Tradition"

Clay

Contact Mike Hibbard
* Cell 530-526-5535

Check out the fly selections at The Fly Shop

Fishing Trip - Klamath River 11-09

11/01/09

My son Zack and I ventured to Northern California to fish the Klamath River below Iron Gate Dam on November 1st. My wife, Laura, had purchased me a gift certificate with Craig Neilson of Shasta Trout for Christmas last year. What a sweetie! I had planned on going up in the spring to catch the salmonfly hatch but unfortunately I was tied up with work. When being a building contractor you have to as they say, make hay when the sun shines.

Zack had a soccer game on Saturday so we headed up to the town of Mt. Shasta that afternoon and stayed at the Best Western Tree House Hotel, This is a nice place, although I will say go eat dinner in town if you choose to ever stay there. We got to the hotel at about 8:30 or so had dinner, goofed off a little and then hit the sack.


We met Craig Neilson in the morning at 8:00 and talked through the question of whether Zack needed a steelhead report card. We know that he doesn't need a fishing license as he's 11. The regs say anyone fishing the Klamath river is required to have one. So, we bought one to be safe. We then headed north towards the Oregon border on Highway 5 and took the Granada/Montegue exit. This drive on the back road to the Klamath was just spectacular. You sure don't feel like you're in California. We got to the river put the boat in and then did our shuttle. We were good to go.

There were quite a few boats on the river and we were the last boat down. Craig said he likes it that way and doesn't like "crowding". We had the river pretty much to ourselves all day and being the last boat down sure didn't seem to slow down the fishing. We also ran into my old buddy Jack Trout. He was putting his boat in right next to us and I walked over and stood next to the boat until he looked up and held my hand out to shake his hand. He looked shocked to see me. It was a classic Jack Trout moment. Anyone that has met Jack will know what I mean.

Craig rigged us up with his methodology for the Klanmath. We rigged with a "thing-a-ma-bobber" and dropped down about 7 feet to a single AAA shot. from there we went 18" down to a size 10 pegged egg, and then another 18" to a size 8 or 10 prince nymph. On Zack's rod he rigged the same from the indicator down to a rubberlegs that looks similar to a SALT stone (Check out the Fly Shops' Flies) with a reddish egg at the nose and then down 18" to the same pegged egg. That was pretty much the flies all day except the depth of the indicator was lowered and then raised depending on the depth and we added or took off shot as required.


The fish on the Klamath are some of the quickest hitting fish that I've encountered. you have to be right on the set and have good line management to keep a fish hooked. Zack struggled with this and got a little frustrated. But he kept it together. We managed to hook up steadily all day.

Craig stated that the larger winter fish are just arriving and that the fishing will typically get better for the larger winter run in late November and into December. It sort of depends on how the winter storms come in. We managed to land some nice steelhead although the 2 or 3 larger winter fish we hooked out foxed us.



There were quite a few salmon in the system and the resident trout and migrating steelhead were always in close proximity. There are some really good runs that you could probably have fished all day long in you wanted to, but you do have to get to the takeout.

If you ever care to fish the Klamath give Craig Neilson a call at Shasta Trout, 530-926-5763 or check out his website at www.shastatrout.com. He is a quality guide and person that has intimate knowledge of the waters in Northern California.

This could be you!



Make a Tradition!

Clay

Fishing Trip - Truckee River 10-07-10

It's feeling like fall and the trout should be feeling the change. With shorter days, and cooler nights I was hoping the rainbows and browns of the Truckee River would be ready to play. As I drove up to meet Blake Larsen the weather was cool and I -80 was wet from a steady drizzle. This is the first day of the fall that I didn't automatically put on shorts and a t-shirt. I brought along a change of clothes, rain gear and a fleece sweater thinking I may need it. Perfect fall weather.

As I drove up I was thinking about rigging up with a system that is similar to the Burks Czech Nymphing System. I've also heard this called a Pit River Rigg. Essentially you tie about 5 feet of 25 or 30 pound braided line to your fly line and then tie on a metal tippet ring with a clinch knot. The reason for the braided line is that there are so many boulders and rocks to catch your flies and shot that if you use a standard leader you may be re-tying new leaders and flies all the time. Makes sense to me. Why not try it, I thought.

Blake had suggested to run and gun the river from about the outlet at Boca down to below Hershdale and hit some good looking runs. I was looking forward to trying the river as I'd heard reports that it had been fishing pretty good. We were looking for areas that had mid stream boulders with deep slots between or below. The idea was to find areas like this and deliver short upstream casts and high stick the rigg through, leading the flies downstream and attempting to keep in contact with the bottom. Easier said than done. I found that it's a game of constantly managing the amount of weight you're using and that changes with the depth of the slot and the velocity of the water.

There were quite a few BWOs coming off at about noon with a lot of smaller fish taking them in the film or on top. Of course I was set up to fish on the bottom. I got the hang of the high stick nymphing it and was able to pick up a couple of small fish and started getting my confidence up. We fished a nice bouldery run and there was a nice slot, with it seemed to me, just the right current speed. It was behind a large mid stream boulder and had a soft trench that was about 25 feet long. The trouble was it was across a heavy current seam. This required a good roll cast with an immediate stack mend followed by large upstream mend to get a drift. I tried to get a good drift and finally got the rigg in the seam I wanted and was soon off to the races around the bend downstream chasing the fish as it ran. I got one good glimpse of it and it was a good sized fish. Blake was fishing further downstream and was able to net a nice Truckee River rainbow with big shoulders. I guess my patience paid off.

We headed further downstream and when I fished a dropoff to a run I picked up a 18" to 20" small mouth bass. That was totally unexpected. When I told Blake about it he said that he'd heard of small mouths being lower down the river. Like I said it, was a surprise.



I had a great time exploring the Truckee River and it was a fun alternative to being behind the oars on the Lower Yuba in my driftboat. I think the fall season is just starting up and there should be some real good days coming up. Another thing to look forward to.

Birthday Traditions on the Lower Sac

I've had a tradition that has gone by the wayside but was resurrected this year. My son Zack is 13 and since he was about 6 we have hooked up with my good friend and stellar fishing guide Mike Hibbard to fish the Lower Sacramento River for my birthday. I've tried for the past couple of years but Zack has been busy with soccer, basketball and life in general. I asked him about going a couple of weeks ago and he replied instantly, "Yeah, let's go!" Tradition is back!

This was and is the best birthday gift I could wish for. A father and son day fishing with a good friend and me fishing rather than rowing. The stage is set pretty well don't you think.

We arrived in Redding at about 10:30 because Mike said there was no hurry to get there as the bite hasn't really started happening until mid morning. We were doing the Possey Ground to Bonnieview float and Mike's comment was that there are a lot of big fish in the upper portion of the river and if you take off too early the resident rainbows just aren't ready for breakfast. We planned on fishing late.

We placed Zack in the front of the boat and in didn't take long until he hooked up with a nice fish. We were deep indicator nymphing and the fish took a micro caddis nymph. Now for those that have not experienced it, hooking a hot Lower Sac fish is one thing, landing it is another. Mike commented that if you land half the fish you hook up, you're doing good. We were rigged with 9 foot tapered leaders, shot and 3 flies. That puts a hooked fish anywhere from 8 1/2 feet to 10 1/2 feet down from your indicator depending on which fly it ate. Once you've worked the fish close enough and have it ready to land you've got to reach above your head to get the fish up to the net. This is pretty awkward! With coaching from Mike, Zack worked the first fish to the boat after a number of runs. Lifted as instructed and we had the first fish to the boat. Take a look at this beaut.

The fish were cooperative with my birthday wishes and we were able coax many fish to the net on this beautiful fall day. Zack had the best day he's every had on the Lower Sac, not necessarily quantity but definitely quality. Every fish we caught had been eating pretty good. Thick and fat.

We had a great day, caught fish, lost fish and enjoyed a renewed connection with Mike. I couldn't have had a better birthday.

The Egg Bite - Using Glo Bugs on the Lower Yuba River

It's the last week of September and the salmon have just started moving into the Lower Yuba River system. A few have just started staging and are starting to dig their redds. Resident rainbows and steelhead will soon be staged behind them ready to gobble up protein from stray eggs drifting downstream where they wait. It is almost the time for the "Egg Bite" to ramp up. In this and a following article, I will discuss how to get ready for the "Egg Bite", flies to use, how to rigg them and the techniques to present them.
When the salmon are in the system in seems like the trout and steelhead know it before we do. They just sense the opportunity. When drifting the Lower Yuba I have noticed the trout get on the egg as early as August. There are usually a few "springers" still in the system and the days are starting to get shorter. The fish know its coming.


First a word on Wading Etiquette

For fishermen, fishing the redds creates a dilemma. We'd like to take advantage of the staging of the trout and steelhead, but when fishing with egg patterns, we must stay off the redds. We need to understand that by wading through or on top of the redds we may be destroying the salmon's future offspring. Look before you wade in. If you see bright clean gravel devoid off larger stones, Stay Out! Fish from the shore and cast below spawning salmon to where the trout and steelhead should be. Some people say it's OK to wade the ridges of the redds, but I and many of the guides think it's better not to. It's too easy to push gravel down on top of the salmon's eggs or let the current push you down inside the redd itself. Better safe than sorry.

OK, enough of the sermon, I just stepped off the pedestal.

Egg Patterns

There are basically three main types of eggs patterns (1) Glo Bugs (2) Beads, or (2)Alevin Patterns. The first two are used to imitate the eggs dropped by the salmon and the Alevin is to imitate the hatching fry still attached to the egg, sort of a salmon polliwog. The use of Trout Beads is somewhat controversial, abd has to do with th length that the hook trails behind the egg. I'll get to that in Part 2.

Today in this article, I'm going to focus on "Glo Bugs" and "Pettis" or "Surreal Eggs".

Glo Bugs or Yarn Eggs

You can tie or purchase Glo Bug patterns in a multitude of colors and sizes. They are tied using egg yarn.

The photo shows a box with every color of the rainbow, This is typical in Alaska, not quite as important here in Northern California. I usually carry about 4 or 5 colors in three sizes. Typically from about 6mm to as 10 mm. I'll usually start with a 8mm egg. The fish can get selective to a very specific color and its a game of experimentation to find out which color works on any given day. The newer the eggs the darker in color.




Some of the popular colors are champagne, peach, salmon egg, Shrimp pink and Steelhead Orange. They are available at almost every fly shop around. You can get tying instructions easily on the web. They are easy and fun to tie. Here's a photo showing some examples.





Pettis and Surreal Eggs

My favorite egg pattern is the "Pettis Egg". The Pettis Egg is tied with "Cascade" Egg Yarn. If you are going to tie this pattern buy the "Cascade" egg yarn, you will be disappointed if you don't. This pattern is often sold as a "Surreal Egg" which is the same pattern.

I tie the "Pettis Egg in the following colors with Cascade Egg Yarn. Baby Pink, Salmon, Yellow Roe, Champagne, and Flame. You will need to find a dark red or dark orange bead that the yarn is pulled over. These beads are also available from Cascade. The yarn provides sort of a halo around the dark bead. This is what makes it different and special.

Selecting the Right Color and Size

When trying to select the right color and size of egg to use you need to match the eggs of the Salmon in our Northern California Rivers. Salmon enter our rivers and spawn in seasonal waves. A spawning salmon may dig a redd in November, but there may also be drifting salmon eggs that were laid in the gravel weeks before. The trout will have a preference for a certain stage of the egg.

The only way to pick the right egg imitation is by experimentation, although early on the darker shade typically work well. You should carry lots of different eggs and sizes to cover all possible scenarios. Once you find a working solution, you'll need to stay alert because trout may change their preference during the day or on a different part of the river.

Presentation

You can present eggs in 4 basic ways. (1) Dead drifting in runs under indicator (2) High sticking eggs at pronounced drop offs (3) Tight lining through the redds behind spawning salmon or (4) High sticking in the redds under indicator.


(1) Dead Drifting in Runs Under Indicator


For fishing in runs, I'll rigg up with a deep indicator rigg. I'll tie on a 7 1/2 foot or 9 foot 3x leader and place a large thing-a-ma-bobber about 18 inches down from the end of the flyline. Next, I'll tie a tippet knot about 6 feet down from the indicator to hold my shot. Finally I'll extend a 3x tippet to an egg and then trail the egg with a couple of nymphs. This is my basic deep nymphing rigg that I use all the time. The depth is changed by adding or subtracting tippet or raising or lowering the indicator.

Fish it dead drifted from a boat or from a stationary position from shore. The takes when fishing eggs are seldom subtle. This is opportunistic presentation and the fish in the runs often can't resist an egg dead drifted in the water column.

(2) High Sticking at Pronounced Drop Offs.

For fishing drop offs, you want to rig up with shot and indicator and set your indicator to above 1 1/2 times the depth of the run below the drop off. Use enough shot, more than you think, to get the flies down.

You will first be fishing this rigg on a tight line after making a straight line cast and then transitioning to a deep nymph dead drift presentation and finally holding the line and letting the flies swing up in the current.

Look for areas where there are pronounced drop offs of 3 feet or more. When salmon are in the system and moving up stream they often stop and rest at these drop offs. The resident rainbows and trout will be there with them.

Station yourself just opposite the drop off or slightly down stream from it and cast your flies up above the drop off, the cast wants to be more of a straight line cast. Hold up your rod tip to keep as much line off the water as possible and let the flies drop down into the drop. Don't mend when the flies land, just let them tumble down. Make sure you have enough shot to get the flies down deep. There can be takes right as they drop. Watch you indicator and the tip of your nymph line for any movement. Set at anything suspicious.

Once the flies drift down to just slightly below where you are positioned throw a big upstream mend or a stack mend and feed line downstream keeping a slight hook in you line, like a small "C" , and work the water below you.

Once you have dead drifted the flies as far down as is stll manageable clamp off the line and let the flies swing up in the current. This often brings on a strike. Fish it out until the flies swing below you. Let them hang and then re-cast.

Use the Borger Shot Gun method and methodically cover the water working from closer to farther out.

(3) Tight Lining Through the Redds

When the salmon are staged on the redds the resident rainbows and steelhead will often be waiting directly behind them waiting for stray eggs. Steelhead are know to actually come up and bump the salmon trying to shake loose some eggs. The key is to focus on the area behind the salmon. If you try to run your flies through a pod of salmon you will snag the salmon which is illegal. It's hard, but don't do it.

To rigg for fishing the redds with the tight line method you can shorten up your leader, use less shot and shorten the distance between your flies to about 12 to 14 inches. Often use two eggs of similar or diffeernt colors. Use a small thingamabobber or just use a Rio Nymph Line with the orange tip. Adjust the weight so the flies don't hang up and they just roll them through the redds.

The redds will be a series of rollers with gravel ridges with drops behind them. Position yourself slightly downstream or directly across from the targeted area. Cast to the ridges with a straight line cast, if salmon are not present, and and lead your flies through with your rod tip leading the way. If your indicator or the end of the line moves, set in a downstream direction. If your flies are running into a pod of salmon pick them up and then move downstream and fish behind them. If you do snag a salmon, shake the flies off as fast as you can. The thing is really try not to fishing amongst the salmon.

Back on my soap box. Please don't wade the ridges of the redds and definitely don't walk through them. End of lecture.


(4) Fishing the Redds with Indicator and Shot.

The alternate method for fishing the redds is to use a small indicator and light shot with a single or pair of egg patterns. You need to adjust you indicator so the distance from the indicator to the shot is equal to the depth of the deepest part of the redd. Any deeper and you will just hang up.

The technique is very similar to fishing the drop offs, the redds are basically a series of small drop offs. High stick the flies through the redds with a minimum of line on the water. Pick up if the rigg hangs up and re-cast.

This method works best on longer salmon redds with less ridges.


Summary

Be careful when fishing and wading around redds. The "Egg Bite" can provide some of the most fun and fast fishing the year.



Surreal Eggs from Iydlwilde

Here's some photo of "Surreal Eggs" that are available from Idywilde Flies





Surreal Egg - Shrimp Pink













Surreal Egg - Steelhead Orange













Surreal Egg - Salmon Egg














Surreal Egg - Peachy King














Surreal Egg - Pink Lady

Casting Tip - Water Load & Cast to the Bank

This summer I spent quite a few days on the Yellowstone River in Montana rowing my Fishcraft raft and helping my family to learn the technique of casting streamers and dry flies to the bank, looking for the brown trout or the occasional rainbow that hang right next to shore, tight to the bank hoping to get a grab on the fly. As much as I tried to get my son Zack and my Mom and Dad to get the flies right on the bank, their flies would mostly come up short. When they got it to the bank, hold on!

Typically, 6 inches from the bank would get a strike when 24" from the bank was mostly unproductive . Reach the bank and success would follow. When casting to the bank you just can't worry about hanging up and loosing flies, you've just got to go for it. If you take the risk you may end up with a trophy in your hands.



Here’s a tip to help overcome this problem when you're drifting down the river in a drift boat and pounding the banks.

(1)Start your cast with a tight line with the rod tip pointed low towards the river surface. Use the waters surface tension and frictional forces to load the rod.

(2) Smoothly accelerate the backcast and stop your rod at the 11:00 position.

(3) Load the rod on the backcast and apply smooth power forward to a stop, looking at the target on the bank through your thumb.

(4) Drift through and deliver the fly bank to the bank.

If you make the mistake of starting the cast with your rod tip high and straight in the air, there less loading, no initial rod flex, which ultimately shortens the cast stroke and usually requires unnecessary false casting.

When you load the rod from the waters surface, you give your cast a head start.Point to Remember, Start it low, and let it go!

That’s it!

The Lower Yuba River in Fall

I created the Fly Fishing Traditions Blog in November of 2009. It's been quite a journey. I've been keeping a journal of my fly fishing adventures for over 4 years. Needless to say there's quite a bit of information packed between those pages. With that said, keeping a fishing journal is the best thing I ever did. I can't tell you how much you can improve your fishing by starting your own journal. Start one the next time you get out there. As they say "Just Do It".

One of the reasons I started the journal was to keep track of how the Northern California rivers I fished progressed through the seasons. What flies worked, what bugs were happening, what techniques and rigging were utilized. What went on with my fishing buddies, my family and especially my son Zack. Notes, photos, video they tell a story about fly fishing and my life.

I'll start here with my other goal which was to share my experiences of fishing through the four seasons on the Lower Yuba. As for people that have spent much time fishing it, the Yuba can be challenging, fickle to down right humbling. My journal has documented these sentiments over the years with some discoveries along the way. I'll start with the Fall season and eventually work my way through the summer. Hopefully the stories will help you gear up for the change of the upcoming seasons.


Fall on the Lower Yuba River


When fall rolls around on the Lower Yuba River, which I will arbitrarily designate as September 1st when the river is closed to fishing above the Parks Bar Bridge, it's a time of reduced flows, salmon and fewer hatches. The river flows have been reduced to the level of about 900 cfs which is mandated by the powers that be to protect the spawning habitat of the chinook salmon. The resident rainbow trout are starting to feel the change of the seasons and their instinct is to eat and get ready for the winter. In the fall this means the egg bite and other large bites will be prime. The rigging for the fall is built around presenting egg patterns. This doesn't mean that the bugs will take a back seat. It just means keep an egg on.


The Egg Bite

In 2009, the salmon were in the system in early September and the egg bite was on from the beginning. This year as of the second week of September the salmon have shown up in small numbers, a few here and there below the bridge, and there are no noticeable redds. This is sort of how it goes, the salmon move into the season once the first big storm comes in and a flush of water goes through the system.

You need to have a good supply of eggs to be ready for this event. My egg pattern of choice is the "Pettis Egg" or the "Unreal Egg" which are basically the same pattern. I carry the "Pettis Eggs" in 4 colors for the Yuba. I also carry a box of "Trout Beads" in two sizes and a variety of colors. I keep them in a separate box, an Ovris M4 compartment box, with beads, toothpicks and egg hooks. The trick is to paint the beads with fingernail polish before you head out as they will take on a more realistic look. I typically rigg up with an egg at the point and then trail 2 nymphs behind the egg. about 12 to 16 inches apart. I'll talk about the nymphs a little later.

One bit of advise is to hit the river early and late for the egg bite and fishing behind spawning salmon. The egg bite changes to more of a bug bite once the sun hits the water in mid morning and through the mid day.

Flies in My Box

Pettis Egg

Unreal Egg

Troutbeads

Fox's Fertilizer

The Lower Yuba River Bugs of Fall

The Lower Yuba River supports a lot of bugs, so there are a lot of nymphs for the fish to choose from. There can be afternoon caddis hatches and BWO's coming off on overcast and drizzly days. There is also the Isonychia mayfly that comes into play typically in September.

As far as patterns, I carry a lot of patterns, way too many. I am going to mostly recommend using Hogan Brown's patterns as he is our local boy wonder and I am partial to that. On top of that his patterns work. As for most patterns, almost any pattern will work if you take the time to check that the profiles is correct, the size is right, and the color is reasonably close. This holds to be true whether you tie your own flies or purchase them, Do your streamside sampling and you will be headed in the right direction, before you spend the time or money.

Isonychia Mayfly

Starting in September it is a good idea to pick up some "Hogan's Isonychia nymphs". This hatch starts in early to mid September and peaks at the end of September. They are large nymphs and are a meal for the resident trout. The Nymphs are a blackish/purple color with a long slender swimmer nymph profile and the adult is a dark purplish/gray. When the fish are keyed in on the hatch they will eat the nymph all day and hit the adults when presented. Leading up to and during the hatch fish will key on swung adults in the riffles and runs.

Fish this pattern under an indicator with plenty of split shot and then if you see shucks from the nymphs on the shoreline and anticipate the hatch has been coming off, swing this bug through runs and tail outs prior to the hatch starting. Once a hatch starts, fish a parachute adams to match the size of the adult.


For nymphing, I'll typically use my 9'6 Sage XP or Z-Axis, 6 weight or sometimes I'll string up my 11'6" Sage Z-Axis Switch Rod. I can use the switch rod for fishing under indicator, tight line nymphing, or swinging flies using spey casting techniques. If you haven't tried casting a switch rod, put it on your list.

For dries, I'll have my 9'0" Sage XP, 5 weight ready to go.

Flies I'd Put in My Box

Hogan's Isonychia Nymph - See Photo at Right

Parachute Adams #10


Caddis

There can be afternoon caddis hatches on the Lower Yuba up until the weather turns colder and we move into the Winter Season. The caddis nymphs are around. Turn over some rocks take some samples and match size and color. Same thing with adults. You can catch a hatch progressing in the afternoons and the trout may look towards an E/C caddis type fly or you may have some fun swimming soft hackles in the runs below the riffles or in the tailouts. Swinging soft hackles is one on my favorites things to do and finding the opportunity to do it in the fall is special.

For nymphing, I'll typically use my 9'6 Sage XP or Z-Axis, 6 weight.

For dries, I'll have my 9'0" Sage XP, 5 weight ready to go.


Flies I'd Put in My Box


Hogan's "Yuba Pupa " Olive - See Photo at Right

Hogan's Chubby Cousin –Peacock

Hogan's Good & Plenty Nymph

Hogan's The Drifter

Hogan's Spring Fling Pupa

Hogan's Yuba Pupa – Dark Olive

Hogan's Last Call Caddis – Olive
Hogan's Yuba Emerger – Tan - See Photo at Right

E/C Caddis

Fox Pupa - Olive, Dark Olive, Cinnamon

Soft Hackles


Mayflies

The fall can turn to a small bug mayfly bite, similar to the Lower Sacramento River where you need small micro mayflies to be effective. The mayfly nymphs are important all year, but the micro-mays really come into play during the fall. Most people just don't go small enough. We're talking 18's and 20's. It becomes a dead drift game. Your favorite indicators, fine tippets shot and fished deep in the slots when necessary.

Developing a tight line deep nymphing technique and rigg can really pay off in the fall. With the river being down to 900 cfs. Fish can hang out in the deep holes and slots for protection, sanctuary and for feeding on bugs, eggs and streamers down deep. Getting your presentation down there is the key. Tight lining with lots of shot is the way to go to access these fish.

When the BWO's are out you can have the opportunity to rigg up a dry rod and cast to rising fish in the flats and back eddies. Fishing cripples in the scum line in the eddies can yield fish on top. If you're in a boat, keep a dry rod strung up and ready to go.

For nymphing, I'll typically use my 9'6 Sage XP or Z-Axis, 6 weight or sometimes I'll string up my 11'6" Sage Z-Axis Switch Rod.

For dries, I'll have my 9'0" Sage XP, 5 weight ready to go.

Flies I'd Put in My Box


Hogan's Tungsten Bead Exploding Baetis

Hogan's Better Baetis

Hogan's Military May - See Photo at Right

Hogan's S&M Nymph

Hogan's Steelie May

Hogan's SIM’s Mayfly Emerger

Hogan's The Sipper – BWO, PMD

Mighty Mites

Gidget


Stoneflies

There are Skawla, Golden and a few Yellow Sally stoneflies in the Lower Yuba River. They can get knocked loose and be in the drift below riffles all year long. A large rubber leg stone pattern can be utilized as a big meal ticket in the fall. I sometimes rigg with a Rubber Legs Stone, an Egg pattern and then trail another nymph of choice. They may not take the stone but I believe that it gets them looking. I fish the rigg with a 9'6" Sage XP or Z-axis, 6 weight.

Flies I'd Put in My Box

Hogan's Rock & Roller – Brown

Hogan'sYuba Rubber Leg Stonefly Nymph - See Photo at Right

Hogan's Chubby Cousin- Golden

Hogan's Good & Plenty Nymph – Brown

Hogan's Rock & Roller – Golden

Hogan's Two Tone Stone

Mercers Poxy Back Stone

Superfloss Rubber Legs

The others - Attractors, Streamers

In the fall some people do nothing but swing flies, olive colored streamers and soft hackles. They target the river for swinging flies and fish the tailouts and runs with the correct current speed to swing their flies at just the right speed. This of course is somewhat of an art form and you've just got to get out there and start trying. This is where a switch rod can really pay off. As I've mentioned before I use a 11'6" Sage Z-Axis Switch Rod which I think is matched perfectly to the Lower Yuba. You can accomplish much of the same thing with a 7 weight. Take a lesson and find out what spey and switch casting is all about. It's fun. When you hook up a Yuba half-pounder on the swing its something you won't forget, even if it leaves you with a limp line instead of a fish in the net.

And lastly, of course there's the attractors that we all carry in our boxes and as long as they match, profile, size and reasonable color they'll work.


Hogan's Red Headed Step Child - See photo at Right

Copper John's

Pheasant Tails

Flashback Pheasant Tails

Birds Nest

Skips Nymph

Hares Ears

San Juan Worm


In Summary, remember, and these points are true for all 4 seasons of the year.

(1) Match the profile of the bug you're imitating. Use a real bug to do so. Do your stream sampling.

(2) Match the size of the bug your imitating. Put the big you've caught in your fly box and compare sizes.

(3) Match the color as close as you can.

Trout Don't Read Latin!

And most of all have some fun out there!!!

Clay
The information about the Isonychia Hatch is from www.hgbflyfishing.blogspot.com