MFFR - Prime Time Starts Now!

After a good soaking of rain, thunder and lighting on Friday I flew up the hill early Saturday morning to meet Dan for a glorious day on the Middle Fork Feather. The rains brought the river up about 6 inches from the previous day and the water temps started out at a cold 48.6 degrees. We fished the water around the town of Graeagle and after hitting 3 runs with not a bump I recommended we go to another spot, adding the time traveling will be to our benefit to let things warm up and get going. When we arrived at our our new spot the water temps had already climbed to 51 degrees. I also noticed there was not a fresh foot print to be seen at our new location - "This is a good sign" I said to myself.

Right away Dan was into his first of at least 30 hook ups today, to be honest we lost count - It was that good! Yellow Warblers, Western Tanagers, and many other song birds gave us an orchestra of delightful melodies the entire time on the water, it was the perfect setting for an angler's first time on the MFFR. Dan possessed some serious fly fishing skills which enabled us to really decipher the runs and riffles, breaking it all down and presenting our flies to the correct water. We high sticked nymphs under an indicator with a little lead. Effective flies were PT flashbacks with a clear bead #16, Z Wing caddis emergers #12 in olive, and the San Jaun worm in earth color.

There were so many different bugs out like this March Brown above, PMDs, Green Drakes, BWOs, Little Green Stones, Caddis, and Midges were seen hatching throughout the day. To my delight Ameletus (the brown dun) mayfly nymphs were actively swimming about in the side water, for a bug connoisseur like myself it was the icing on the cake! A few risers were present, but those rainbows really wanted it underneath today.

This is your average sized wild rainbow of the MFFR, fish today ranged from 10-14 inches and full of fight. We had multiple aerial displays right in front us with many fish leaping out of the water more than once.

The fish are stacked up in pods at the tail outs of runs like this one above that had sufficient holding water with depth associated with it. We found different runs produced better than others, often times giving up 3-5 fish in a very small piece of water that would measure 10 x 10 feet.

Today was one of those days where your client can do no wrong, a day I will remember for a long, long time!

Like Night & Day

What a difference a week can make! Warm temps and plenty of sunshine has baked up some scrumptious conditions on the waters of Eastern Plumas Co.

Lake Davis; Water temps are now running 58-60.5 degrees and the water clarity has vastly improved. The fish are looking up now as I saw numerous rising trout beginning at 8:30am today. Blood midge and the little chartreuse midge (#18) were out in good numbers for a long time. Presenting flies 3 feet down from the surface in 8-20 feet of water got the grabs. Calibaetis are very active as well from 11:30 to 1pm, Z-Lon sparkle nymphs #16 in dark olive/brown was winning. Weeds still have a ways to go but just to see active feeding fish on the surface was a real treat - I'm so ready for some dry fly action! Anglers using indicators seemed to be having the best catch rates, and did even better if they found a nice pod and put the float tube in "park".

MFFR; Water temps are running 52-56 degrees and the flows are coming down and shaping up nicely. The same bugs are out as my previous reports with a few minor adjustments from mother nature. The Gray Drakes seem to be petering out. Golden Stone nymphs are starting to stage on the sides of the river awaiting their emergence. When these stoners get going in a few weeks it is crucial to fish the evening as this is when the majority of the ovipositing is done by the females.

It's been a weird spring altogether for both the lake and river, nothing is quite on cue and some things are early, and some late. It's best to really scan the area you want to fish, make a plan, and be flexible in your approach. What's next week going to bring? Stay tuned...

Lake Davis / MFFR/ NFYR Update

Lake Davis; Water temps back up to 57 degrees, water clarity still off colored. Fishing was slow for me and others on Friday. Fish are still scattered at all depths but concentrations of them are being found at the Freeman Creek area. Hatches of Calibaetis and Blood midges are increasing and I saw two fish rise while I was out there.

I'm getting outstanding reports for Frenchman's Reservoir in the north end of the lake by many anglers, 10-20 fish days using basic still water flies with a intermediate line.

MFFR; Water levels in the upper river are way down from last week but still a tad high. Water temps are up to 52 degrees. Hatches continue to be good and the little green stone fly was out in big numbers on Saturday. This stone fly is not to be confused with the Yellow Sally, it is a size 12 and hatches mid stream and not on the rocks. A gold bead head PT was working for the emerging stage of the little green stoner. Fishing pressure remains very light

NFYR; Raging and cold! Water temps were 48 degrees. I wanted to wet a line here on Saturday but the flows dictated that it was un-fishable. Another 3-4 weeks away from good fishing here.

Lake Davis & MFFR Fishing Report

I checked conditions and fished a little bit on 5/3 and 5/4 during a horrendous wind storm that brought some intermittent snow squalls. It was a cold wind and dropped the water temps from 56 to 52 degrees. Water clarity is murky, and the north end is worse around Grizzly creek and Freeman creek. Not many bugs out during my time there, a few Calibaetis and Blood Midge came off but were quickly carried away to the east shore at light speed by the wind. Needless to say I got skunked.

The spawn is winding down and many of the snow melt feeder creeks are getting low. There are still fish ganged up in certain creeks and they may be left high and dry as the flows drop. The good news is that DFG staff and volunteers are doing fish rescues to get them back in the lake, the pelicans will appreciate that.

Current conditions are such; Fish are scattered through out the lake at all depths. You may be lucky and find a small pod at a productive location while fishing, if you do - Stay put! We need warm temps and sunlight to get the aquatic insects going and the weeds to grow; which in turn will get the fish over to the west and north ends. Most of the runoff for the lake is done but Smith peak still has snow so Dan Blough creek will be pumping in some off colored water. I think we are about 3 weeks away for some really good fishing and hatches at the lake, as long as we do not have cold weather come in. 

The Middle Fork Feather River is high and cold, water temps range from 47- 49 degrees. Feeder creeks such as Gray Eagle creek and Frazier creek are running at 44 degrees. There were some incredible mayfly hatches between 1:30 and 3:30 pm. BWO's, Gray Drakes, and March Browns hatched in big numbers. I took the time to watch a small riffle and you could actually see the March Browns "pop" right before your eyes - Really cool! This always happens in the early season of the MFFR, the hatches are there but the water is too cold for anybody to look up.

Fishing was surprisingly good despite the conditions. I swung a gold cone head black bugger with a clear camo int. line in the soft water that had some depth to it. Had about a dozen grabs landing 6. Fish ranged in size from 12-16", with one brown at 10", most were fresh planters. Many fish are hanging out where the feeder creeks are coming in but you have to fish the seam of water where the cold water meets the main current of the MFFR.

Here is a tip for you. If you can find side channels like this one above you will find many fish, the water temp here is 51 degrees. With warmer water temps and little flow the fish can feed without working hard against the main flow of the river's current. This particular side channel is about 10 feet deep, I used a Rio express sink tip to get down and had something flash my fly in the 20 inch range! Mr Big did not give me any more chances so I get to have him haunt me at night while I try to get some shut eye. Look for June and part of July to be the most productive time to wet a line here, and hope we do not get any more cold storms so the water temp can come up. Oh, by the way; never saw another angler fishing the entire time. I'll take solitude and  hungry trout anytime!

Aquatic Entomology Classes for Fly Anglers

Over the years I have noticed a real interest in aquatic entomology by fly anglers who are new to the sport. Understanding the insects and non insects that reside in and around our rivers and lakes will give the newcomer the knowledge it takes to make accurate decisions on fly selections and presentations. This spring and summer I’m offering basic “on site” entomology classes that will shorten the learning curve for students and help them make accurate identifications on the water. I’m team teaching the classes with Christine Elder-a naturalist, educator, and biological illustrator who specializes in entomological illustration. She holds a master’s degree in biology from Humboldt State University, with special emphasis on aquatic ecology and pollination biology. It’s Christine’s experience from the biologist’s perspective that will bring these classes to the next level! For more information and a detailed outline on the class, click on the link. “Knowledge is power”.

http://www.baiocchistroutfitters.com/angler_entomology_class.html

Trout Radio

Check out my interview for the general trout opener coming this weekend April 28th on many of our rivers in Northern California, It's live with Denis Peirce of KNCO 830am. You'll here about my Spring prognosis and strategies for fishing high run off. It always fun talking to Denis, he's as enthusiastic about fly fishing as I am which makes for a great conversation. You can download and listen to the podcast here; Trout Radio With Jon Baiocchi Just fast forward to the 15:20 mark and enjoy!

Eagle Lake Spawn - "Close Call"

Picture by Val Aubrey ~ eaglelakefishing.net

Thanks to my antennae at the lake, Val Aubrey (http://eaglelakefishing.net/index.php) kept me in the loop on this year's spawn which was a close call. The health of the fishery derives from CA Fish & Game collecting eggs as the fish enter Pine creek and attempt to spawn, the fish are trapped and the eggs are hatched in the following weeks and returned to Eagle Lake the following year in the 12 inch class. Historically these fish used Pine Creek without help to spawn and the creek flowed naturally. This year little rain reached the lake, and upstream cattle diversions by 5 Dot Ranch took away much of the original flow that should have gone into Pine Creek. The creek started running around the 20th of March and some storms rolled through to help, but it was still only a trickle. The flow picked a little on the 31st and it was enough of a scent to lure the fish staging out in the lake and tell them that it was time to swim upstream. April 7th saw 6 fish enter the trap, 2 of which were ripe hens. Numbers like that are not going to cut it. DFG launched their rescue/special operation plan in times of need like this one, and in the following week they netted over 200 hens to get enough eggs for Eagle Lake with some extra to go around! Whew! Close call! If your concerned as I am about saving the heritage trout, you can help and join the Eagle Lake Guardians by clicking the link and become a member for $15  http://www.eaglelakeguardians.org/ or download the membership application and send it in. http://eaglelakeguardians.org/imagecp/pdf/EAGLE%20LAKE%20GUARDIANS%20MEMBERSHIP%20APPLICATION%202012.pdf

Tying The Freshwater Shrimp

Gammarus lacstris or known to fly anglers as scuds are a semi translucent Crustacean that Eagle Lake trout prefer to dine on. They can be quite large ranging in sizes 10-16. Their habitat is amongst the rock piles in shallow water, the lava rocks of Eagle Lake offer even better habitat with the tiny pockets of recessed holes. They mate several times a year and offspring are hatched from eggs and are a micro sized form of the adults. They range in colors that match their surroundings for camouflage since they have no natural defense mechanisms. At Eagle Lake they can be found in these primary colors; light brown, olive, and when molting grayish blue. Orange scuds are not dead scuds but pregnant females, the eggs color shows through the translucent body. The trout can really key in on these orange scuds so always have a few of them in your box. Being scavengers they comb their surroundings eating plant and animal materials that have settled on the bottom. The experts say they have a negative reaction to light but I have seen first hand that these little critters can be active during bright conditions. Analysis provided by the Chico State field lab have determined that the scuds make up 40% of the Eagle lake rainbow's diet and provide a high value of protein  that makes these fish grow big and fast.

It's habitat like these rock piles above that draw in the Eagle lake rainbow. The observant angler can spot smaller rocks in the shallows that have been flipped over by the fish while they vacuum up scuds. The best way to present these flies is to cast into the shallows and retrieve the fly with short semi fast strips of line with plenty of pauses. Scuds swim backwards like a cray fish, keep this in mind when tying your imitation. You can also hang a scud pattern under an indicator and present them over the rock piles while anchored or free floating.

RECIPE:

Hook:  Tiemco 2457 #10-16.
Thread: 6/0 Uni thread color to match.
Tail / Antennae & Legs:  Jay Fair Schlappen hackle tips .
Body:  Buggy dubbing mixed with some Antron fibers, color to match.
Note:  Pick out the underside of the fly with a bodkin.  

Respect Needed for Lake Davis Rainbows

 As another spring approaches on the shores of Lake Davis, rainbow trout do what comes naturally; they seek out feeder creeks with fine gravel to spawn. There are many snow creeks that come into the lake and all but Grizzly creek will dry up before the fry can get back into the lake. It is estimated that only 2 percent ever will.

For years anglers have fished at these inlets of water that pour into the lake where fish gang up and stage before making their journey upstream. In my youth I did it myself. But there comes a time when an angler has a soft spot for these fish, after all they just want to produce offspring and go on their way into the fertile weed beds and graze. How sporting is it to fish for them at these times? I guess if you have a big ego and want numbers then you can overlook it all and say “Well, I’m just fishing” as many do.

There is no law that says you can’t practice this. Lake Davis has a limit of 5 fish, and 10 in possession; it is after all a put-and-take fishery. An angler can have just as much fun and success fishing on the points that are near the feeder creeks without the guilt of being greedy. People want it the easy way, the way our society has programmed us with fast food and other services that can make a person lazy and not think outside the box.

Even more disturbing is some people will take these fish without even using a fishing pole in their hands; they use a net as they scoop them up out of the creeks and fill up the garbage bag heading for home. This practice is illegal; it’s called poaching! Only once have I seen these culprits arrested but what a fine show it was by the California Department of Fish and Game. In this case a warden was in the middle of the lake using binoculars and spying on the guilty party as they netted these vulnerable fish in the skinny water of a creek. Equipment was confiscated and tickets written. There is decent cell phone coverage at the lake and I urge all anglers if they see this type of activity to walk away and say nothing to these law-breaking people and call the California Department of Fish and Game’s CAL-TIP at 1-888-334-2258. As many of you are aware the Department is under-staffed with wardens and many of them have a huge area to patrol. They can’t be everywhere at once and this is where concerned anglers come into play by helping out.

In my opinion the regulations should be changed to protect these fish so that all anglers have a fair chance at them. Closing the lake from March 1st to May 15th could be a viable solution. This way ice fisherman could still be able to fish through the winter months, and the fish would get a much needed break between the dates mentioned. Another possibility is to close off the creeks with structures that would not allow upstream migration; sounds simple right? All this takes time and money, and with state budget cuts the fish lose and the poachers win. Responsible anglers will hold the future of our state’s waters. I hope you can be one of those anglers and think of the fishery first so that other anglers can enjoy the rewards of catching the big one at Lake Davis.

MFFR Opener 4/7/12

This coming Saturday the wild & scenic Middle Fork Feather River opens from the A-23 Bridge 4 miles east of Portola down to the Mohawk bridge downstream of Graeagle.  Though fishing will not be red hot, it does give anglers a chance to get out and fish some moving water.  The trout of the MFFR do not respond well to flies as other rivers do when water temps are 40-50 degrees (think Truckee River).  But this time of year is when I do catch bigger fish who are on the move.

For some reason I also catch more brown trout at this time of year, especially close to the town of Portola.  Tactics for early spring is deep nymphing with something big and plenty of split shot on your leader to get down.  You're going to want to use heavier tippet than normal.  The flows are high and water clarity off color as well, 3x (rope) will do just fine.

The Golden Stone rubber leg is a great searching fly, the nymphs are always present in the system and the trout are accustomed to seeing them on a regular basis.  High sticking/short line nymphing with or without an indicator will produce results.  Depending on the weather there may be some light hatches of March Browns and the Gray Drake.  Dark pheasant tail nymphs in a size 10 for the drake, and size 14 for the March browns may work if water temps cooperate.  If you do see rising trout for these hatches consider yourself lucky, this does not happen to often in the early season on the MFFR.

My favorite thing to do in early spring on the MFFR is to swing streamers with a sinking line.  For deep water a express sink tip is preferred, and in shallow water a clear camo Intermediate line will do well.  Minnow patterns 2-4inch long are best but a bead head black wooley bugger has been effective as well.  After your swing is complete in your target area strip the fly back aggressively, this is when I get the most hook ups.  What ever game you decide to play look for trout to be in the tail outs of runs and don't forget about back eddies and sloughs.  All these water types have warmer water and less flow, the trout do not have to work so hard for their preferred meal.

If you plan on going I wish you the best of luck, and be sure to leave a few for me!

Kiene's 2012 Expo

I'm passing this along from Aaron Stiny From Kiene's Fly Shop;

The Expo preparations are coming together and it looks like this year is going to be bigger and badder than ever! Come by and say hi to us, reps, and people from all over the industry. There will a ton of gear to test drive! As usual some of the top fly tiers in Nor Cal will be present and we also have a full batch of great slide show presentations in the works. This year we'll have more top Nor Cal guides than ever in attendance to bs with and pick their brains for tips on their local waters. As always there will be a ton of high end schwag to raffle away!

Some highlights:
Casting presentation and instruction from Rachel Andras...need we say more! Also Tony Yap will instruct on casting for distance and accuracy.

Fly Tying:
All of the usual suspects are back! 
Jay and Glenn Fair will be on hand again this year with more new materials.
Neal Pultz 
Jay Murakoshi
Ken Hanley
Bob Sheidt
Mike Henle 

Top Nor Cal guides:
A lot of folks will be on hand, take advantage of this to learn more about their home waters.
Keith Kaneko
Lance and Lincoln Gray
Confluence Outfitters
Capt. Mark Brown
Jay Clark 
Jon Baiocchi
Darrin Deel 
Jim and Rachel Andras (Andras Outfitters) 
Brian Slusser
Bill Ferrero
Rob Anderson & Doug Ouellette
Confluence Outfitters
Jason Hartwick
El Capitan Maury Hatch 
and more!

Additionally the crew from the Tahoe-Truckee chapter of Trout Unlimited will be on hand to talk about their success and future goals with the watershed. Tahoe Trout Bum Schwag will hopefully be available for purchase. 

If nothing else come have a free hot dog and soda and enjoy.


So there you go, for more info contact the great staff at Kiene's Fly shop;
http://www.kiene.com/  (800) 400-0359

Tying The March Brown Sparkle Comparadun

Genus Rhithrogena or the “March Brown” mayfly as fly anglers like to call them is an important spring time hatch for trout. It's easy to get excited about these bugs, presenting a big mayfly on the surface to a wary consumer is really what fly fishing is all about. If you have ever rolled rocks on your favorite river I'm sure you've seen these aquatic insects before. March Browns are in the "clinger" group of mayflies, they are very flat and wide with feathery gills protruding off their abdomen.  Their head and extremely large eyes look like an alien from another dimension. They make their home in the fast turbulent riffles of a river, their body profile and gills helps them stick to the rocks by way of a suction disc underneath their body so they are not carried off by the strong currents.

The actual hatch takes place during the warmest point of the day. It is at this time that the nymphs leave the bottom substrate by way of gas bubbles trapped underneath their wing pads which lift the nymph to the surface.  These gas bubbles also help split the exoskeleton for the emergence from nymph to dun. As the mayfly struggles to free itself from its shuck it is very vulnerable to an opportunistic trout.  Many times trout will key on this stage of the emergence only, and this is where the Sparkle Comparadun shines most brightly!

This fly is a must on rivers that have very sophisticated trout, you know the ones that haunt you at night when you’re trying to go to sleep and all you can think about is "Why wouldn't they take my fly"?  What I like most about this pattern is that it is a quick and easy 3 step twirl of the bobbin.  Shuck, body, wing, whip finish and you’re done!

The March Brown mayfly will be appearing at a river near you for the next month and maybe longer depending on your elevation. Stock your fly box now with nymphs, emergers, and dries before you head out on the open waters. 

RECIPE:

Hook:  Tiemco 101 #14.
Thread: Camel colored Uni Thread in 6/0
Trailing shuck:  Dun colored Z-Lon touched up with a brown sharpie.
Body:  Very fine brown dubbing mixed with some Antron fibers
Wing:  Dark moose or elk hair, make sure the height wing is as long as the body.

Note:  You can match many different mayflies with this pattern in sizes 12 and smaller by adjusting the size and the colors of the shuck, body, and wing.

The Skwala Nation

The Skwala Americana stonefly is from the Perlodidae family and the first big stonefly trout see as spring approaches.  They range in size from 21mm-28mm and the female is noticeably bigger than the male.  Colors of the Skwala are different from watershed to watershed, but most will have a drab brown-olive to black body and head, with soot yellow markings on the abdomen, and a smokey dark wing.  The emergence can start in mid January in our valley rivers, and March or April in the mountains.  The nymphs clumsily swim over to the bank and crawl out to split it's exoskeleton under rocks that have livable spaces.  Much of the mating occurs here and this stoner is not like most others.  The female crawls onto the side water of a river and floats down placidly ovipositing, to many anglers they look like little twigs floating by as the Skwala does not beat it's wings while egg laying.  This is when the trout move into the side water looking for where the current pushes these bugs and concentrates them in the feeding lanes.  Late afternoon is the time to fish until just before dark, the warmer the temp the better.  I can't say this enough, observe before you cast and find the naturals on the water, then look for active fish (Skwala Eaters) keying in on them and rising.  These fish can get picky as pressure from armies of anglers pound the water (Lower Yuba), and at times a fly first presentation or a lighter tippet may be needed to fool them.

I thought I would share a few patterns that have been doing well for me, but as always I'm constantly trying different materials and ideas to see what they will and will not take - Tweaking to find the perfect Skwala.

This is my all foam Skwala I modelled after my club sandwich hopper, it floats well but what I like about a all foam pattern is that the trout seem to chew on this a bit longer allowing you to get away with a late hook set.  As with all Skwala patterns a black sharpie felt pen works wonders to get that yellow foam nice and sooty.

This is the underside of the Skwala sandwich, it gives a good profile, segmentation, and the rubber legs give the fly some movement.

This Skwala pattern is taken from Doug Swisher's Madam X fly or Bruce E. James's Black Legged Waterwalker and is used when trout start refusing patterns.  Most Skwala patterns are dark so adding a bit of white or yellow foam helps to see it on the water.  Keep the "sight" foam cut low so it does not protrude out and spook the trout.

Since most of the adults we see on the water are females laying eggs, it helps to add a oversized peice of foam protruding off the back replicating an egg sack, these are the things an experienced skwala eater will look for when trying to decipher the real thing to an artificial fly.  The more one observes of the natural and brings it back to the tying vise, the more succesful one is when presenting the Skwala adult dry.  Good Luck!

Mendocino-Tahoe Conservancy Memorial Benefit

A birthday celebration in memory of conservation pioneer John Olmsted will be held March 2nd at St. Joseph’s Cultural Center in Grass Valley.

Organized by, and a benefit for the Mendocino-Tahoe Conservancy who is continuing John’s mission of protecting wildlands and creating trails. Performers will include a host of wonderful local entertainers including funky dance band, Power of Twelve. Other entertainment will include poetry readings by Molly Fisk and Maxima Kahn, a juggling comedy show with Locomotion Circus, harp and songs by Tynowyn & Rossignol, and a slide show featuring a hiking adventure along the Olmsted Cross California Trail and performance of songs by Riparia, written on the trail and inspired by its natural beauty. Purchase tickets and learn more about the Mendocino-Tahoe Conservancy at http://www.mendotahoe.org/events.html.


Please join us and enjoy a fun filled evening that supports many trails to your favorite trout filled rivers and lakes in Northern California!

Learning The Rhythms Of The Lower Yuba





For years I had heard about the Lower Yuba, the hatches, and the big water.  Now that my new home is a mere 20 minutes from this tail water I’ve began to dissect it, and absorb every good amount of info like a sun baked sponge in a pail of water.  It’s nice to have some help along away, and it’s comforting to be able to fish with my old crew again, guys I’ve known for over 25 years – Family. 

                                                                The Kid and Bacon putting on a show for the boats.

For a river that has been abused from man and his naive mining practices since day one, and high run off that strips away every macroinvetrebrate from its home, I’m amazed at the bug life.  I saw BWO’s, PMD’s, Gray Drakes, and Skwala stoneflies.  The fish were on them!

For those of you that are mystified about finding the Skwala look no further.  If one simply starts flipping over rocks next to shore on dry land and 20 feet out from it, you’ll find them.  If your lucky you’ll find an orgy – This is their greet, meet, and get busy single’s bar.

                                                         The fish here are so beautiful, perfect trout and so strong! 

I’ve only fished the river three times now but I’ve been successful in my quest. Some things that may help you in the future will be to dissect the river into small manageable sections – Study the water before casting. These fish are very wary, being stealthy and not beating up the water is another key component. Be confident in the rig you are fishing, I just played the Skwala dry game but with every cast I believed that a trout would rise – And they did. Present your fly close to shore at first, then fish the big water. I had players from both kinds of water. Crowds – Drive, walk, or float away from the masses. I never had a problem with other anglers, or boats, in fact two of the boats I saw were friends of mine which is good to see.

It looks like the “honey do” list will not be getting checked off like it has in the past, I think it’s time my honey makes an appearance to appreciate the bugs and see the magic show. What an interesting river, I wish you all the best of luck and hope you can find her rhythms.



Upcoming Presentations!

I have two speaking engagements in the next month featuring my bold power point presentation on "Fly Fishing Lake Davis & Frenchman's Reservoir".  On January 25th I will be at Deep Creek Fly Fishers ( http://www.deepcreekflyfishers.org/) in Riverside, Ca.  Then February 16th I will share the knowledge at Peninsula Fly Fishers ( http://www.peninsulaflyfishers.org/).  If your in the neighborhood please stop by and get great information on these two fine still waters nestled in Eastern Plumas County.  Hope to see you there!

UPDATE:  February 9th, at the Napa Valley Fly Fishers Club. http://www.napavalleyflyfishers.org/
                           
                    May 9th Grizzly Peak Fly Fishers Club. http://www.grizzlypeakflyfishers.org/

The Angry Trout



I'm back from my last trip to Eagle Lake for 2011, normally I fish the closure on December 31st but this year I can't make it.  The Eagle Laker's behavior this fall/winter has been strange, not many rise forms in the skinny water and most the time they sit on the first ledge waiting to come in and feed.  In fact my colleagues and I are wondering just what the hell is going on.  My first inclination is that we have had a high pressure dominating the atmosphere, very little rain, and an east wind most of the time for months.  There is plenty of food in the shallows and the scuds have come back after some bleak years due to the lake's falling water level.  When the trout have come in to feed in the shallows it is only for a short time.  Some days have been good, and some not.  My best day was last Tuesday the 27th, 10 fish hooked, 9 landed - The morning bite that day was great!  Many of the fish I caught were quite large this late season, so clean and beautiful.  I like to think of them as fresh water tunas!

The Eagle Lake rainbow in an angry trout.  When they see your fly there is no hesitation on their part, they want it, they grab it and you've got a hook up.  Lake Davis fish can get picky and shy but not the Eagle Laker.  If your fishing Eagle Lake and are not getting hook ups, it's a sure bet that the fish are not there.  If they are there you will get hook ups, bumps, and takes.  My advice is to move to another spot if no action takes place in 20 minutes of fishing.  When fighting an Eagle Laker you've got your hands full, angry pissed offed trout do not come in easily!

These trout are angry because the powers that be are draining the lake for a handful of cattle ranchers.  It's hard to imagine that any government agency would let this happen to a special species of trout that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet.  1.5 million gallons?  Are you kidding me?  I smell a big pile of BS!  For more information on the Bly Tunnel and how you can get involved please visit Val Aubrey's site; http://eaglelakefishing.net/index.php  After a very cold late season I'm looking forward to t-shirt weather in the late spring and rise forms at my feet!

Saying Goodbye To My Best Friend

They say all good things must come to an end, but when it happens in a blink of an eye you gasp for breath, trembling, and find yourself asking "What the hell just happened"? My trout dog Madison, a pure bred Australian cattle dog, redefined the definition of a fishing buddy. This post is a tribute to his life and the good times we had.

My friend turned me on to the ACD breed in the mid 90's, he had owned several dogs and after spending some time with his current dog Ivan I said to myself "I gotta get one of these"! I wanted a female to mate with Ivan, but when I showed up at the Becka Ranch in Corning, Ca the owners pointed over to Big Blue, as they called him. There he was all alone, and even at 6 weeks he was the dominate male of the litter.  I paid $80 for him and headed for home what would be the start of a journey between man, dog, and trout.

At 4 months he was growing like a weed and pushing the envelope, like falling out of the boat while trolling and not coming up for over 10 seconds - Which seemed like an eternity to me! He then one upped himself by falling out of the truck passenger window weeks later at a slow speed, and walking away wagging his nub of a tail. The toughness of a ACD is remarkable, They only know to put out 110%!

I began taking Madi on fishing trips when he was 6 months old, showing him the life style of camping out, and enjoying the flora and fauna. The ACD is known not to like water, but this dog adapted to the lifestyle of fly fishing for trout and became a water dog. He knew the game that I was playing, trying to catch a wild animal. Having the Australian Dingo in him he was a hunter, and very smart. Queensland Heelers have the brain capacity of a 6 year old human child, and they know it. He knew when I was tying flies at the bench it was for the trout. I'd call out the name of the pattern and the location it was intended to be used at, and his legendary bark would ignite like gasoline on fire, deafening the room.

This was his favorite corner high up on my deck at the Mohawk Vista property. He was the ultimate watch dog, nothing got past him. His sniffer was so good he could smell the bear coming miles away and sound the alarm. Sure enough, 20 minutes later the bear would show up looking to raid the trash cans. He treed 3 bears in his lifetime, one of which he chased down and bit the ass of. He knew dozens of words and their meanings when it came to animals; bear, deer, coyote, bird, lizard, bug, bee, and on and on.

His true love in life though was to be my shadow where ever I went, which most often was on a river or lake. Fishing was a way for us to spend quality time together and an excuse to find adventure. He traveled to many places with me including his name sake "The Madison River" in Montana.

The East Walker River, Nevada.

Mills Peak lookout, Ca

Lake Davis, Ca - His home turf.

Madison loved boats more than anything, he would lean off the bow and let the wind whip over him, sniffing and searching...

Or go fishing with Grandpa and kick back.

He also loved motorcycles of all kinds, and would get so revved up when I would twist the throttle. I took him and my dad to a race at Honey Lake.  He was so smart and observant he would follow my pace around the track, and as I came ripping by he would let out a string of barks, then resume watching me make another lap. If he had thumbs he would have been out there too.

Madison did more in the last ten years than most people do in their entire life, and that makes me at peace with this great loss in my life. He was spoiled, had the best of everything, and was loved by many humans. Up until the end he was in great shape and blazing down the trail full of piss and vinegar. On 12/5 we learned that Madi had cancer of the spleen, and it had spread to his heart and lungs. His vet did not think he was going to make it through the night but I wanted to spend one more night sleeping next to him. After more tests, it was confirmed that it would be a painful death and not wanting Madison to suffer anymore, we had him put to sleep. I'm sure he's somewhere in the spirit world chasing a squirrel, or stalking a trout, and thinking of me.  God speed Madi boy - I'll never forget!

Madison Baiocchi 6/22/2001 to 12/6/2011