If you’re a fly angler, October is the best month of the
year for good fishing in the Northern Sierra, as well as across Nor Cal. Fall
colors, and the seasons changing guard are a stark reminder that another year
has flown past. It’s been a great one while fishing/guiding on the water, and
there are still plenty more good trips to be had. Nights have been cold, enough
for me to make adjustments on where I’m camping out like up on a hill instead
of down by the river or the lake. Cold air sinks to the bottom of any basin, so
keep that in mind as well as if your camp will get early morning sunlight. The
low air temps will increase a little bit in the upcoming days and during the
daytime the highs will be mild with near 70 degree autumn weather, with a noticeable shorter
length of daylight from sunrise to sunset. October is just plain special, I just wish it
were stretched out over a three month period.
Lake Davis – Fishing has been great, the best it’s been in a
long time but still you got to put some work in and locate the fish. Water
temps have dropped a tad to 52 degrees, and during the sunny days the shallows
will be a little warmer so look for trout to be there as there is abundant food
and comfortable conditions. Colder water can spread fish out and that’s exactly
what we are finding at Lake Davis. A higher lake level will do that too. I find
that the lake is still a little too full for my liking which is currently at
80% of capacity. 65 to 70% is best for fly anglers who like to fish off the
shoreline and prowl the peninsulas, points, and shoals. Fishing pressure has
increased, but far from being crowded though. More conventional gear guys and gals
then fly anglers.
I’ve been guiding the lake more this year than in the past 5 years and it’s been a lot of fun. Because of such I’ve noticed some variables
that really effect the fishing. Glassy conditions make for tougher fishing as
the trout feel more vulnerable from threats above water – They’re scared, they
really are. Once there is a ripple on the water the bite will turn on. On last Wednesday’s
trip we had big wind with white caps and rollers and the catching was on fire. During
such conditions there is plenty of cover for the fish just under the surface,
with lots of food being dispersed in the drift. The lake turned over last week
meaning that there is no thermocline of cold water on the bottom with warmer
water in the top column. It’s all mixed together with an up welling of
nutrients from the bottom giving the water a green color with visible bio
matter. The more water you cover, the better your catch rate will be, and when
you do find a few stay put and fish that area hard.
Stripping flies has been way more effective than the bobber whether
it’s out in open water, or on the bank. Jay Fair stripping flies, wiggle tails,
and wooley nymphs just keep producing in the typical fall colors we love. Burnt
orange, rust, fiery brown, black, and especially red are serious money. Some
days a faster strip is better than a slow one and it’s best to experiment until
you find the speed and action preferred by the fish for that day. The rainbows are showing
more girth and bigger shoulders in the past few weeks which are proof they are
eating well and bulking up for winter. A day off for me today, then I’m back up
the hill for more trips. It’s been cool meeting new people at the dock who have
given me praise about my website, blog, and reports. I really do care about
sharing all things fly fishing and making sure my fellow anglers and guests are
having a good time at Lake Davis, and all over the region.
Middle
Fork Feather River – Conditions have changed rapidly in the last month that has
affected the bite and hatches, namely colder water and air temps. I’ve been
doing a lot of trips here as well and my guests and I have only seen one other
angler, and it turns out he was a friend of a friend. The Chico connection is
and always will be a big part of my youth while growing up and fly fishing in
the town of Paradise. Water temps in the morning are at 50 degrees and the
fishing is slow. Sleep in, eat a good wholesome breakfast, and get on the water
around 11am when the water has warmed up. There are good hatches occurring in
the afternoon with rising fish. BWOs and Mahogany duns (and spinners too) are
the most prolific, and the BWO spinner fall occurs much later now and it is not
as significant as the weeks prior. Caddis are still out including the false
October Caddis and a few small species, I didn’t see one true October Caddis
though in the last few trips even though I’m finding fresh shucks on the rocks.
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