HELP!!

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

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.

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

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

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

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



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/