Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3810 April 26- May 10 2019 | Page 9

7 Apr 26 - May 10, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 10 Catch & Release Fishing Reports Sponsored by Kiene’s Fly Shop 916-483-1222 • www.Kienesflyshop.com 9550 Micron Ave. Suite B • Sacramento, CA FLY FISHING REPORTS #14, Copper John/red or copper #14, #16, Mercer’s Micro Mayfly #18 and Vinci’s Depth Charge Bird’s Nest #10-#18 are the way to go. EAST WALKER: Big Flows Kill Action Flows have been Steve Welsh landed and released this fine Upper Owens cranked way up even River trout on March 10. more over the past Photo courtesy of SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE, Bishop. week and fishing is LITTLE TRUCKEE: Fishing Good, Access Difficult The road in to the Little Truckee is still iffy and those who try it are regularly getting stuck. If you have a high center 4x4 you might make it as far as the inlet but no further. Now is the time to be thinking about fishing the ice out at the inlet to Boca. Nymphs such as Pheasant Tail #12, #14 #16 & #18, Hot Bead San Juan Worm, Epoxy Stone #12 & tough. Expect fish to be holding in mainly slower water. The NV side has warmer water so that’s where you might want to head to. When the flows reduce the following flies should work: Copper John, Micro Mayfly, Micro Stone, Flashback Emerger, San Juan Worm, Zebra Midge (black or red), WD 40s, Mini Leech, Seal Bugger, Moal Leech, White Zuddler, Fox’s Poopah and Z-wing Caddis. PYRAMID LAKE: Prepare For War, The Big Boys Are Biting Guide Bryce Tedford landed and released this fine striper during an early April fly trip on the San Joaquin Delta. Photo courtesy of KIENE’S FLY SHOP, Sacramento. Nothing has changed with reports still coming of lots of big fish are being caught. What a difference that some stormy weather made! This is an epic year on the lake so now is the time to take advantage of it. Retrieving Popcorn Beetles, Midnight Cowboys, and Tui Chub patterns have been best. The indicator fishermen have caught some nice fish with Balance Leaches as well. HOT CREEK: Warmer Weather Ignites Bite With warmer weather access to the gorge may be easier but check with either the Troutfitter or Ricks in Mammoth before you go. The Troutfitter says that fish are actively on to BYOs and Midges on top. Mid-day is best and very few fishermen are on the water. Check road conditions either at the Troutfitter or at Rick’s before you go into the gorge. Don’t attempt it without a 4x4 and deep treads. TRINITY RIVER: Water Clears, Fish Bite! utah Creek is one of the most acces- sible, winter fisheries in Northern California close to Sacramento and the East Bay. Thousands of bay area and Sacramento area fly fishermen caught their first fish on a fly here. Being that it is located within an hour from much of the Bay Area and slightly less than an hour from Sacramento it is, as can one can imagine, a very popular piece of water. Food is abundant in the creek and the fish benefit not only from bugs that live there but from food, among them lake dwelling midge larva that wash into the creek from the lake or Vinci’s Depthcharge Bird’s Nest #12 should attract some attention on warmer days. Having an egg pattern as a part of a two fly rig can’t be a bad idea, either. TRUCKEE RIVER: Water High & Fast, But Trout Are Available Fishing remains good. Water is clear and you should be able to catch some fish along the edges where they hang out during high water. A pink San Juan Worm is always good this time of the year. One of our customers reported yesterday that he did very well on one this week. Stripping a muddler streamer along the edges might get you a big brown. Flows are running at around 300 CFS and clearing at Lewiston and 400 CFS at Steel Bridge. Fishing continues to be good from Lewiston down to Pigeon Point. March Browns and BYOs are hatching in the afternoons. If streamer fishing you are going to have to put the fly right in front of their noses to get them to grab. Golden Stone patterns should be a part of any multi-fly set up along with a black Rubber Legs and perhaps a third pattern. Other flies to think Charlie braved cold snowy conditions this March to land about are as follows: this amazing rainbow on the Upper Owens River. Mercer’s Epoxy Stone Photo courtesy of SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE, Fly Fishing Destinations In Focus: Putah Creek P Christiaan nailed this mass jack while working a fly at Providence Atoll in the Seyechelles last fall. Photo courtesy of THE FLY SHOP, Redding. above. Midge and Baetis are the bugs that hatch on Putah during the Winter months but their larva are present year round. Caddis larva are always present too. Stoneflies are not a significant bug on Putah. Being that Putah is a tail water, its flows are determined by agricultural needs downstream so late Spring, Summer and early fall flows can be difficult for fly fishermen to fish. Come Autumn, the flows drop from over 500 cfs to as low as 50 to 70 cfs and this is when everyone heads to Putah. Bishop.