Being right…….

I’m no different, than any other human, we “enjoy being right”.
And as a fly fisherman, it’s imperative….
There are those that try really hard to be right, so they can tell you so…..
Some just get joy in being right, to make life better for themselves, and perhaps others as well.
In this case, I think I can nail both at the same time.
Today, the Skwalla stones appeared on the Glennshire stretch of the Truckee river, near the town of Truckee.
They move upstream, maybe a mile a week.
I didn’t expect them here for at least 1-2 weeks more..
Like I was saying just yesterday, stay tuned to the menu, keep your box stocked, and stay alert……
The fish will not rise to them much, for 1-2 days yet.
The fish do live in the moment.
But it can take a day or two for them to really catch on.
I will fish a very low-riding adult dry if I can get away with it, but perhaps the best way to fish them, is drowned.
Don’t take my word for it, do a seine of the water. You will often find more sunken, than floating on the surface.
Some of the largest Browns taken the last few years by my friends/clients have been on a dry, during the Skwalla emergence late-morning/early afternoon..but later in the day there will be far more adults submerged/spent in mid-river.
Fish very slow slack-water near shore with the dries. The fish will post up in very shallow water 1-2′ and shop around in the glassy stretches. In addition to being slightly warmer water for the fish, on the edge (maybe 2-3 deg.), the bugs also actually walk onto the river’s surface tension from the bank.
Use a lighter leader 5X-4X, and mud your leader to keep it sneaky.
When you can, spot a riser first, then stalk. Listen for slurps…..
The report couldn’t be much fresher……go get’em!

Seasonal musings…..

I live in California’s Sierra mountains, around 6000 ft, near the town of Truckee.
We are still in the grip of winter here, such as it is. So far, a very light grip.
This could, of course, still change dramatically as March is our historic heavy snow month.
Whether we get more snow or not, I will of course, still go fishing.
So the only big question in my life is, what are the fish eating, naturally today?
Sure, right now I could drift a San Juan worm, or an egg pattern and catch fish.
I will readily confess to having done just that. There are times when we all really need a fish……
But my joy of fishing, now comes from knowing what’s on the fish’s, stream menu (or will be), nearly as well as the fish.
If I am dialed in on presenting a particular morsel, in the way it would naturally appear, at the right time, I will catch fish.
It could be I’m fishing a size 24 Dry midge, or a BIG Golden Stone nymph, with 3-4 AAA split shot to “get it down”, or even a streamer slightly smaller than my hand…. The style of presentation is not the point any more, merely the proper choice of technique for the moment.
Now I’m not sure what the exact time measure involved in a “moment” really is, but I have some grasp from watching bugs. Many times, I’ve seen a cloud pass over, and watched as the air-filled with a Mayfly hatch of Blue Winged Olives, that trigger, in-turn, a flurry of rises from feeding fish. A “moment” later the cloud may pass on, letting the hatch dwindle away. The fish that had been clearly rising, just “disappear”.
Ask anyone who’s stood in a stream a long time, it can switch on/off in a blink of an eye.
It’s this here-and-gone thing that fascinates me, as much as the life cycle/stages thing, or even the huge varieties of bugs that can come into play.
Still, after months of fishing the mostly, very-small-bugs-of-Winter, I can be tempted to look to the future.
This time of year I’m hearing rumors of Skwalla stone-flies (a bug of spring) running around the ground on lower elevation rivers (2000-3000 ft lower). This always leads me to smile, and sit a my vise to tye Skwalla patterns for sometime (soon?) in the future, at a time known only to the bugs.
I fish the current menu, but look to the Skwalla’s arrival, along with Spring.
The bugs move to a rhythm I can’t quite hear, but can readily see, All I need to do is look….
This rhythm is not the same every year, month, or day. There-in, lies the lasting fun over the years.
Unpredictability in nature, is what keeps fly-fishing fresh.
I just try to stay alert, have a well stocked fly-box, and be ready when the moment comes……

Truckee River 2-7-12

I’ve been standing in water quite a bit lately, and feeling better for it.
The flows are inviting at the low winter levels of 300-400 cfs. Clear/green.
Temps are chilly (45deg air, 37 deg H2O), and require little breaks on shore, to bring back some feeling to my toes. The snow that we had last, melted and packed-out to the point where it isn’t an issue to move around.
The shore ice has mostly melted. Warm spells even allow some lighter clothing.

One of the least touted styles of fly fishing, is fishing eddies.
In the winter, fish will often park in deeper pools. They spend very little energy to maintain their position and can shop carefully for slow-moving tidbits.
These bits float around and around in the eddy until they feel OK about it.
Found a big re-circulating pool a few days ago, with a sun beam illuminating the deepest section.
Seven feet down was a pod of largish rainbows.They were patrolling/feeding and then returning to their spot in the group. The biggest trick to fishing eddies, is knowing that fish face into the current, and in an eddy they can be facing downstream. When you hike upstream to fish, you basically walk up, right in front of the them.
This does not help your fish stats…….
I approach from the upstream side, and place my offering in the water, letting the eddy serve it up. Very little casting involved, just lots of artful mends. Splashy mends are not a good idea, do a gentle lift off and flip. Another trick to this style, is selecting bugs that would naturally suspend in slow moving waters. Soft hackles are my favorite because they move well when dangled.
Micro-May nymphs are good too. Midges are a strong contender as well.
What doesn’t work as well on “careful shoppers”, is the heavy stuff.
Bigger stones, and crays, would naturally sink out of the water column in slower water.
It seems some of the fish have figured this out.
Since there is generally less current in eddies, and the flies are just going around and around, getting the flies down quickly is not the issue. I therefore recommend using less weight on your leader. With heavier weight, subtle takes of the fly may not register on your Bobber. Fish can pick up and drop it, with no clue left, that they were ever there.
Even with light weight you may see one expanding ring from the Indy and then nothing.
Be quick to set, and remember to set upstream if they are facing down. Otherwise you may pull it away from them.

Scott, 1 drifting his new midge pattern.

Winter fishing is very rewarding to me, partly, because it’s not like fishing in the Summer……

Truckee-1/23/12

Whew! Got a dump last night of fresh powder. About 14-18″.
Winter fishing has really begun.
Parking will be as challenging as the fishing, from here on.
No need for snow shoes yet, but I would start shopping for them.
I suggest two pairs of socks when wading. Also helpful are a pair of leg warmers.
Not wading deep, but just standing in water that’s 37 deg, will test your circulation.
Heat packets in your boots is worth trying if you chill easily.
A snow shovel is good to have in the vehicle, as well as chains, if you don’t have 4wd.
We don’t stop fishing on account of a little snow.
As long as there is moving water, they will take a fly…….

Truckee – 1/16/12

Winter’s back….. not much snow to speak of, a few inches, but it’s a start.                          This should drop already chilly water temps. It’s been fluctuating between 38-42 deg. night, to day. For all the warmth it didn’t increase the hatches much.                                 Fish slower water, and use lighter weight. Several drifts through each seam gives them a chance to decide. I know I’d slow down, if I was that cold….                                                         Some rod icing problems in the mornings, then air temps warm enough to melt guides. Bring a wind breaker for sure! I recommend two socks for comfort, and bring you warm hat. If dressed appropriately, fishing is still fun, and the scenery is awesome.

Midges and BWOs are still bugs of choice. Even with good bug selection, and a good drift, it can still be slow compared to summer. 1-2 fish is a fulfilled day. The good news, is when you do hook up, they are feisty.  The warm summer flows prevent their true athletics.          Try to catch the windows between storms for best results. Enjoy!

Truckee – 1-6-12

Sitting on a rock, in the sun, I glanced down to observe a pale yellow skwalla nymph, near it’s 1st instage, crawling along shallows, on the edge of the river. It was headed to deeper water to take up residence under a rock. Soft and vulnerable and rarely seen, it was a surprise to see it this early in the season. I glanced to my left and saw a freshly hatched Caddis, floating on the surface of the shallows. Neither of these bugs are “normally” seen this time of year. Two things I’ve learned over time. Bugs don’t care what normal is.  And it’s good to take time away from fishing, to see what’s going on.

The concept of global warming, is easily believable this winter. In the forty years in the Sierras, it’s about the most dry I’ve seen. I think the bugs are just seizing the moment, in an unpredictable climate. As a fish councilor, I recommend sitting, and observing.           These kinds of experiences give you a fishing advantage. Whether sitting at your vice back home or shopping for flies at the store, it pays to learn the constantly shifting menu fish choose from.

January!!! A whole new year to fish!!

Welcome to a new fishing year. I started developing momentum last year for once..
Instead of track spikes to get ahead this year, it will be my new, size ten, wading studs. That and a new web page that’s more flexible; water reports, field observations, discoveries, click-able fresh photos, and more…..

January 3d in the canyon.
The Truckee river it is very pretty right now. Lower flows allow an approach to most of it easily. No pulse pounding wading….. The bug menu is somewhat predictable, and the styles used are more routine now. This lets a fisherman master things quickly, and fall into a repetition of the cast and drift cycle.
Winter provides fewer visual distractions, as well. Less animal life, and no foliage, contributes to a monocolor awareness.The mind quiets. That incessant inner voice may actually pause. Suddenly, you are peacefully detached, unencumbered by normal life. Fishing as meditation.
In my experience, that is right when those finny buggers will eat my offering…..
I used to think the fish, somehow knew that was the moment to strike, to mess with me the most.
Now I am thinking, that when my mind is perfectly relaxed, my drift is better.
It can be tough getting into the fish’s head. I’ll keep at it though…