FLY FISHING with BRENT CANNON

Match The Hatch 3.0

2016-08-05T19:07:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest "Match The Hatch". As always - look around. I found this guy crawling on my back pack. I matched him with my handy dandy "bug" guide book - and he appears to be a Little Green stonefly.

Stonefly Match

Trout love stoneflies. I really like to fish the dry fly version.

I not only like to fish it solo during a hatch, but I often use it as my top fly with a nymph as my lower or "dropper" fly.

Stonefly "shell" on a rock

You will find all kinds of stoneflies in the river.

They often climb up on rocks. They seem to be present all day long when I fish Sierra rivers. When there is a hatch, it can get crazy with thousands of them filling the sky.

Even when there isn't a major hatch you will see one or two in the air. That's why this is one of my "go to" selections.

They make great indicators too. With their "fluffy" easy to see body and yellow color, a nice stone dry fly is great as an indicator.

Various stonefly flies

I use "stones" so much that I have a separate box just for stoneflies.

I have a variety of sizes, dries, nymphs, emergers, yellow, olive, rubber legged, etc.

They can mimic a variety of other bugs too, so at least in the Sierra, I carry a well stocked selection of stones.

Match The Hatch: Larva video

2016-07-27T14:08:00.001-07:00

Here is a new installment of "Match The Hatch". This one is a quick little video we shot along the Yuba River near Downieville, CA. This way you can clearly see actual critters that thrive along the riverbed.

Tight lines.

Click here to watch the video

Look for stone cocoons

Match The Hatch 2.0

2016-07-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

I have previously posted about fishing the South Fork of the Yuba River outside Downieville, CA. I like going there for a number of reasons. Part of the allure is that the area is located in the old gold rush area of California and there is a lot of history and many stories to be found as you drive through Tahoe National Forest and the dozens of small mountain communities and towns that have ties to mining and prospecting.

The river is beautiful as well. Its nearly crystal clear and blanketed by lush green forest and ferns and mossy rocks.

At roughly three thousand feet in elevation, the area is high enough and cold enough for trout, but make no mistake it can get plenty warm in the summer with temps reaching into the 90s - in which case you will find certain stretches of the river hosting swimmers looking for a cool dip in fresh mountain water.

There are many days I want to shed the waders and fishing vest and dunk myself in one of the many deep pools. In fact, this last trip I saw a group of teen boys fly fishing, and they did just that, jumping in for a refreshing dip.

There are a lot of bugs in the area. A lot. You'll see mayflies, and stoneflies and giant salmon flies. The riverbed is teaming with nymphs and larva. The water is so clear you can see the little cocoons on the rocks and larva crawling on the riverbed.

Remember my little pocket guide I mentioned in Match The Hatch 1.0 - let's put it to use again this time.

I plucked this little cluster off a rock in about shin deep water.

You can see there is a little larva inside, and that's what trout want to eat.

I "matched the hatch" - and in a couple of casts I had a fish on. (Sadly I couldn't get a picture. You'll have to trust me).

This is the cool thing about fly fishing. You could just walk up to a river and not think much is going on. Just a bunch of rushing water. But there are little trout hidding everywhere. The river is a whole other world of life and creatures and things happening and evolving. You just have to take a moment and look and observe. And when you do that, you not only have a better chance of catching fish, but you forget all about whatever troubles and pressures you face in life, and that's worth the drive, even if you never catch a thing.

Tight lines.

Match The Hatch 1.0

2016-06-17T16:52:00.001-07:00

There is so much to learn when it comes to fly fishing, but I think that's one of the reasons I enjoy it so much. Ya gotta be in tune with what's happening around you. Slowing things down and paying attention to nature's world is not only fascinating, but its what helps me get away from the stress and pace of the working world. Its a totally different pace on the river. And you can't force our hectic pace on nature. Won't work. You have to slow down, look and listen.

Besides, if you want a better chance of catching fish, put yourself in a better position. Figure out what the trout want. What's on their dinner plate? You don't have to be a great chef - just a decent entomologist. But if that sounds a little daunting, no worries. While it helps to know your bugs, thankfully there are plenty of resources to assist.

I go old school. I tote a pocket sized booklet with me, because I am often in remote locations where there is no cell or internet service, so you can't do a quick Google search.

I found a great little book by Jim Schollmeyer called "Hatch Guide for Western Streams". Its full color, with great pictures of the real bug - and then color pictures of the flies to match. It comes in handy.

Here's a sample:

I found this guy (and several of his friends) clinging to blades of grass along the river.

I checked my handy-dandy pocket guide - and found a pretty good match. Seems like he might be an American Grannom - and - I can see the fly that might look good to a trout.

The book shows bugs in various stages of their life, so, if you pick up a rock from the riverbed, flip it over, and see little creatures clinging to it, you'll know what stage of life the bug is in, and what fly to select.

You'll get pretty good at it over time, and might not even need a reference guide, but just in case you get stumped, its a very useful tool to carry with you.

I'll post a few more of these in the coming weeks. We will take a closer look at the major categories of bugs. Usually, the two main are caddis and mayflies. The bug in the picture is a caddis. I also like to have a stonefly category, as well as a "terrestrial" group. I lump things like ants and beetles and grasshoppers in the "terrestrial" group.

I hope this helps.

Tight lines!

Peaceful Valley Guest Ranch

2016-06-17T14:07:00.000-07:00

If you want a fun, family friendly, laid back and somewhat rustic get-a-way try the Peaceful Valley Guest Ranch, outside Lyons and Estes Park, Colorado.

Some of the top attractions include hiking, visiting nearby Rocky Mountain National park, horseback riding, and of course, fishing.

They have a pond on the grounds, right outside most of the rooms.

But the middle fork of the Saint Vrain Creek runs though the property and is fun to fish.

Walt gets a great angle

My crew and I were there to shoot for our new TV show - "Fly Fishing West". We fished and shot along the St. Vrain - but after the day was done, I enjoyed casting into the trout pond and catching a few, just for fun.

Th ranch serves three meals a dal, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each meal is buffet style, and is served at a set time. But the food is good and you can load your plate as many times as you wish.

Our guide Jesse Clark took us to the creek, and was very knowledgeable about the trout, where to fish, and about the flies we needed. He also is a certified Master Casting Instructor, which proved invaluable since we needed casts that would help us navigate casting in thick brush.

Jesse shows me the way

We usually planned our day during breakfast, then shot until noon. We took a break for lunch, and then went back out for the afternoon. We'd return for dinner, and then a relaxing evening at the pond. I liked that because I could fish for fun, with no pressure about if we would catch fish while the cameras were rolling, or if we had enough footage, etc.

The staff was very friendly and accommodating. They even had extra fly rods at the front desk. They have a small workout room, ping pong table, a nice gift shop and plenty of places to just relax.

Another day we did a horseback ride to the chapel on the hill above the ranch, but you can ride all the way to the Continental Divide for breath-taking views.

This is not a "high end" "fancy" resort or the "Ritz", but you will be cared for and papered in a friendly and wholesome manner. I really enjoyed it. My crew and I were there to work, but it can be the perfect place for a kid friendly, fun, relaxing mountain get-a-way.

You can watch a "director's cut" (rough draft) of our morning on the river with Jesse by clicking this link. Enjoy!

Fly Fishing Peaceful Valley

Swan Creek - Breckenridge, CO

2015-08-25T09:52:00.001-07:00

This a follow up to the beaver pond fly fishing day outside Breckenridge, CO.

I had finally got a chance to fly fish a beaver pond. It was a lot of fun. The first cast landed a nice brooke trout. In all, I netted 7 in just a couple of hours. Then - all the action just stopped. I didn't really see a hatch. There were no fish rising. It just stopped.

N. Fork Swan Creek

The first thing I did was to scout the nearby creek. The beaver ponds are actually along the North Fork of Swan Creek. As you can see from the photo, its a fairly small and shallow creek. Not much in terms of bigger pools or deep pockets. So, I decided to follow Swan Creek downstream and fish the main creek instead.

There is a rock quarry along the creek. At first, I drove upstream, scouting the creek. But much of this area is private property and is posted. So, I went downstream, below and away from the quarry.

I found a pullout, and just picked the first hole I saw. I still had the same mayfly on. I was flip casting in a small hole, kind of checking for a hatch, noticing the wind, looking up and down stream, trying to figure out where to go, and I had a hit. Since I wasn't really paying attention, I missed the fish.

Swan Creek Brooke trout

I saw a promising hole upstream about one hundred yards. I cast upstream, and sure enough. I netted a little brooke.

Just around the bend I saw a really nice looking hole. The creek flowed over what looked like a broken beaver dam, and into a pool. I tossed into the headwater - and let the fly drift through. BANG. I saw the strike, hooked the fish, and netted him. He was small, but fun to catch. However, I continued to cast into the hole, and proceeded to catch five fish on the following few casts, and they were much nicer fish.

This is where the story takes a tragic turn.

Above this hole, which had been very lucrative for me, was an even better hole. And - I saw fish rising in it. As well as I had been doing, this was going to be like shooting fish in a barrel! I was so sure I was going to get great action, I reached once again for my cell phone to roll some video. But - IT WAS GONE!! Where was my phone? I had it in my pocket a moment ago. I looked along the bank and along the rocks. It was nowhere. Then, I turned and spotted it - at the BOTTOM OF THE RIVER!

I grabbed it out. It was still on and working. I shot this quick video of that nice hole just to test my phone. After that I quickly and thoroughly dried my phone and turned it off. I was too bummed about my phone to fish the sweet hole. I left the area and went downstream.

Nice Fishin' hole

The rest of the day I had no way of taking pictures and showing the fish I caught. Remember, I had caught seven in the beaver pond. Along the creek I soon had nine more - 16 total. I decided I wanted to make it 20 for the day.

I went from hole to hole, looking for a few more fish. But now, other anglers had arrived. I tried to find secluded stretches of creek. In some places the bushes were too thick to even get to the water.

Nice little brookie

Eventually, hole by hole, spot by spot I landed 3 more fish. I had 19. I wanted one more. I was making my way back to the car. Finally I arrived at what would be my last chance at 20. I cast upstream and let it drift, and finally - one little guy hit. I had my 20. I called it a very successful day, and I headed home.

My phone? Well, it still works, but it isn't as reliable as it had been. It does some funky stuff these days. I'm in the process of getting a new one. I gotta go go-pro and a headband.

Drought in Tahoe Area:

2015-08-24T11:32:00.001-07:00

You may have heard about the California drought.

Winter rain and snow have been below normal for the past couple of years. There has been little snowpack, and hence short spring run-offs.

Water tables around the state are far below normal. The state has been tapping into underground water for several years – and there are fears concerning the long term affect of continually drilling deeper.

Many wells in rural areas are already dried up. There are harsh Ag water restrictions – and most cities have implemented restrictions – with more expected in the coming months.

Sagen Creek, Sept. 2014

So, how does this affect fly fishing?

Rivers, streams and creeks often run low by October. But this year – things are drying up to levels not seen in decades, and it is happening earlier this year – by late July and August.

I visited a Truckee are fly shop. They post all the latest fishing conditions. Next to each river and stream location they have posted "please do not fish." Its just to harsh on the fish.

Here are a few streams I documented in the Tahoe area.

Moss in Sagehen

Sagehen - This is a small creek anyway. It still has water – but it is low – and with air temperatures still in the 80’s and low 90’s – water temps can be close to 70 degrees. This is almost uninhabitable for fish – and as you can see – there is a ton of moss growing.

Little Truckee - These pictures come from above Stampede reservoir. As you can see – it is very low. Most of the rocks and boulders you see are usually covered. The water that is visible is only about ankle deep.

Upper Little Truckee

The story is a bit better below Stampede – mostly because they can still release water. The Little Truckee between Stamped and Boca is a very popular fly fishing area. present. But with low water levels and high temperatures - local fly shops are asking people to either stay away or fish early in the morning, but leave the fish alone after 10am.

Truckee thru the town

Truckee River - The Truckee River is fed out of Lake Tahoe. The lake is low and not releasing water now. The Truckee can get low this time of year, but it is especially low above and thru the town of Truckee, CA. Below the town are more tributaries (Prosser, Little Truckee, etc) - so flows are usually a tad better around Floriston near the California/ Nevada State line. But again, they are asking fishers to not stress the trout too much.

Walker and Carson Rivers – I did not visit the Walker and Carson rivers in person – but after reading on-line – the Walker system is mostly unfishable. They say the fish simply cannot survive the low water and the heat.

The Carson still has a few fishable spots, but it is spotty at best.

Jackson Meadow Res. - Sept. 2014

Jackson Meadow Res. – Jackson Meadow Res is one of the better bets this late in the season. In fact, the lakes are your only hope this year. Try Stampede and Bocca as well.

As you can see – there is plenty of water in Jackson, but it is low.

Dry "bay" at Jackson

The picture here is of an inlet and bay that are usually full. Places like this almost look like meadows. In good years, these areas have water. The entire area up to the trees would be under water.

M. Fork of Yuba River - Sept 2014

Middle Fork of the Yuba River – This stretch of river isn’t too bad. I have seen it so high and raging it is blown out and unfishable. But this year it is accessible and looks decent.

It is low, but the levels are ok – and the water coming out of Jackson is ice cold.

I saw lots of fish rising and feeding.

Milton Reservoir is just down stream. I looked at it, but did not fish it. Looked good overall.

The bottom line – California needs a very wet and cold winter. A few “Pineapple” express storms (from Hawaii) can bring a ton of rain – but the storms tend to be warm. Often – it rains on top of mountain snow – creating the infamous “Sierra Cement”. These storms also saturate the ground table too fast – and the water just runs off, back to the ocean - or creates mudslides etc.

Little Truckee water depth

What the state really needs is a few wet systems mixed with ice cold artic air. These storms mean much better snowpack in the Sierra – which means better storage and a longer run-off the next year.

But they way things are right now – ANY rain is much needed.

Breckenridge Beaver Ponds:

2015-08-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

My dad used to tell me how much fun it could be to fly fish a beaver pond. I had never done it, but I always wanted to try. I finally got my chance outside Breckenridge, CO. After a little internet research I located a few beaver ponds, and headed out. I had no idea what to expect.

3 Beaver Ponds

Note to self: beaver ponds can be a little treacherous. I would not recommend walking on the dam itself. Which I didn't. Too unstable. Getting to the pond can be an adventure. The backside tends to be marshy. That often means cattails, or tall grasses and thick bushes, as well as muddy, mushy ground. There tends to be a lot of little feeder streams coming into the pond. But with the thick brush and tall grass, its nearly impossible to see these fingers of water. One false step and you could be talking sprained ankle, or worse.

Never-the-less, I made it to the beaver ponds. There was a series of three in a row. I decided to try the largest first. If you look at the picture you will see a smaller pond to the far left, a middle sized pond in the center, and the largest pond is to the far right. That's the one I tried first.

The dam wall was pretty impressive. Several feet high with well established, tall green grass across the front.

Breckenridge, CO beaver pond

I entered from the backside and made my way to the edge of the water, finding a spot with fairly solid footing.

I had no idea what kind of fly to use. I didn't really see a hatch. So, I selected a nice, generic, blue winged olive (BWO) mayfly. I tied it on, and tossed it out. BANG! I don't even know if the fly actually it the water, but before I could even gather my thoughts, my rod was bent and I had a fighter on.

That worked well.

First cast - first fish.

Every now and then I'd see one rise, I'd cast in the general direction - and bang - fish on.

The first one was a fairly decent sized brookie. I proceeded to cast and catch. I didn't get a hit every single cast, but I was getting lots of good action. Some of the fish were small, as most brookies tend to be. But they are so aggressive and feisty, that I was having a great time.

There was a fair amount of moss growing in the bottom of the pond. Every time I hooked a fish, its first instinct was to dive into the moss. That meant I was not only reeling in a feisty fish, but also a glob of moss.

At one point I tried to shoot cell phone video of the strike. But it was impossible. The fly would hit the water. I'd quickly reach for my phone, but before I could even hit the record button I'd have one on. Trying to reel in line and not drop the phone was too much. Check out the link below.

Breckenridge Beaver Pond Fly Fishing

I had netted seven fish when things went quiet. I saw no more fish rising. The sun was high and the day was getting hot. The action just stopped. I decided to try the middle pond. It took some doing to get through the marsh, the grass, the busses and unsure footing, but I got there. But like the first pond, there was no action at all.

I had had my fun. I decided to break, have a snack, and drive downstream to fish the river. But that story is for another time.

2015-08-23T10:12:00.001-07:00

Back to Jackson.

So, just shy of one year since my post about not being able to match the hatch and find what trout were feeding on, I returned to the Middle Fork of the Yuba, just below Jackson Meadow Res.

During the course of the last year I read someplace that when trout are rising and feeding, but you can't find a dry they'll take, consider a "sub hatch" that may be occurring just below the surface, if not in that fine "film" on the water.

I went to the exact same spot. (I'll post a photo later. Don't have it with me as I type this.) It was about the same time of day, and the usual sunny, warm weather conditions. I saw many of the same bugs in the air. I tried the usual dries. Nothing. Fishing rising, but no takers.

I remembered what I had read. I left the dry on, after all, there was a legit hatch and I had the correct fly. I added a dropper about 12 inches below the dry. I made it an emerger, not a beadhead nymph with weight, but a fly that was light and would float, if not sink just a tad.

Bingo! The trout loved it. I started get hits, and attacks. I reeled in six trout in a short period of time.

And I noticed that all the rising fish were in the shadows. Not much happened on the portion of this "pond" where the sun was hitting. In fact, they way the current flows, I was able to cast into the sunny side, and let it slowly drift into the shadow. Almost every time, just as the fly was crossing the boarder between sunlight and shadow - that's where they hit.

I finally felt victorious. Fun day. Caught fish. Figured out the problem. Awesome.

HELP!!

2014-09-08T17:09:00.000-07:00

Now that I have kids – it is difficult to get away and fly fish the way I use to. But I recently got a “2 day pass”.

With the California drought – fall fishing is difficult. But I thought of a place where I would have a decent chance.

Yuba River below Jackson

I decided to try the Middle Fork of the Yuba River – below Jackson Meadow Reservoir.

I was in luck. I got a good weekend. It was post-Labor Day, so fishing pressure was light. In fact, I never saw anybody in this hole.

Water was still flowing out of Jackson – and it was ice cold. The air temperature was in the high 70's to low 80's.

The "pool"

I decided to fish a pool – almost like a small pond. It is one of my favorite spots – but it is a little hard to get to. The short hike in is not easy, due to rocks, fallen trees and thick brush.

The water enters over a small "fall" over some boulders. Then opens into a pool framed by cliffs on either side. The water was clear and moving very slowly.

The pool is awesome. I arrived one afternoon at about 4:30 and saw several fish rising. I could not see what they were hitting, but I thought I saw a stone fly in the air, so I tried that.

Stone fly I caught

The hatch only lasted a few minutes. Then the pool fell silent and I didn’t see any other activity the rest of the evening. As I packed up – I actually saw a stone fly in the air – and caught it.

I went back home. Since water levels in other near-by rivers and creeks were drastically low – and since I had seen active trout – I decided to return the next day.

This time I arrived by 3pm. I knew stones would hatch around 4pm. I was determined to get those rising fish to hit. And I was going to be ready. I rigged up – and then waited.

Sure enough – 3:50pm, the first fish broke the water. Soon, another - and another. I grabbed my rod and waded every so stealthfully into the pond. But on the way – I saw a bug on the surface of the water, and snatched it up.

As you can see – it’s not a stone – it’s a mayfly!

Mayfly "Exhibit A"

I quickly re-rigged. I eventually saw three types of mayflies. One was green (probably a drake or BWO), another was grey – and one was light yellow to orange (probably a PMD).

Mayfly "Exhibit B"

I matched each version in terms of color and size. The trout rose and fed for about an hour. Not interested in the least in my offerings. Not a single hit.

I thought my presentation was awesome. Almost every cast was on target and zero splash. I had fresh, nine foot, 7X, 2lb test tippet. The fly line didn’t seem to spook ‘em. Heck they rose and fed and splashed right next to it.

I added droppers - nymphs, emergers etc. But I could not get a single hit. Not one. Two nights in a row. Nothing.

My stone fly selection w/ dropper

So, I ask – what did I do wrong? Look at the flies I saw on the river and in the air. Look at the flies I tried. You’ll have to trust me concerning the presentation etc.

What more cold I have done? I am stumped.

Patterns I attempted

Here is a sample of the patterns I tried. There are different versions of mayflies, caddis, pupas, even zebra midges. Some of the nymph patterns are about 22. Most of the dries are about 14 - 16, some smaller.

Any thoughts?

Return to the Big Thompson

2013-08-15T13:35:00.001-07:00

The section of the Big Thompson I usually fish basically runs from Estes Park, Colorado to Loveland.

I wrote another post a few years ago when we fished just downstream from Estes Park, and you can check that one out s well.

Chad Pettrone and Jason Lawley

I returned recently, but this time we fished further down the river, just outside the Sylvandale Guest Ranch. www.sylvandale.com

The stretch of river we fished is on private land, but is accessible if you go through Kirk's Fly Shop in Estes Park. www.kirksflyshop.com

Not only was the setting gorgeous and different than before, but the purpose was different too. This time, I was shooting an episode for my new TV show - Fly Fishing West.

I interview Jason

We not only "wanted" to catch fish - we "had to". I had a guide, two TV cameras and a producer. It would be a waste of a lot of time and money had we not caught anything.

We also needed a great guide. I needed somebody who could ensure we would catch fish, but also, somebody who is great on camera. We went with Chad Pettrone, and he was a perfect fit.
www.chadpettrone.com

Michael Filson on Cam 2

We ended up having a great outing, and a great shoot. Even when we lost a really nice trout, it turned out great. We can actually tell the story of the big one that got away, only it's not a far fetched fish tale. We have video proof that it really happened.

The Big One that Got Away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNOPmwLPwdQ

So, if you are ever in the area, fish the Big Thompson, and go to Kirk's Fly Shop and ask for Chad.

Fly Fishing the Sacramento River.

2013-08-06T18:19:00.002-07:00

I have heard legendary stories about fishing the Sacramento River. There are more than 60 species of fish in there. Some native. Some not. But many are fishable - from sturgeon to trout to salmon. I went for the first time, in search of trout. I was NOT disappointed.

I needed a guide. To fish the mighty Sac you need a drift boat. Besides, my guide knows the river inside and out. He knows right where the runs are, where underwater hazards are, where the fish hold and the right set up to hook 'em.

I went with Kirk Portocarerro, guide and owner of Sac River Fly Guide http://www.sacriverguide.com.

We had a great time. Kirk knows the river and was a great coach. Besides, I was shooting for my new TV show "Fly Fishing West" http://www.flyfishingwest.com - and I needed a guide that had a great personality and was good on camera.

I want to write about our fishing experience, but seeing and hearing what our day was like might be much more affective. So check out a clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tg3p9LQllc.

Enjoy - and "tight lines".

New Fly Fishing Show

2013-08-06T17:55:00.001-07:00

Hi everybody.

It has been a while.

Big changes for me. Among them, I started my own production company called Cannon Media & Consulting. We do a variety of things, but the thing near and dear to my heart is creating a new show called "Fly Fishing West". It highlights fun fly fishing destinations, but also features great things to see and do, in and around those destinations.

We hope this will be a valuable resource for the angler. Not only might it provide great fishing information and tips, but it helps anglers plan a trip so that the non-anglers in their lives can also enjoy the trip.

Check us out at www.flyfishingwest.com or on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/FlyFishingWest1.

And for more information about Cannon Media - go to www.cannonmediaconsulting.com

Lots more fly fishing video and info to come soon!

Thanks -

Brent

How to Roll Cast

2013-05-01T09:22:00.001-07:00

As the new fishing season is picking up - here is a simple but very useful tip. Master certified casting instructor John Till shows us how to do the basic, but essential "roll cast".

Click here - Casting Tip

Sacramento River Promo Shoot

2013-04-26T10:46:00.003-07:00

Check out a new "testimonial" promo we shot and produced along the Sacramento River this week.

I will share how our day of fishing went soon. The video was shot and edited in conjunction with a new TV show we are producing. More on that soon as well.

Click here: Guide Promo

Be sure to visit us at www.flyfishingwest.com.

A Hidden Gem

2012-08-28T16:32:00.001-07:00

Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club

An argument could be made that Golden Gate park, in the heart of San Francisco, is the epicenter of fly fishing.

Okay - maybe that's a tad dramatic, but it is home to a certainly influential place.

The Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club is a hidden gem in the heart of the San Francisco bay area that most avid anglers across the nation do not know about. In fact, most bay area anglers don't know it exists.

John Till

I recently visited the casting ponds and old lodge at the club.

They were completed in 1938 by the Work Project Administration. The casting pools are still considered to be some of the best in the world, and home to national and international casting competitions.

The fly fishing talent in and around this club is amazing. My visit was mostly unannounced, and yet I met one of the preeminent bamboo fly rod experts and collectors in the world, one of the top spree casters in the world, and master certified casting instructor John Till.

He has been a member for decades, was a past president, and is still chairman of the casting program.

He showed me around the club and did a quick roll cast lesson.

Stone Fireplace

The lodge is simple, small and rustic, yet warm, welcoming and functional.

There are lockers, a long table for fly tying, and a big stone fireplace for those cold bay area days.
Hot coffee is always brewing.

There are fly fishing books and videos, and samples of the world class fly tying that takes place in the club.

Fly and Rod Shadow Boxes

Some of the best fly tyers you will find, craft their creations in the old lodge. And several displays of their artistry can be found mounted on the clubhouse walls.

Casting Ponds

On any given day, amazing talent could be casting in the pools, strolling through the lodge, or chatting on the park benches.
Some of the big, big names in the business frequent the club. In fact, the club plays a big part in what you and I use, or buy in the market place.

GGACC

Major vendors come so that these anglers will test the feel of a new rod, or the handling of a new reel, or even a new vice for fly tying. Much of what we buy might have been tested or designed based on the opinion of the greats at the GGACC.

          And yet, the members are welcoming. I found them tremendously inspirational, helpful and accommodating.
     You need not feel intimidated at all if you should ever venture a visit. The club hosts luncheons and dinners with guest speakers. There are casting tournaments year round. There are free casting and fly tying classes, open to the public. In fact, the entire club is open to the public, although you can become a member for as little as 40 dollars.
     Swing by sometime for a lesson or inspiration, or check 'em out at http://www.ggacc.org/

My Secret Fishin' Hole

2012-08-24T15:51:00.002-07:00

Most every angler has one. That secret fishing hole where they always do well - where they always catch fish. And they don't want anybody else to know about it. The location of that special fishing spot is a closely guarded secret. If you take friends, they must be your most trusted friends. Or you blindfold them so they don't know where you have taken them.

My Favorite Hole

I had a secret fishing hole. It wasn't a "top" secret place. People knew about it. But I could count on going and probably not see another angler.

I always caught fish. Always. Sometimes I felt like it was so secluded I was a little worried about going alone.

It required a little climbing. What if I fell and broke something? What if I fell in the river? What if a bear or mountain lion ate me? Who would ever know? How would they even find me?

But I went anyway. The fishing was too good, and the beauty of nature too alluring.

Netting a trout

Why am I telling the world about it? Because my secret fishing spot is no longer secret!

I recently took a few members of my family. I loved to fish the middle fork of the Yuba river, near Sierraville, CA.

We came to a bluff where I could see the river below. It looked great. The water flow was excellent. The natural beauty was breathtaking.

We drove down the canyon along a rugged dirt road - and came to a pond where there are a handful of campsites. Nobody is ever there.

But as we rounded the bend - TENT CITY!

There were people everywhere. Every campsite was full - and people were in the trees, and the meadow, and along the river. It was packed.

A Nice Brown

There were anglers all along the river. Every few yards there was somebody fishing - and kids swimming - and dogs. It was a circus. No longer my secret fishing spot.

I didn't catch a thing. It was a fly fishing only spot, but people were using worms and power bait.

It was catch and release, but people had trout in their coolers and on the campfire.

I didn't see a fish all day. Never got a bite. It was all fished out.

Got Another

I have mentioned I have noticed a decline in fishing productivity in California over the years.

I believe that due to the bad economy, people are turning to cheap, fun family entertainment.

They are going back to camping and hiking and fishing - which is great. But they are not following the rules. They leave trash everywhere and fish illegally.

With drastic budget cuts in California, I suspect they don't have the funding to stock fish as they once did.

And I hear reports there are very few if any wardens on duty anymore. Some wildlife areas are patrolled by a single game warden, tasked with covering hundreds of square miles.

I posted pictures of my former secret fishing hole, but not of the way it was the other day. I posted a few from the good times I remember, just a few years ago.

Where are the fish? Return to the Little Truckee

2012-07-24T17:58:00.003-07:00

I spent a few hours on the Little Truckee this weekend. The conditions were great. The flows were good.
The water was cold. And there were bugs. Lots of bugs. The good kind of bugs. Especially a nice hatch of PMDs - Pale Morning Duns.
There were also a lot of fly fisherman. But nobody was catching fish. All up and down the river. I spoke with several people who had not seen a fish - or hooked any - or landed any.

Dry Fly Water on Little Truckee

I saw one guy net a nice trout, but given the number of hours I was there, the great conditions, and the number of people fishing - which included a few guides with clients - there were very few trout caught.

My photographer Walt Colby was with me (http://www.waltercolby.com). We watched countless numbers of PMDs flitting and skimming off the surface of the water. Often times they just sat on the surface and drifted along.
Under normal conditions I'd expect to see trout feeding - grabbing the easy, tasty meal.
But I saw nothing. Other than the trout I saw being netted, I didn't see any feeding, nor did I have any "hits" or "takes".

Scoping the target

I saw one guy with a spinning rod. Now, I did not personally check it out, but I had to wonder what he was

using for bait. The water was about shin to knee deep, and there was lots of thick green moss - as is typical on the Little Truckee. I had a dry and a small nymph dropper and had to clean them off every couple of casts.

I didn't think there was any way the spinning rod guy could cast a lure or spinner. It would have been useless.

Changing flies

It is possible he rigged his rod with a fly as I have mentioned in another post. But unless it was one of those things - was he fishing with bait - which is illegal.
It makes me wonder. With state budget cuts, how many, if any Wardens are in the area.
Patroling a large area like the Truckee River Wildlife Area is a big task. With few if any Wardens, makes you wonder about poaching and overfishing the Truckee and Little Truckee.

The faster water

I could be wrong, but the thought crossed my mind. If you have specific and acurate information, feel free to share. Better luck next time.

Casting in slight breeze

How to Fly Fish without a Fly Rod

2012-07-05T13:43:00.002-07:00

Fishing with a fly rod, fly reel, fly line and the lure, or flies - is different than fishing with a traditional spinning rod and reel.
In fly fishing, the lure - the fly - weighs mere grams. Light as a feather, literally. The fly line is the weight. Momentum and the physics of a "loop" propagating along the line is what carries the fly to it's destination and target.

With a spinning rod - the weight on the end of the line is hurled to the target. There may be a lead weight, or a heavy lure, or the weight of bait that allows the line to be cast long distances.

It is very difficult to cast a heavy lure with a fly rod. And very difficult to cast a light fly with a spinning rod. Neither is practical.

But it is possible to rig a spinning rod to be able to fly fish. When I was a young boy and had not mastered the art of fly casting or managing a rod that can be nine feet long, my dad helped me rig a spinning rod and reel to fly fish.

A couple of feet up from the end of the line he attached a split shot. Then he slid a clear, egg shaped bobber onto the line. It was the kind of bobber that can be filled with water. We'd fill the bobber, and then attached a second split shot below the bobber. That way, the bobber was "trapped" between two split shot.

We then tied a fly to the end of the line, about 18 inches or so below the bobber and two split shot.

You can easily cast up stream due to the weight of the split shot and the watter-filled bobber. You just let it drift downstream, through any particular "hole" you wanted to target.

Once the fly had drifted as far downstream as it could go, simply reel it up, and cast upstream again.

One That Got Away

2012-06-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

Evening on the Truckee River

Don't let one get away.

It happened to me just the other day. That's why I'm posting a beauty picture of the Truckee river instead of a shot of a great trout.

I spent a long hot, non productive day on the Truckee around Farad.
They say they've been getting some nice trout this year.
I went, but due to my schedule I could not get on the river until nearly 11am. It was already getting hot.

I fished deep pools, hoping for big fish. But things just shut down. I even had a guide with me, and he had no luck.

My first set up

The next evening I was on the river by 7pm.
I tossed a three fly set up and got a hit almost immediately.
By 8:15 the hatch was in full swing. I saw it all. Various "stones" and other caddis. An occasional salmon fly - and a few mayfly.
Fish were rising. One "mauled" my middle fly - and made a birds nest out of my line!

I altered my set up - and despite conventional wisdom I put a blue winged olive dry as the bottom fly. I had a yellow stone dry, and a new caddis emerger I saw in the fly shop earlier that day, up above.

My second set up

I let it drift through a seam. I felt it snag on a boulder, and went to retrieve the line to save my flies. It wasn't a boulder. I had a fish on! I set the hook, but barley could tell. My stiff 6wt rod didn't react much. I reeled in all my slack, and could still feel the small trout on the line.

I decided to quit playing him and net him. Bam! The rod bent down and nearly jerked out of my hand. This was no little trout. It was a big one, and he had been swimming in my direction. Now, he was going his own way - and I could hardly stop him. He jumped and surfaced. I not only got a good look at his size, but could tell it was a nice German brown.

I also could see my top two flies - meaning he hit the BWO dry on the bottom.

And then it was over. The line slacked, and he was gone. On the verge of netting nice one, my knot slipped. I had not tied a good knot. My bad, and it cost me.

The moral of the story - learn good knots. Tie them well, and tie them tight.

Saving Endagered Fish

2012-06-13T20:37:00.002-07:00

We aired this report on efforts to save endangered Coho salmon and steel-head trout in the San Francisco bay area.

Check it out at: http://youtu.be/gos8pgNnHrA

A Boy's First Fish:

2012-06-11T15:10:00.002-07:00

This is a special fishing story for me. I have to admit right now that we did not catch this fish by fly fishing. But this weeknd I took my boy fishing for the first time. We caught only one, but it was a beautiful rainbow. Jack and I were thrilled.

Father & Son's 1st Fishing

Jack is only 3. Still too little for fly fishing. He has seen me practice casting, but this was his introductory outting. This is the first time he has even seen a trout up close. He has heard dad talk about going fishing. And he has been promised to go some day, but this is the first time he has experienced what it's all about.

I took him to an old stand-by. A place where I have never been "skunked". I just wanted him to have fun, enjoy the outting, and feel success. So, we went to a pond in the rear of Donner Memorial State park in Truckee, CA.

I brought my fly rod, but it was fairly gusty, making a good cast nearly impossible. So I resorted to a spinning rod and salmon eggs.

I showed Jack how to cast. The hardest part for him was being patient. He wanted to shake the rod - and reel the line - and above all - throw rocks.

Jack's first trout

Fishing was slow. There was a break in gusts. You could see them coming by the chop on the surface of the pond. So, I took the opportunity to get a good cast.

As I threw - I noticed a fish break the surface - and my line hit just a few feet from him. Pure accident.

Within moments, I had a hit. I waited. I called for Jack, and he ran over. Then I had another hit - and another. I set the hook and the tip bent. I felt the power of the trout, and knew it was a good sized one. I let Jack take the rod - but assisted with reeling, as it was still a little complex for him.

Soon, I had the trout near the bank. The water was clear and Jack could see him well. I landed him and Jack was thrilled.

The fish was hooked deep, so I could not release him. I measured. He was 18 inches long - and he was thick. We landed a beautiful raibow trout. Jack's very first. We took the fish home right then and there - and cooked him on the grill for dinner that night.

Jack meets fish

It took 51 years for this moment to arrive in my life. It was perfect. I had not planned it before I took Jack, but this is the same spot I took my dad a few years ago. It was the last time he and I ever fished before he passed away. My dad loved to fish. He taught me all I know about the sport. He left us before Jack was born. I wish I could have shared this moment with dad, but to bring my little buddy to the place grandpa and I once fished - and to have success the way we did was quite special.

I shall never forget this day.

Family Fun Fishing: Balch Park, CA

2012-06-04T16:04:00.001-07:00

I have wanted to fish Balch Park outside Springville, CA for many years. I have seen some beautiful pictures and wanted to see it for myself. I finally did it.

Road to Balch Park

The park is not really that far outside Spingville, but getting there takes some time. After about an hour on a small, paved but rough road - we arrived at the park. There are a few good sized camp sites - and on this weekend, they were just about filled.

There are two main ponds. One is partially surrounded by the main campground. The other is just across the road, and is about one third the larger, main pond. Both are occasionally stocked, mostly with rainbows, or a hybrid stock trout called a "Shasta" trout.

Marshy area in distance

This a great family and kid friendly place. If you want to get away from people and fish naitive trout - this may not be the place for you. If you want a nice, public camp ground, and a place where the kids can fish and actually catch something - this is ideal.

Most people use bait - worms, salmon eggs, and power bait. Some people try spinners. And every now and then somebody tries a little fly fishing. It did it all.

Giant Sequoia

I had no luck with salmon eggs and spinners, but I did well fly fishing and using power bait.
     If you fly fish, bring waders because you will have better access, and can get away from bushes and trees that line the bank.
    I waded into a a marsh. Luckily there were no mosquitos! I threw a yellow stone dry fly with an orange body. The trout loved it. They swarmed the fly and nipped, bit and chomped on it. The only problem - I was getting hit by dozens of small fingerlings.
      They'd nip and tug on the fly, pull it underwater and drag it around, but were too small to even swallow the number 14 hook.
     I eventually got a small little trout who was big enough to hook, and promptly let the little guy go.

I then worked my way around the pond. I came to a fallen giant sequoia. The trunk extended into the pond. I climbed on and used it as a natural made dock. About halfway along the fallen tree I spotted a nice sized trout swimming parallel to the tree, heading to deeper water. I quickly started stripping fly line and trying to get a good cast going. By then the fish was about out of my range, so I had to cast.

My second trout by fly

The fly hit about 3 feet behind and to the left of the fish, but he turned and spotted my fly. He circled back around - swam briskly to it - and hit. I hooked and netted him. I could have legally kept him - but I let him go.

By now, the day was hot - and the fishing slowed. Most fish had moved to the center of the pond, to deeper cooler water. I did not think I could cast a beadheaded wooly bugger far enough to reach them, so that was the end of fly fishing for the day.

I switched to split shot and powerbait, and caught a few more.

Hedrick Pond - Balch park

My overall assesment: if you want to take the kids and family, Balch Park is a great spot. If you want to fly fish, you certainly can. I would suggest early in the morning and in the late evening, and if you can fish off season - say September or October, you might avoid the crowds.

Here is some other useful info. No reservations at the camp ground. You can call the site manager at 559- 539- 3896. Not far away is the Balch Park Pack Staton. You can book various horseback rides by calling 559- 539- 2227 or go to http://www.balchpark.com/.

Fun Facts

2012-05-18T15:17:00.001-07:00

I found these two links which I think are very interesting. "Fly Fishing History" and "Fly Fishing Museum". Both come from the UK - but are well done and interesting.

Enjoy

Environmental Concerns

2012-05-16T20:39:00.002-07:00

Oil leaks in the san Francisco bay area might impact trout. Check it out as reported by NBC.