Lake Davis Fishing Report 6/15/15 ~ The Haunting Of The Hatches!

Finally a consistent weather pattern of the norm has fallen upon the Lake Davis region with sunny skies and cool nights. Water temps have bumped up quite a bit, 62 in the morning reaching 70 in the late afternoon. Windy days will help keep the water temperatures lower, as will cooler nights. The rainbows will still feed on the damsel hatch during such conditions for a few hours, and then return to water depths of 12 to 18 feet of water. Fishing has been technical and challenging which is a common theme during the damsel hatch at Lake Davis. If you want to be more successful, choose areas that receive little or no fishing pressure, or try another method of presentation; like a grasshopper pattern with a small mayfly nymph dropper. Afternoons have been very slow due to the fact they are full of food and resting comfortably while digesting their damsel nymphs.

The life cycle of the damselfly is quite amazing, to actually witness the nymph swimming to shore, hatching into a teneral, and reaching the adult stage really shows you just how unimportant our modern world is. 

The Hex hatch has been insane with so many bugs hatching the last hour of light! I knew this was coming. The population is exploding because the make up of Lake Davis is ideal for the nymph, mud and clay banks are the required habitat for them. Emerger patterns have been the most effective by far. It is so important to seek out individual fish and put the fly right in front of them to get the grab. The most satisfying angle for me is watching the hatch and how this food source supports the entire ecosystem, Canadian Honkers, California gulls, Western grebes, bats, dragonflies, and of course the resident rainbows have been feeding on the Hex like crazy. It’s so awesome to watch that I could really care less about the fishing. 50 years into this and Mother Nature still blows me away, I’m so grateful to be a part of her.

Lake Davis is a complex fishery during this time of year. Observe more, cast less, and make an educated approach to your presentations. For those that follow me and my adventures know straight up I love to share, to see others gain knowledge, and to be more successful with fly fishing. A day on the water with me is eye opening experience with the flora and fauna, techniques, presentations, fly selection, rigs, and more. This is my life and I’m not going anywhere. Expand your mind and the love for Northern California with me; I’ll put a smile on your face that will never go away. 

Lake Davis Fishing Report 6/10/2015 ~ The Damsel Nation Awakens

The last week at Lake Davis has had mixed results in both strength in the hatches and the catching, with one day being red hot and the next fair. Water temperatures are now at 60 in the morning rising to 65 in the early afternoon within the main body of the lake. The word is out amongst fly anglers and fishing pressure has increased dramatically. Large rainbows are feeling it too, and an angler will be much more successful in searching out quiet coves, and intimate flats. Best areas to focus on now are between Camp 5 and Mosquito Slough.

The Damsels are dominating and the fish are keyed in on them, though there are Blood midges in the mix as well. Afternoons have been slow and I can only speculate that the trout’s stomachs are full of food while they lay in deeper water while digesting their intake. Besides they have to take a break as they anticipate the Hex hatch in the evening. The Hex hatch, like the Damsel hatch is very inconsistent from day to day. You never know how it’s going to be, but one must factor in weather, like wind, air temps, and cloud cover. On cloudy days I have been seeing a few Hexagenia mayflies hatch during the middle of the day, this indicates a strong population that is ready to pop and emerge at any time.

Today my guests had the treat of casting to some large toads in a foot of water on the muddy flats of the west shore. The water temperatures in these areas registered 71 degrees, but the food source is so great that these large rainbows will sacrifice being comfortable, for them, it’s all about being greedy. Targeting skinny water feeders is the most awesome fishing a fly angler can do at the lake, it’s like bone fishing in the south pacific, where sight and technical spot on presentations are a must. When trout are in a foot of water, their cone of vision is extremely small, and you must put you fly right in front of them to get a grab. Not some of the time, but all of the time. Addicting and challenging is the theme here. Now is the time to fish Lake Davis, June is the banner month and the consummate fly angler should drop everything and get involved. It’s that good!

Lupine and Alpine Buttercup wildflowers thriving on the banks of Lake Davis

North Fork Yuba River Fishing Report 6/10/2015

The North Fork Yuba River is firing on all cylinders right now. Fishing is extremely good, and the evenings have been magical. Water temps are ranging from 57-63 degrees depending on your location within the watershed. The best area to concentrate on now is from the Downieville area to Sierra City. The lower river around Rocky Rest is heating up, though mornings and late evenings have been decent. Expect good numbers of smallish wild trout 6 to 12 inches, with the occasional larger rainbow. There are some brown trout in the mix as well, and such a hoot to hook into.

Best rig going is a dry / dropper combo. These fish love purple, copper, and red flies when it comes to nymphs, and for dries, colors of yellow, olive, red, and black are producing very well. Effective dry flies have been Stimulators #10-14, yellow and red Humpies #12-16, Flying ant patterns #10-12, E/C caddis in olive, black, and amber, Yellow Sallies #14-18, Dave‘s hoppers #10-12, and parachute Adams #12-16. For nymphs; Psycho Prince nymphs #14-18, Red Headed Step Childs #14-16, Copper Johns and red Copper Johns #12-16, olive Caddis emergers #12-16, and Pheasant Tail flash backs#14-18. Aquatics are going off right now! Golden Stone adults, caddis, ants, and the big and little yellow sally are the main menu of late. There is a huge population of October Caddis in the system and this coming fall should be insane if the water level stays intact.

For greater success cover vast amounts of water, and fish every little nook and cranny. These beautiful little rainbows can be found most anywhere in the system including pocket water, pools, gliding runs, and frog water. It’s all wet wading now, and it’s so refreshing to mingle with the wild trout while letting the cool bubbly water infect you on those hot days. Dry flies, gorgeous settings, and fun fishing – That’s the North Fork Yuba.

Lost Coast Outfitters ~ Middle Fork Feather River Clinic 6/10/ 2015

Great weather and quality guests gathered at the Graeagle Outpost in preparation for the LostCoast Outfitters Middle Fork Feather River clinic. The clinic was designed to give our aspiring fly anglers a look into this designated Wild & Scenic River adopted by the United States Forest Service in 1967. Though it was not the best year for fishing conditions due to our extreme drought here in California, the main emphasis was for future knowledge when the river is more productive. Our students were very eager to get thrown in the mix, and away we went to the Camp Layman area.

After setting up my mobile workshop, I passed out some killer handouts like my Middle Fork Feather trip planner which included a brief explanation of the river, safety, equipment, diagrams of the most popular rigs, flies, and a simple map. The other handout was on the entomology of the river, and the special bugs that call the Middle Fork Feather home. The handout explained complete and incomplete metamorphosis, different species, and a great reference index for future reading.

We then went over proper rod set ups, lines, and reels. Proper rigging endured including presentations for nymphing, dry / dropper applications, and pure dry fly fishing. Next up where simple knots that bind the system together in a very easy and manageable way. Then the fun stuff began like an onsite collection of aquatic insects. Samples included caddis flies and midge that dominated our collection tray, we then compared them to our fly boxes to get a real understanding on which flies to choose and why. After a hardy lunch it was time to suit up, hit the water, and learn the many presentations that are effective on this grand freestone sierra river. Reading water was a big part of the on stream portion of this clinic, and one of most important lessons to be learned. We actually fished after some casting demos for a few hours, and I spent some time with each student conducting one on one instruction while refining technique. We had a few sprinkles of rain and dark clouds but we were able to finish the clinic relatively dry for the most part.

Everybody in the clinic learned so much and walked away a better fly angler with a greater understanding on how to approach, and to be successful on the Middle Fork Feather River. Lost Coast Outfitters will be offering more informative clinics and outings in the very near future. If you're new to fly fishing, don’t delay in signing up as they fill up quickly. Shorten the learning curve and get the right info. Knowledge, experience, and practice is everything when it comes to fly fishing.

Lake Davis Fishing Report 6/3/2015 ~ Damsel Mania

It’s that time of year at Lake Davis that makes this still water the premier destination for fly anglers across the state. The hatches are going off right now, damsels are coming on strong, and the Hexagenia mayfly has shown up right on time. The weather last week was very warm which sparked even more bugs to emerge, currently we have a cool down with lows at night reaching the high 30’s. Water temperatures in 6 to 12 feet of water, and  1 foot down currently start out at 57 in the morning, and are climbing to 62 in the early afternoon. You’ll get higher water temp recordings in skinny water and coves that are located off the main lake due to a dark muddy bottom, and solar radiation. Even when these coves reach 72 degrees, the rainbows will still come into to feed for a short time before returning to deeper water, the damsel menu means that much to them.

The damsel game is the main attraction right now which starts around 9am and lasts until 1pm. Long leaders to 4x like RIO’s 13.5 foot supple flex is ideal for stealthy presentations. You’ll have targets to cast to and your accuracy is very important, remember lead the rise form by casting ahead of the cruising fish. A consistent slow 1 inch strip mimics the damsels swimming pace, also giving the fly some pauses and just letting it hang there can induce a strike. Fly selection is very important; you’ll want a fly that slowly sinks like Jonny’s Hover Damsel. Also you must match the color and size of the damsels that are hatching the day that you are there. Their color will change due to the location and the color of the weed beds. Damsels only have camouflage as a defense against predators. The hatch is different every day, sometimes heavy, and sometimes barely a bug. You must be flexible in your approach and venue selection. 

Before and during the Damsel hatch there are plenty of Blood midges hatching. Rise forms tell all when trying to figure out what each individual fish is eating. Soft rises are fish midging in the film, aggressive boils and slurps are Damsel grabs. Today my guests got a few fish to take some dry blood midge emergers, it’s quite possibly the most awesome way to hook into these toads.  There is also an early afternoon Callibaetis spinner fall, but with so much food already consumed not too many fish are interested, the nymph on the other hand is a must have in the box.

The Hex appeared for the first time a few days ago, if you have never seen this novelty hatch, it’s a must. Nymphs can be fished in the early evening with a sinking line, but the real draw is fooling trout on top, and by far the emerger out fishes the adult. You will only have about 40 minutes of light out in the late evening until it is black as sin, and you can no longer see your fly. With low light conditions you can use 3 and 2x. Big yellow bugs are fun to watch and fish.

Photo by Darren Chapel

Though my entire month is booked up, there are other quality guides who have special use permits for Plumas National Forest and are available. As an ambassador for Lake Davis please do not hesitate in contacting me regarding info, or anything fly fishing. This is it, my favorite time of the year on the lake, and I’m so stoked!

Lost Coast Outfitters Small Stream Clinic Report

The Lost Coast Outfitters Small Stream Clinic led by Tayler Wells and myself happened last weekend in Eastern Plumas County featuring Jamison and Gray Eagle creeks. The concept alone was brilliant, teaching our guests the right approach to rugged canyon water, and pursuing small wild trout that is so good for the soul. Topics included rigging for small streams and creeks, knots, fly selection, reading water, presentations, and safety in the woods during the two day course. 

On day one we dropped into the remote Jamison Creek canyon where once you enter there is no means to get out until you are at the top of this magnificent section near the town of Johnsville. Wet weather in the form of rain drenched us early on. It was not bad at all, and good quality rainwear goes a long way during such conditions.

The sun broke out for a few hours and allowed us to do our entomology class which is always so fascinating to those who are not in the know. Scattered showers returned in the afternoon as we hit the major pools, slicks, and pocket water. Fishing was slow due to the low water temperatures that came in at 48 to 50 degrees. The high light of the day was a 15 inch rainbow that was caught on a pheasant tail flash back nymph as a dropper fly, a new record by any guest that I have ever guided into the gorge. 

We were treated to a rare spectacle as hundreds of Yellow Rumped Warblers migrated through the canyon, sweet melodies and the sound of running water filled the air, and smiles were plentiful. We also found some mountain lion scat, and identified numerous animal tracks in the sand bars. A fabulous lunch was provided for all thanks to the Graeagle Millworks as we took shelter at the Plumas Eureka State Park museum under the canopy of the porch, then warmed ourselves up inside by the fire, and dried out.

The sun broke out again and we made good by setting up a rough camp early by the Middle Fork Feather River. Tayler’s camping skills from his Alaskan guide experience came in quite handy as he rigged a simple shelter so we could stay dry from the intermittent showers through the evening. He then made us all a simple dinner that was consumed quite quickly after our long and exhausting day burning big numbers of calories. We lounged around the campfire fire swapping stories of trout, Giants baseball, and future trips. As George says “Life is better around a campfire”, and how spot on he is. It was just plain awesome! 

Morning came and with it foggy conditions. Another fire to warm up to and to our surprise Tayler made us a great breakfast, filling us with the needed fuel for our next descent into the Gray Eagle Creek canyon water. We broke our simple camp down, loaded the vehicles, and headed up above town to our destination. The sun finally came out and it was the best day we've seen in the last two weeks, it was absolutely gorgeous out. Our group scrambled down the steep slope, slipping and sliding until we reached the bottom of the abyss. Upon arrival something was missing, water! I was blown away; there was only a slight trickle with idle pools here and there. It was not right and something was quite strange about the conditions. We made the best of it and rock hopped up the watershed making stealthy presentations to some very spooky rainbows that were found in the bigger pools.

Upon reaching the top where the diversion dam is located, we crested and peaked over and Gray Eagle creek was flowing as it should be with lots of fishable water. The town was taking a 100% of flow while releasing zero water downstream, we were shocked. I guess golf is more important than keeping wild trout and aquatic insects alive and in good condition. 

Our guests fished the big pool above the dam and got into many small wild rainbows instantly. Another scrumptious lunch was consumed, only this time in the sunshine, followed by a second session to the headwaters of Jamison Creek. We focused again on presentations, reading water, and a bug sampling followed by a quiz. It was quite interesting to compare notes on the macroinvertebrates from both watersheds and the unique diversity between the two creeks. Casting lessons followed with proper technique for a solid foundation. Tayler and I were quite pleased that everyone learned how to false cast effectively with tight sexy loops. We were beyond stoked to be honest.

The LCO Small Streams Clinic was a big hit, we all had a great time, and our students learned so much! For a guide, that’s the icing on the cake that can never be duplicated. Look for more fly fishing clinics from Lost Coast Outfitters in the future featuring excellent locations, and quality guides who will share decades of knowledge that any participating guest can use for the rest of their fly fishing lives. For a good read and a look into the exciting world of canyon water, check out the April 2014 issue of California Fly Fisher magazine on an article I wrote simply titled “Creekin”. Small streams; good for the body, soul, and mind.