log . The dry fly , which looked like a little clump of hair , gently drifted with the current accompanied by some small spots of foam .

From whereabouts unseen , a trout came for the fly so hard that it shot right out of the water . Uncle Bob set the hook , but he was too slow . The trout spit the hook and was gone … Strike one Uncle Bob !

Bob ’ s trout got away , but I ’ d seen it and my brain kept reviewing the incident in slow motion . It was a brown trout about 11 inches long and it was beautiful . It ’ s back was covered with robust black spots . Its flanks were a rich shade of gold and I could even make out a couple of the brilliant red spots along the lateral line … That fish convinced me that one day I ’ d be a fly angler .

By the time I reached college I already had 5 years of fly fishing experience under my belt and I was tying upwards of 10,000 trout flies per year . Most of those flies were sold through the old iconic Castro Valley Sportsman ’ s Center at the top of “ the strip ” in Castro Valley , Ca .

It was during my late teens and early 20 ’ s that I seriously fished eastern Tehama County with fly gear . I ’ ve fished most of the waters in that region that hold trout . I fished with my dad . I fished with my uncle and I fished alone .

I fished waters close to major roads and I hiked deep into the remotest country available on Battle Creek and other streams . It was an incredible time in my life and it was a period when I really grew

The brook trout that inhabit the streams of the northern Sierras and southern Cascades are seldom large , but they make up for their lack of size with incredible beauty . This hungry Deer Creek brook trout gobbled a dry fly with gusto !

Photo by CAL KELLOGG , Fish Sniffer Staff .

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as an angler .

Fast forward to present and I ’ m still fishing . Of course , writing for the Sniffer means that I ’ ve got to cover a wide swath of the Golden State angling scene . Most of the fishing I do these days requires conventional tackle , but every summer I make it a point to head back up to Tehama County for some dry fly fishing .

The trout you catch in the region ’ s freestone streams are never huge and anything wild that is over 12 inches is considered large . While oversize trout aren ’ t on the menu , rainbows , browns and brook trout are numerous . From around June 15 through the middle of October the colorful little trout will typically come to the surface and slam dry flies with enthusiasm . It ’ s topwater action and it ’ s darn fun !

Back in mid-July I headed up to Deer Creek for an afternoon and evening of fly fishing . I was already heading north to fish the Sacramento River that Monday with Bill Adelman , John Higley and guide Robert Weese , so I figured why not hit Deer Creek the day before ?

When I left my house late on Sunday morning it was already 98 degrees and the air conditioner was out of commission in my truck . To make things worse I ’ d been pretty sick with a cold for nearly a week . By the time I hit Chico the thermometer was ready registering 104 and I ’ d developed a nasty infection in my left eye , no doubt a side effect of the cold .

Sweating and contemplating how I was going to fish with only one good eye I drove out of Chico on Highway 32 and headed into the hills . By the time I hit the timber things started to cool off and by the time I reached Deer Creek things were feeling a lot better .

I pulled off the road into a wide pullout above the creek . It was a likely looking area of pockets and short riffles punctuated by tongues of white water . The edges of the creek were rough and rocky and the big floods this winter had strewn the rocks with a huge volume of downed timber and wood .

I fished about a quarter mile stretch downstream from where I parked and I caught more than a dozen eager rainbows and browns on a No . 12 Elk Hair Caddis . With all the wood strewn about , walking the creek was tough . Feverish and with a drippy eye I decided I had nothing to prove . So I hiked back to the truck with the intention of driving up closer to the headwaters of the creek where the walking

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would be easier .

After a cold soda and a short drive I parked my truck in a pullout and scanned a section of gently sloping stream that looked perfect . Grabbing my gear , I made the short walk down to the stream and stepped into the knee deep water . By the time I ’ d covered 200 yards I caught 10 fish and missed at least another 10 . In terms of species I pulled off a “ hat trick ”, landing browns , rainbows and a pair of brook trout .

The surprise of the evening came while fishing a glassy run next to an undercut bank . By this time I ’ d noticed some hatching mayflies , so I had a size 12 Humpy on the end of my leader .

I had just landed and released a 6 inch brown and expected to hook another when I laid my fly perfectly next to the grass overhanging the bank .

Sure enough a trout came up and slurped in the fly . Up went the rod tip , but wait … This fish had some weight to it . The rod curled downward toward the unseen trout as it rushed downstream .

The trout put up quite a fight and I was very curious about what it was . 25 years ago I ’ d caught a massive 22 inch brown in the stream and I was beginning to think

By requiring proof of basic boating safety education for power boat operators , California is not only getting on board with the many other states that already have mandatory boater education laws , but is also making waterways safer for its many boaters , swimmers and anglers . In 2016 , more than 800 vessels were involved in 588 reported accidents , 266 boaters were severely injured , and 50 boaters died . Of the operators involved in fatal accidents , only one had taken an approved boating safety course .

The California Vessel Operator Card law requires boaters who operate a motorized vessel , to pass an approved boating safety course , apply to California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways ( DBW ) for the lifetime card , and then carry it with them while boating . Even anglers who prefer a pontoon float or small paddlecraft to a motorboat will benefit from the education of cardholders .

“ I ’ ve seen many close calls on the water while fishing ,” says California Sportsmen radio host Sep Hendrickson . “ I know that basic boating education through the new California Boater Card program can only improve our safety , as well as those of us fishing near shore or in fishing floats and paddlecraft .”

“ Fishing dry flies represents the ultimate in topwater action . Trout living in freestone streams are typically enthusiastic feeders , but you ’ ve still got to achieve a drag free drift and deliver a crisp hookset to draw strikes and hook fish ,” says Cal Kellogg .

Photo by CAL KELLOGG , Fish Sniffer Staff .

I ’ d hooked another such fish , when a government issue planter rainbow boiled to the surface .

Clearly the trout had been in the stream for a while . It had avoided interactions with red eggs and Panther Martin Spinners and was now eating an “ all natural organic diet ”.

I carefully released the ex-planter and wished it well !

I could go on , but I won ’ t . On the day , I brought more than 30 trout to hand and all of them but one were wild and perfect . The stark terrain and beautiful trout of eastern Tehama County inspire me . Hopefully I ’ ll be able to squeeze in one more fishing trip to the area between the many saltwater adventures I ’ ve got slated before I slip into my annual frantic state of “ deer hunting mania ” in October !

Not everyone will need to apply for a card at once . On January 1 , 2018 , the California Boater Card will be required based on date of birth – vessel operators 20 years old and younger will be the first age group required to carry a California Boater Card . The following year , operators 25 years old and younger will be required to carry a card , and the phase-in will continue each year until 2025 , when all operators , regardless of age , must have a card .

The law provides for some exemptions . For example , temporary visitors to California , regatta / organized race operators , commercial fishing license / marine operator licensees and renters are exempt . Boaters may visit www . CaliforniaBoaterCard . com and read about program exemptions .

To accommodate motorized boat operators who have already taken an approved boating safety course and passed an exam between January 1 , 2015 and December 31 , 2017 , DBW will grandfather their earned certificates to be eligible for a California Boater Card . These boaters can use their certificate to apply for a California Boater Card during 2018 only . After that date , boaters will need to show proof of passing a current boating safety course .

When it ’ s time to apply for your California Boater Card , please visit www . CaliforniaBoaterCard . com and pay the one-time $ 10 fee , then pass one of the state-approved boating safety courses found on the website . Once you receive the lifetime card from DBW , make sure to carry the card when you head out to start soaking a line .