Fishing For The Big Ones

by

May 2004

The river was flowing at 7000cfs, the patter of light rain could be noticed on the surface of the water as the guide slowly eased the drift boat out and up into the current. I was rigged with a size eight, yellow, trout-egg pattern and a size eighteen Glowbug nymph on the usual rig of float indicator and ten feet of leader tippet material. I cast to the left of the boat and watched as the indicator fluttered down to the surface. It didn't stay there long as suddenly it disappeared. I pulled on the line and raised the tip slightly. Extra line that had been balled at my feet suddenly peeled through the guides of the rod and the fight was joined. The as yet unseen fish took off heading for the fast water, there hoping to fight it out and possibly break off. It was not his time, but mine, as I skillfully changed line positions and slowly brought the fish closer to the boat—only to have it take off again as it came out of the depths. A flash of color!

The guide said, "That is a good one, JC. Take it easy, let him run. Good you have him on the reel." The drag was set loose so any run was allowed to happen. Five minutes till the fish was netted. This was the biggest fish I have ever taken on the river.

As I get older, so do the fish in the lower Sac. I have recently read that the river has fish that live to an average of six to eight years. This one was in bright spawning colors; twenty-five inches long; about four pounds, said the guide. It was the first fish of what became a wonderful day. The first four casts landed fish and that was only the beginning of a fantastic day.

It rained off and on during the morning, and after lunch it poured down. First I was glad to have on my chest waders and Gore-tex jacket as it was a gully washer. The remarkable part was that the fish kept right on hitting that combination of flies the whole day long. Tired and finally a bit wet we pulled off the water about five in the evening, just as the sun suddenly peeked between the mountains to the west of the valley. P.S. It was so good that I am going back next Sunday for what I hope is a repeat.

Call the fly shop and join Bobbie and me.

The Next Sunday Report

It was hotter than a pistol Sunday from Redding down the Central Valley. The river was cold, murky, and getting higher. The Corps of Engineers is easing the river up to summer flows, up 500-900 cfs every week to get to 15,000 cfs for summer irrigation. Sometime in August the river flow will be lowered to accomodate the influx of salmon to spawn.

Subsequently the fishing was not as spectacular as it was two weeks ago; the morning proved slow, as if fish were in Sunday school, no matter what we tried it was to no avail. In the afternoon the pace changed from the minute we slipped back into the flow, with several fish over four pounds landed and released. (I guess after the few chances that we had in the morning we were anticipating the strike and were ready the instant there was movement of the indicator). The choice of flies was Prince Nymphs size 8-10 and Glowbugs size 18. The rig was two small split shot and ten feet of leader to the indicator. Very seldom did we lose flies or scrape the bottom of the river.

I can't think of a better place to spend a hot day but on a river. You don't have to drive to Redding now as the season is open for the entire river. Try Chico. Los Molinos, Colusa, or Sacramento for the species of choice. I heard at the fly shop that the shad were in the lower river already. The idea is to enjoy...Good luck...JCP

Pyramid Lake

A number of PFFers are members or friends of the Golden West Women's Fly Fishers. They had a good time fishing Pyramid Lake for the Lahontan cutthroat trout. Sheree Kajiwara is shown with a good-sized Lahontan. Sheree disdains the ladder.

Trout Opener On Upper Sac

The water was high, but clear for the opener weekend on the Upper Sac. The usual wild party was interrupted long enough to flash a bit of fly in front of a few trout. Richard Izmirian, handsome fedora temporarily substituting for party hat, coaxed this surprising beauty to have a nibble and come over to say hi.