Baiocchi's Troutfitters Resources Page

Your typical fly angler is always on the search for any information that will increase their skills, or enlighten their outings on the water. The internet provides so much information that it can overwhelming at times. I created a resource page on my website to help my guests and the general public to better plan for their getaways with the least amount of hassle. As many of you know I love to share the knowledge, so this addition to my site was a no brainer. I've listed everything you wanted to know about the areas, stillwaters, and watersheds I guide on. I've included the very best services you can find. On my resources page you'll find;

• Fishing license information.
• Driving conditions.
• Fishing reports.
• Stream flow information.
• Northern Sierra visitors information.
• Fly fishing shops & supplies.
• General fly fishing resources.
• Fly fishing manufacturers that I network with.
• Fly clubs that I belong to.
• Weather for the northern Sierra.
• Mapping of the northern Sierra.
• USFS Ranger Districts.

I also include watershed specific resources that include, Lake Davis, the Middle Fork Feather River, Frenchman's reservoir, the Tahoe/Truckee area, the North Fork Yuba River, and the Lower Yuba river. Listed under these waters includes;

• Lodging.
• Campgrounds
• Restaurants. 
• Other recreational activities.

This page is incredibly useful when planning your fly fishing trips, and if you're on the road, it eliminates excessive searching on your phone as I have it all dialed in for you. Click here to view my resources page and start planning your next adventure today; Baiocchi's Troutfitters Resources Page

Baiocchi's Troutfitters.com

Trinity River Fishing Report 10/23/2016

At last, a vacation for myself on the Trinity River after grinding it out for 8 plus months. It started last Friday as I made the journey to Weaverville where my long time guest, and buddy Dave were to make our home base. Upon reaching Whiskytown Lake there were warnings about a 45 minute delay from the ongoing Buckhorn summit road construction, Sure enough it was a long wait sitting in the truck. And a creeper of a ride over the summit with traffic control. When the project is completed, it will save so many minutes from traveling from the bottom of the hill to the summit. The extensive work that has been completed is amazing. As a child my dad and I use to travel over Buckhorn summit every 2nd week of June to fish the upper Trinity River upstream of the lake for a few weeks. The road back then was a narrow 2 lane road with switchbacks that would cause road sickness to those in the less than hardy category. Now it’s a piece of cake with big two lane sweepers all the way up the east side. We stayed at the Red Hill motel/cabins which is perfect for serious steelheaders, simple, warm, and just the basic needs. 

Our guide and friend Jason Cockrum picked us up in the early morning as we made our way to Junction City to begin our float. There were no crowds like last year mainly due to the fact there are very little steelhead in the system, even after our last big storm. It was a beautiful and peaceful float with fall colors blazing away and the soothing sound of riffles and runs. The weather was really nice as well, partly cloudy with sun in the afternoon and just a puff of a breeze.

We fished indo rigs with large stones, nymphs, and egg patterns and adjusted the depth and the amount of lead depending on the run. We caught plenty of smolts, especially after retrieving line after long bump mend drifts. It was rather annoying. Dave’s only fish was a juvenile and not what he was looking for, it was his first time fishing for steelhead  and I so wanted him to hook into an athlete. I was lucky enough to hook into a nice wild buck, about 7 pounds and 28”. He was a real bully that fought down and dirty with some good runs. We worked our asses off all day with little to show. Still, I had a great day despite a low number. Others were struggling too.

I can’t say enough good things about Jason, he knows the river incredibly well, has the right flies, the knowledge, and is extremely good at directing your casts and instructing you in improving your faults. He is so attentive during the entire float – He’s got game. I highly recommend Jason, but he is booked pretty solid. He does network with a good group of quality guides so he can place you with one of them if he is not available. Oh, you need to see his new and improved Jaydicators, the best bobbers out there! Thanks again you guys, that was awesome, I’ll be back next year for sure!

Lower Yuba River Update 10/18/16 ~ The Spirit Of The Salmon

I worked the Lower Yuba River today for a special guest who wanted a private one on one pontoon workshop. It was a glorious day with sunshine and beautiful cumulous clouds lining the north eastern skyline, and highs in the lower 60’s. The flows were running at 1530 cubes, and the water clarity was surprisingly good after the onslaught of our last big storm. It had a nice green tint to it with about 4 feet of visibility. Fishing pressure was very light, I saw a total of 4 other anglers, and one drift boat.

Conditions have changed dramatically in the last two weeks on the Lower Yuba River, there is way more salmon in the system, and many redds in the tail outs. I realize that I and others keep preaching this, but it is important for walk and wade anglers to be able to identify the redds of salmon and steelhead, and not to wade through them. It’s best to completely avoid them at all costs as the offspring is the future of the river’s ecosystem. If I had my way the river would be completely closed to all fishing and boat traffic from Duguerre dam up to Englebright dam from August 31st to January 1st. The health of the river is far more important than our needs for fishing, guiding, and running a business. That’s just my opinion.

The resident rainbows are definitely locked in on the “egg bite”, we had a huge BWO spinner fall for a half hour today and only one rising fish in a known productive part of the river that always holds big numbers of trout, and rhythm risers. Indo rigs and short line high sticking techniques with a combination of bacon and eggs is ideal right now. Don’t forget about the Flesh Juan worm, red is not always the best color to present.

It was busy on the river today, and I’m glad the goal for my guest was learning all the parameters of safely drifting down a big valley river in a personal watercraft, and not numbers of fish. SRYCL had one of their “Salmon Tours” today after cancelling their original October 15th date due to weather. I like the idea of the tours as it raises awareness on how important the salmon are to the Lower Yuba River, explaining the complete life cycle from egg, fingerling, juvenile, to adults returning after a period in the salt. To make things even busier, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife had a research vessel out with both biologist, and aids counting salmon, and marking redds with GPS equipment. I realize the importance of their job, but they do disrupt and push resident trout away from prime feeding areas when they buzz by and zig zag all over the river.

Once again I got to see Outcast’s Pro Stealth frameless boat in action, and it’s time to retire my 19 year old Camo Cat 9 and buy this craft. The ease of inflation, and setting up the boat for the river is remarkably quick and easy. It has less contact on the water’s surface making it a faster and a more maneuverable machine. It’s got plenty of room for cargo as well. For those inclined to float still waters, or rivers, you really need to check out the Stealth Pro. I’m impressed.

After 7 months of grinding it out, I finally get a small vacation starting this Friday as I head up north for a guided trip with Jason Cockrum of Clearwater Lodge on the Trinity River. Reports before the storm revealed very little steelhead in the system, I sure hope the big storm drew some good numbers of them upstream. When you book a trip a year in advance you get what you get, I know I’ll be enjoying myself and making the most of it, that's for sure. Tight lines and I’ll see you on the water…

Lake Davis Fishing Report 10/14/2016

So far, the fall season at Lake Davis has been better than expected. The fall colors are turning on but this year has seen uneven colors, with many trees already dropping their leaves. Fishing pressure remains light. Water temperatures are 51 to 55 degrees. It needs to get a little colder for the rainbows to remain in the shallows all day long. Hopefully after this weekend of intense precipitation that will happen. Speaking of which, you’re better off staying indoors and tying flies than at the lake. Big wind is forecasted throughout the weekend.

Fish areas and coves on the west and north shores that are not receiving pressure. There have been pods of fish rising in select areas; seek them out before they travel elsewhere. Sheep Creek specials and wiggle tails in fiery brown, burnt orange, and rust are hot right now. Drop to 3x, the rainbows are letting their guard down, typical of the fall season.

I’ll be putting the boat away when the first big snowstorm hits, though I’ll still be doing walk and wade trips for those hardy enough. Give me a call if you’re interested, and if you want in on my Lower Yuba River skwala trips book now. Best of luck to you all, enjoy the fall, and enjoy those pumpkin trout. See you on water…

Lake Davis & North Fork Yuba River Fishing Report 10/3/2016

The last few weeks at Lake Davis we saw above normal temperatures with some days of light wind. During this time there were fish in the shallows until about 1pm, then returning to the first ledge in deeper water from 8 to 15 feet. Water temperatures went from 60 to 64, then 58 to 62 degrees. Currently after this last storm rolled through, the water temps dropped down to 55 to 58 degrees. The lake received 2 inches of snow last night, and it was in the low twenties this morning. Conditions will be warming up and by this coming Friday, it will 70 during the day and 32 at night. 

Fishing pressure has increased as well, there are more trailers in the lot at Honker Cove, and popular areas like Jenkins and Cow Creek are seeing a few vehicles parked there. Honker Cove is still operational, but the Forest Service refuses to move the dock out further into the lake. If you tie your boat up at the dock you may not be able to back your trailer into the correct depth, in other words, you are going to hit your boat. Camp 5 is still operational as well, but there is no dock in the water, it’s on the concrete ramp as the Forest Service never put it in this year. Your tax dollars, hard at work.

The lake is fishing better than expected and with the water levels at 56%, it is fishing like a typical fall. The last two fall seasons were absolutely dismal with the lower water levels. During those two seasons there was a bunch of fish in front of Long Point, and Lightning Tree Cove, this year I’m seeing many anglers who caught fish back then returning, and not finding the fish. Different levels of the lake will have an effect on where the fish will be. I have seen the most populations from Eagle Point all the way up to Cow Creek. There is some fish up in the northern lake, but I think we’ll see them gang up there in the future as they normally do in late October. Overall fish are scattered and some areas have a higher percentage of rainbows than others, pods are coming into the same shallows to feed day in and day out. This may change after this last storm, and lower water temperatures, I've seen it happen many times before.

A week and a half ago we had warmer temperatures and some glassy days with a Callibaetis hatch from 10:30 to just after noon. The mayflies were very small in a size 18, and the last brood of the season. We had some incredible sight fishing with both nymphs and adults on the surface, with fish in 1 to 3 feet of water. It’s always more fun when you have targets to cast to. There have been a few blood midges out, but the hatch has been sparse. I’m seeing snail shells on some banks in the north end of the lake, which is cool to see. Some of these shells are extremely large and offer a good meal for a trout with one bite. If it is flat calm out in the morning don’t forget about scum lines in deeper water, sometimes this phenomenon can happen on the east shore near the island. The fish are taking leftovers from the day before, and these “dumpster divers” are actively rising and finning on the surface. Pro tip; don’t anchor, and just free float, be prepared to make 60 foot casts or further with a high amount of accuracy. Buggers leeches, and wiggle tails are becoming more effective during the autumn season, and the classic colors for this time of year include burnt orange, fiery brown, cinnamon, rust, and black.

 

Big wind and big water punished the lake last Friday through Sunday. It was ugly, and along with the low pressure the fishing was off. Friday’s winds gusted to 40 mph, Saturday was a little less violent but the bite did not come on until 2pm. You never know when the switch is going to be turned on, and sometimes it pays to wait the day out instead of leaving. With Sunday’s wind it was near impossible to anchor, so my guests and I used a technique I have not practiced in a long time, using a wind sock and drifting with the wind. The sock slows the boat down as it’s pushed through the currents and parallel to the wind. The angler will cast either to the bow or the stern of the boat and let the line swing until it’s straightened out. Then pulling more line off the reel until the flies are about 50 feet away from the boat. For your presentation, strip the flies in for a few feet, and then allow the line to be sucked back out. Repeat. I’m going to use the wind drift much more in the future as it allows you to cover plenty of water, and not have to hassle with weed choked anchors.

Look for fishing conditions to improve during this week as warmer weather fills the day, and if you’re not getting takes, move to a different location. See you on the banks and the fertile flats of Lake Davis.

North Fork Yuba River

Before the last storm rolled through, the weather was extremely warm, and the fishing on the river was on fire, even above Sierra City. Dry / dropper rigs were very effective with the usual flies as last reported. One dropper fly that outshined every other nymph tied on was your basic Copper John, size 16. Water temps in the upper watershed were 55 to 61 degrees. The flows were good too. There was zero fishing pressure, and even the campgrounds have thinned out. This will all change with the last storm, and with snow on the higher peaks you can expect some melting on south and west faces for the next few days. Water temps will drop with a slight increase with the flows, and the savvy angler will work the river lower in the watershed.

The October caddis has been out for the last two weeks, I’m seeing a lot of shucks and a few flyers in the air. The fish are not keyed in on them as they are taking anything they can get. Pseudocleons, little Blue Wing Olive mayflies are dancing above the water with a spinner fall when air temperatures are between 58 and 68 degrees. 

Hoppers are still out during the warmest time of the day, and if the wind blows you can have some great action. Now is a great time to fish the North Fork Yuba River, no crowds, and enticing up the larger rainbows and browns with the big bug.