Mojo For The Win

My guide friend Jan always says that a fly properly chewed up will have more mojo than a fresh one out of the box. That turned out to be the ticket in conquering one of three runs in town that have owned me over and over. Caught several fish on this bead-head hares ear pictured below.

After seeing that the fly was pretty beat up, I sent it through the lane that has held several big fish in the past but always ended in heartache.  Sure enough, there was a heavy fish feeding there, and after a few escape tactics, snapped a pic and sent her on her way. Cheeks were unbelievable.

 

Heard that the BWO hatch is beginning out east and that in turn, it was a parking lot out there.  I'm not a fan of the shoulder to shoulder game. Tried to avoid that area and was glad I did.  Brennan Manning waxed eloquent in my earbuds, while I got settled in and started off the day with a personal best, a rainbow just over 23" and so fat I couldn't grab him.  Some serious teeth too.

 

 

Finished the day with a few big fish coming unbuttoned and a few others coming to the net, but all in all a great day out. I wonder if we'll get anything else resembling winter between now and May?

I've got a CatchSnapRelease.com shoot coming up out at Pyramid. Bookmark this blog and check back in for that.

Low with Snow

I've decided. I might not be cut out for sight fishing. Here's why:

If I am fishing by feel (a pocket or run feels fishy) then it's easy to move on after a dozen unproductive drifts. I can sell myself that the slot was empty and shuffle on.

On the rare occasion I do sight a fish, what ensues is a painful battle of determination and frustration between my youth and my age. I am old enough to know it often takes more than a few drifts, and young enough to not be truly satisfied until I've handled the skunk (which has nothing to do with my trapping history). The two voices bandy back and forth:

"I should quit. One more. Ok, now quit. Wait, I think I saw something."

Last week after sighting eight bruisers stacked up, I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to hook something.  I tried dry droppers, nymphs of all sizes, and even broke out the streamers (which if you know me at all communicates my desperation). Who cares if the water is at record lows, and the fish are "east coast" spooky, and this slot is easily accessible so it gets pounded by neon marshmallows and fly fishing guides alike? I'll beat them all.

After downsizing tippet and fly size I was able to find one willing. He had a huge chunk missing from his tail. Something was craving sushi but couldn't close the deal. 

 

For the most part "wrong fly, right presentation" right now will get you into fish. Deeper, slow stretches hold all varieties of fish, and conversely they seem to be segregated by species in shallow holding water. A faint trace of cutthroat below...maybe a cutbow parent with a rainbow mate?

The low water has river sediment exposed on the banks, creating a perfect surface for collecting animal tracks. Name this critter.

A trip out this week started slow because I was using the same rig that worked the week before. Immediately after switching up flies I had grab after grab...turned out to be one of my favorite days on the river. Found around a dozen between 17-21", including at least one rainbow, brown, cutbow, and whitefish.

 

Thankful for the weather about to push through. We may finally be into the part of the year when some days aren't worth an attempt on the river. Unless you just need the outdoors like I do.

Stalking In The Ice

I am deconstructing my held opinions of winter on the river.  The life that is present is astonishing.  Today alone I saw four kinds of ducks and the biggest Great Blue Heron of my life.  Last week I interrupted the final inning of a what I am 95% sure was a Golden Eagle hunting a mink.  The darkened entrances to dens of various kinds and sizes along the river bank are a reminder that many things are sleeping or at least staying out of sight.  At one point today, I am convinced I was being watched from cover.  I played the scenario in my mind of a mountain lion exploding from the brush, famished and a little desperate.  Get your fist in their throat.

The forecast says we stand a chance this weekend of some moisture.  It will only be a literal drop in the bucket, but bring it on.  These feeder ditches and streams are usually moving heavy this time of year, instead of the trickle pictured above.

Winter means it's imperative to sight the fish first before fishing to them.  I'm not adept at sight fishing.  I bought the book.  That didn't help because I already had polarized glasses.

Still, I've found a few here and there.  They have taken a wide assortment of winter-bugs but mostly small baetis and micro-mays.  I've noticed some are holed up in the same slots I found fish in during the peak of summer. And while everyone is saying slow froggy water is your friend, I've found just as many in typical spring lanes...likely because the weather is unseasonably warm and the water is painfully low.  A sample of my findings:

 

Occasionally you get into a fish that has a grudge, one with a little extra wind in the sails.  The one below ripped upstream going airborne a few times.  With all the might and vigor of a two footer, I was surprised once I finally got a look at this bow, a hair under 20".  He ran like a agitated brown, but did so with only a remnant of a pectoral fin.  Wouldn't have landed him with two healthy fins and that attitude.  Swim on, Nemo.

Most of the anchor ice is gone, but with low temps and snow moving in I am hoping the fish will end spring break and head back to their winter hotels.  The truth is I want one of those winter browns I've seen in pictures...usually sporting a kype jaw, dark copper coloring and in the grip of someone wiser and more learned than me. 

Pray For Rain

This is not good.  I'm already hearing talk about the fish getting decimated (think 50%+ population kill) this year due to lack of water.  California is declaring "state-of-emergency".  Pray for rain, snow, or any other form of water to fall out of the sky in copious amounts ASAP. 

Episode 2 Released!

A video recap of my last year on the Truckee River, including my top 50 fish. Guest appearances by David Hamel, Matthew Koles, Doug Ouellette, Jan Nemec, Brandyn Rada, and Brian Johnson if you have a really keen eye. Grateful for my time outside and some new friends out there this year.