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

Eagle Lake Report - The Wrath of Freezing Fog!



First off the straight scoop.  After a slow November the trend has creeped into December.  With not very many fish actively working the shallows, bank fishing has been slow.  Water temps are running 34.5 to 40 degrees.  Fish that have been caught have been perfect specimens running 2.5-4 pounds.  Not many chubs around but stomach contents revealed scuds.  Effective flies were brown/olive scuds #12, and Jay Fair wiggle tails in dark fiery cinnamon.  The trout are really battling hard and I suggest using 3x tippet, 2x if your are stripping a chub.  Air temps are running around 15 degrees to high 30's / low 40's, expect freezing fog in the mornings - Any amount of wind will only make it colder.  Bank fishing should pick up once the full moon phase passes.  There is a new ramp on the west side of the south marina just past the general store and the breaker wall.  There is no dock, and it's prone to wind but it drops off quickly into deep water. 

On Thursday we fished late from 12-3pm.  Right away I had two fish.  The wind was right in our face but that's why a 7wt is the rod of choice here.  Tony hooked one and we kept casting but never got another bump.

EAGLE LAKE CHROME.

DOG FIGHT!

Friday morning brought the dreaded death fog - It's beyond cold.  Even the smallest of fire can bring relief.

We burned what we could find but the rocky points don't have much, a dead duck gave the fire a little fat to juice it up a bit.  I'm bringing out some oak and pitch wood next time!



STRIPPING FLIES COATED IN DEATH FOG.



Once the fog starts lifting and the sun pierces through the cold you can instantly feel the warmth, and the ice in your guides begin to soften.  This makes so happy!

Saturday brought the same conditions as Friday but with no wind.  It was perfect conditions for large rainbows to come in and sip in the skinny water, but only a few showed themselves.

These are the remains of a native American fish camp.  Back in the day the natives would build rock circles about three feet high, then lay pine branches over the top much like a tee pee for shelter.  The pile of rocks in the lower center of the picture is the oven they used to cook meals.  The history of this lake is just as amazing as the fishing there.

The best news from the whole trip was that the scuds have increased their populations in the shallows!  Many areas were infested with scuds.  I'm heading back up next Friday so I'll let you all know how it goes this time around.  I know one thing...It's gonna be cold!

Baiocchi's Troutfitters Swag Now Available!

My new store is now open!  You can purchase hoodies, t-shirts, hats, stainless steel water bottles, coffee mugs, and stickers with my logo.  Fly our colors the next time you go fishing!.  Click on the link and check it out!  http://www.cafepress.com/baiocchistroutfitters