Where did the summer go?

Damn that was fast! Just like that and were heading toward another new year.  We had a warm front on Saturday that brought us some much needed rain. It was nice to get enough to knock the dust down and cool things down a little. The carp were happy the following day and the fishing was really good. A deep slough I know of with large numbers of difficult fish comes alive after a good rain.  Normally they are  hunkering down on the 4-5ft  bottom only giving you occasional shots at solo cruisers.. Rain will bring them up and they are really susceptible to dries for a short window. This day was no different, and I caught a good number on dries and also large dark streamers. They were schooling in the upper water column and a well placed fly would get chased down. This required you to stay put, and let them come to you.  Schools would come by and over shooting and leading the head of the school, would usually result in an aggressive eat either on top or just below the surface on a fast striped streamer. I enjoyed this for four to five hours before it started to shut down and I lost the good light. 

 

 

I also swung some streamers for Rainbows the last few days. Right now I like larger heavySculpin or crayfish bugs. Something that gets down there and knocks around. Numbers of smaller fish aren't a problem but..I did get and one big grab from a really nice 20" class bow. This big buck made an initial jump, went up stream and then down into the deep tail out. He fought hard but stayed manageable until I tried to climb down a little closer for a better angle, and just what I was afraid of, happened.  he shot down a narrow chute to down stream fast water and that was all she wrote. I tired to put the breaks on and it just came unbuttoned. I was sick! I really wanted that fish! Not ten minutes later another nice fish latches on and I just about have this one beat and starting to feel good but not getting to giddy and it goes under an undercut root bank. F&*^ !  And that was that.

Good fishing!!

It's been a while...

since I have posted any fishing pursuits. Lot's of fishing going on along with family and work. I was kind of surprised that a few actually reached out to me to see if everything was cool. Thank you.

September is a transitional period out here fishing wise. At least for me. Stripers, Steel, Salmon, LM & Smallies, Trout in the high country and in the low valley rivers..Carp are going strong and Tuna are pushing closer all the time. The inshore reef fishing is fantastic light tackle fun and a mariad of fish spiecies on the chew all up and down the coast. There is A LOT of fishing happening with in striking distance.  More than one can actually get dialed on.

I've been feeding Stripers and Bass in between throwing flies off Jetties for Salmon. A few trips to the beach for some surf casting and the Carpin is solid with excellent numbers of fish. Oct-Dec is when the bigger fish opportunities happen so Carp on the fly has taken back seat the last month or so ut I have been checking on them regularly.

Weather ontinues to be dry and hot here and we need a good solid wet winter in the Sierras. I have my fingers crossed.. Anyway, here are a few recent photos and I will get caught up on report's and fishing in general in the next couple of weeks.

Later folks!

Bolinas AKA Brown rockfish

Northern Sierra's

Plumas County to be exact. It's the area of Northern California where the Cascad range to the north touchs the Sierra's. It has a rich flora and beautiful back country with some of the best fishing in the west for lot's of different spiecies which is a huge draw for me.. And it's not to far from home.  I usually spend some time up there in the Fall, and will again this year, but wanted to get away for a few days and jumped at the chance.  I stayed at Lake Almanor but I didn't actually fish Almanor this trip. Infact I didn't even bring a boat. I spent the majority of my time exploring new / old creeks and lakes that I normally mis while i'm up there. I'm usually so consumed with Lake Almanor, there isn't much time to do anything else.  It was a lot of fun and only wish I had a couple more days. There is a ton of water up there.  Fish included Bows, Brookies, King Salmon, Smallies and a good number of large Pike Minnows aka Squawfish on flies.

Lake Almanor. Ca with Mt Lassen in the background

This one kicks out a bunch of nice fish
but tough but not easy to get to them.
The effort is usually worth it though!

One my favorite waters EVER. Super challenging spring Cr fishing

 

I can think of worse ways to spend a Sat afternoon

Big Squaw

Land Locked Kings on the fly

My brother came up and we had a good time and some laughs. It was a hell of a lot of fun and i'm looking forward to getting up there ASAP.

Dan wade fishing for evening Smallies

While I was there. I kicked my tube on shore to sort of recharge. I walked down a bit of shoree line and low and behold a big school of Carp were moving in and out of a gin clear shallow cove. I really wasn't set up to target them but I had to make a few casts on a couple of fish and  got one to eat!  Unfortunatly I came up empty when I swung on it. It was interesting seeing those fish in that environment and if I had a couple of more days I know I could have got them dialed in. As it turned out I left early enough Sunday morning that I had time mid day to stop and stick a couple of Carp to cap off the trip.

Huge flat loaded with nice inside the long sweeping atoll

Some good fish milling around a deep weedy flat

Gold!

Fishing

Nothing really new. Carp on the fly is where it should be with a few shots on some good ones. Numbers of smaller fish will keep you busy inbetween. Perch and Stripers are on the beach and I spent the day fishing a very familiar Striper flat for a bunch of hard fighting Strips. It could be worse! Enjoy the weekend.

BBW

Juvinal Black Crowned Night Heron

A glimpse of  a Silver Fox I wooke up