Another End to the Season

As of November 1st, the lower rivers are now closed until Jan. 1 for the winter Salmon spawning season. That means we have to wait for the new year to hit the local watering holes and we must trek higher into the mountains to get our "sling" on. I'm feeling a trip over 88 to the East Walker coming on fast and I've heard that Hot Creek is a great fishery in the winter as well. Anyway, tis the season to be tying so stock up on those flies this winter to hit it hard in the new year. Happy Tyin! D.

Flows Rising

The flows are going up at the Stan as I write. Check out http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryF?obb for up to date flow values. Dam I really want to get back out there. Maybe I'll try to hit it up tomorrow morning anyway. Happy Tying! D.

FishScience Training

With all the work lately, I finally said screw this, I'm going fishing. I contacted Clark from FishSciences and he said said he was available this weekend. So today at about noon we met at the Stanislaus for a little line slingin' and for me an opportunity to learn how to use there research boxes to photograph and document the catches. The set-up is a custom plastic box that is filled with river water and when a fish is caught, he is put in the box for his photoshoot. The one side is numbered with a ruler for measuring the fish and the other has an opaque side that hinges down to reveal a clear side for viewing purposes. ( see image above) So after photographing the side of the fish for length, position of the fins, and spotting we close the side and take a snap of the head portion from above.



This portion, as to what I am understanding, is the "fingerprint' of the fish. Each pattern of spots is different from fish to fish and this is a major part of the research and the purpose of catologing the fish. So the fact that this is Clark's job, he had all the scoop on what had been killing it at the Stan and it was still killing it today. Within minutes I had hooked one and the documenting session was on. In all I landed 9 and Clark probably just as many including a huge Rainbow that was too huge for my net, (20"+) that snapped off after a lengthy battle. So a good day for fishing and a good day for research. Happy Tying! D.

All Work and No Play makes this a dull Blog..

It seems like for the past two or three weeks all I've done is work. The last time I fished was the East Walker last month and I still haven't posted anything about the trip. Well here it is, the awaited East Walker Trip report.

So Thomas and I had planned to meet up with anyone from the Stanislaus Fly Fishers Club at Crowley Lake on Saturday but as it went, it seemed like no one was going to make it. We had planned to head to the East Walker on Friday anyway so we just decided to stay there all weekend. We packed up the Xterra to the roof with everything we could possibly need and headed East over Sonora Pass about 4 PM. As we hit the valley on the other side, the rains were crazy. But within minutes, two rainbows appeared paralled on the horizon and we figured we may have about a hour to fish if the rain drizzled out. It did and we fished, but no luck that night. We set up camp off the road in the dark and hit the rack so we could rise bright and early.



The next morning we made it to the river around 6 AM and we were the first ones out. Early Bird gets the worm right. Well within the first half hour I had landed two, with one nice 14" Rainbow in the net.



For the next few hours we headed down the river hooking up small perch and some white fish and found another nice hole where Thomas was on fire. He hooked into this nice Rainbow there.



We took lunch and headed back out. By this time, I swear there was a person fishing the miracle mile every 100 feet. It was rediculous. We snuck into a spot down river in between two people on a bend and took our chances. Thomas had to use the bush, so I went to work. My first cast with a deadly Zuggler and WHAMMM. I hit the jackpot. I yelled back at Thomas and told him I was goning to need the BIG net. With kind of disbelief, he strolled down to the shore and saw my 5wt rod bent in two and was like, oh he's serious. He went out about ten feet and saw the beast. He says 24" Brown atleast. I say this because as he was about 3 ft away, the fish turned and "SNAP" off he went with my fly in mouth. DAMMIT! I yelled. That was it, that was the reason we drove 3+ hours to fish this magical drainage. The thrill of the hunt is about all I can say. I felt the raw power of this beast of a fish and I will be back again. Dont you worry. So as it goes, that was about all of the excitement for the rest of the East Walker portion of the trip. The next day rained and not much in the way of fish.



So we headed back over the pass and I convinced Thomas that we should stop off at the Beardlsy Afterbay and see if it was hopping, and it was. Fish jumping all over the place on the 1 pm hatch. Thomas hooked into a very nice brown within minutes of slinging his first cast into the water and an amazing battle ensued. Five, ten minutes of fighting and he was getting tired. Thomas that is, not the fish. Then as he got the fish within netting range, Snap! away the fish went. I had to laugh. It was the story of the weekend. Fish on, Battle, and lose em right at the net.

Here's a shot of the Beardlsy battle in progress. Happy Tying! D.

Eastside here we come. In less than 24 hours, Thomas and I are headed over the pass to take our stab at some huge browns on the East Walker River. We may hit up Hot Creek depending on how well the walker is fishing but none the less well update on our success or failure. Happy tyin! D

Evening at the Stan

This evening Thomas, Jim, and I headed out to the Stan to see if the heat had produced some biters. I had a few strong strikes on a #16 and #24 zebra midge set-up while Thomas had all the success on a Barr Emerger variation pattern and a bead headed zebra midge rig. He pulled in three nice fish with the last having a nice size girth to him. Nothing huge but nice fighters at the least. Now to tie a few of the emergers myself and hit it up again this weekend. Happy Tying! D.

Fly Tying Table Build-Up

For the past few months I've been really wanting to build a tying table but just couldn't come up with a design to suit my needs. After some searching around online at some other custom models, I came up with a base design. Well maybe not a base design but more of an idea. Down to the hardware store I went and purchased some hardwood and got to work. With the idea, the design just kind of evolved itself and I think it turned out pretty sweet. All I need to add to it is some ribbed foam for a drying pad on the left side. Here are some pictures of the build in process and the finished product. Happy Tying. D.

Big Score

The other day my wife came through huge and scored an awesome collection of fly tying supplies at an estate sale across town. The supplies, I presume, came from an old man that had recently past away and that was his hobby. He had it all including two parts containers full of sorted and labeled feathers, tails, heads, beads, furs, you name it. Now I can tie flies the way they are supposed to be tied and not just compromising. It even came with multiple full capes (grizzly, dun, ginger, black, white), a full pheasant, and even Polar Bear Fur. I have no clue what to tie with the Polar bear fur, if you do let me know. Anyway I'm totally stoked and it was like Christmas in July! Off to tie some up!

Polar Bear Fur?

Stanislaus River Clean Up

Photo courtesy of Thomas Goodwin Photography

Hey yesterday in conjunction with the Stanislaus Fly Fishers Club and some Boy Scouts we had a very successful Stanislaus River Clean up. Read about it right over on Thomas's Blog!

The Welcome Post

With the trout season heating up, I found it fitting that we set up a blog to showcase our fly fishing adventures. The start to the season began slow but has been on fire ever since. From the eight trips to the river to finally land a 20" rainbow on the lower Tuolumne to the double digit fish days on the Stanislaus, it's been exciting. While most of our trips land us within hours of Modesto, Thomas has ventured out to Idaho for Steelhead and is currently fishing in Colorado for Colorado Greenback Cutthroats. Being located in Modesto, we have close access to great fisheries including the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced Rivers, all within 45 minutes from home. With ideas of a short film, the Heritage trout challenge, and chasing huge steelhead, check back regularly for updates on our weekly trips as we'll do our best to post up as much as we can when not on wading through the waters.