Brutal conditions.
Wind so cold from the North East, it cuts right though you. We've been covering
a lot of water as the fish are somewhat scattered to a degree. With the
North/East direction of the wind you have to change tactics and hug the east
shore, and find the calmer coves in the North end of the lake. At least the sun
is out generating some warmth. Its been so gnarly out, but when you're hooking
fish, it's all good. This morning's temp is 13, it will be slow to warm, and
the east wind is supposed to blow again, ready to suck the life out of us. Yet
we'll be out there, driven by the passion of the toad. Hardy conditions for
sure.
So move around a lot, find fish, and stay there for a little while, then move again. A RIO Versi Tip with a sink rate of 1.5 (yeah, the clear one) off a floating line has been best. Fish the big flies, Jay Fair stripping flies in rust in the morning, burnt orange in the afternoon. Water temps are 48 degrees, and they will dropping quickly from here on out. Slower to medium strip now, with lots of 1 to 3 second pauses is mandatory. Treat any tic felt as a strike, and immediately strip set. If you don't hook up, keep stripping - the trout will still follow it, hitting it multiple times. They are SO hungry right now.
Damn wind. So cold, but at least there is a ripple on the
water. Dress warmer than ever, it's late season conditions. Gloves, Gore-Tex,
the works. Today, I felt like Jay. Cold, weathered, feeling the effects of the
elements, sharing the experience, laughing, and excited. We were so lucky to
have that man in our lifetime with his "No Nonsense" style of
fishing. What an Icon. I sure miss fishing with him and the original Forest
Ranch crew at Eagle Lake some 25 years ago. They all taught me so many valuable
lessons.
Today is my last guide trip at Lake Davis until next spring.
It was such a great fall season! I've completed more trips in the last month
then the last 5 years combined. Pretty pumped right now, and all I can say is
keep planting Lake Davis CDFW - it makes a huge difference! For 2020 and
beyond, Adam Eisenman of Woodgrains Fly Fishing Guide Service will be helping
me with trips on Lake Davis, the Middle Fork Feather River, and other waters in
Plumas National Forest. He's a really good stick, and a great teacher, plus a
nice dude. He gets it, including the natural world. The kind of man you can
trust your life with. Adam will be working under my Plumas Forest Service
Permit for 2020 and beyond with access to my boat for all the stillwaters in
the Northern Sierra. I'm excited to pass down the knowledge to Adam, as Jay did
with me. You folks will be in good hands with Adam, he's highly intelligent
with trout behavior, and how to catch them.
That's it, and what an awesome fall season in Plumas Land, best I've seen Lake Davis fish in 8 years. I'm so stoked right now! Lower Yuba from here on out for the best winter dry fly fishing the state has to offer. If you want to increase your skill set and knowledge with anything fly fishing, you know how to find me. Experience is everything when it comes to fly fishing guides. Let's go fishin! - baiocchistroutfitters@yahoo.com/530.228.0487
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