2013 Stillwater Clinics At Lake Davis

Lake Davis is well known for its prolific Damsel hatch. Anglers come from all over the West to fish Davis during the Damsel hatch each year. We will be spending two weekends sharing some of our secrets on how to fish Davis Lake and also teaching anglers techniques to use on stillwaters anywhere. We will cover everything from stalking trout and sight fishing the shoreline, to deep water nymphing in the middle of the day. Lake Davis is the perfect venue to sharpen your stillwater skills and practice some of our advanced techniques.

Rob Anderson and myself have been fishing and teaching anglers advanced stillwater techniques for over 15 years. I'm well known in the Sierras for my expertise on advanced stillwater techniques and love to share them. Both Rob and I do seminars at shows and fly club meetings and now offer these clinics that are on site, allowing particpants to use what they have learned. Rob is a commercial fly and product designer and has also managed the Reno Fly Shop for years. He specializes in hosting outings and teaching large groups, his gourmet backcountry cooking is the icing on the cake with these clinics.

The clinic will be a 2 day fishing event and will cover advanced Stillwater techniques, proper rigging, shore line wading as well as float tube, pontoon boat and small pram techniques. There will be lots and lots of free time to practice and catch some of those big beautiful Rainbows at Lake Davis. Space is limited to 10 anglers.

Dates: June 21-23: (Sold Out)
            June 28-30: (Sold Out)

Friday afternoon – check-in and set up, dinner at the camp and our detailed PowerPoint presentation and intro on the weekend’s events.

Saturday & Sunday – Two full days of fishing and learning new techniques on the lake with Rob and myself including lunch both days and dinner Saturday night.

Accommodations: 

We will be using one of the many campgrounds around Davis Lake. Anglers are encouraged to camp with us or to use one of the local motels in the area. Call or email us for more details.

Price: $295   Includes – two days guide fee, dinner Friday and Saturday night and lunch at the lake each day, free swag from our sponsors and use of demo equipment.

Rob Anderson      rob@bucketlistflyfishing.com            775.742.1754
                            Truckee River Outfitters

Jon Baiocchi        baiocchistroutfitters@yahoo.com      530.228.0487
                            Baiocchi's Troutfitters

These clinics are a real bargain, you get more bang for your buck and the knowledge learned will be with you forever! I Hope you can join Rob and myself for a great fun filled and informative weekend at Lake Davis!

"Fly Fishing Eagle Lake" Presentation At Fly Fishers of Davis Meeting

I will be speaking at the Fly Fishers of Davis February meeting on the 26^th. My power point presentation “Fly Fishing Eagle Lake” is a must see as I unlock many secrets to this vast stillwater that is so popular with fly anglers all over the west and beyond. I go in depth and cover access points, techniques, tactics, flies, entomology, the Eagle Lake rainbow, the seasons, and the history of the lake. There will be over a hundred slides of great information including maps and diagrams. I will also be donating a set of special Eagle Lake flies for that evening’s raffle in a stylish wooden box.

The meeting will be held at "Harper Junior High", 4000 East Covell Blvd. in east Davis and starts at 7:30 pm, the presentation will follow at 8pm. Guests are welcome and admission is free. I hope to see you there!

Fly Fishers of Davis

iFish Belt Box Review

When I first got my hands on iFish’s Belt Box I thought to myself it’s just another gadget to put on my fly fishing vest and add clutter. But after field testing the Belt Box on the Lower Yuba River I came to the conclusion that his handy box to keep your flies in is much more. Like a gun slinger in the heat of battle this box allows an angler to have a “quick draw” when choosing their weapon of choice to tie on the end of their line. The box easily attaches to a belt or fishing vest and the groove at the bottom of the slide on tab is made for a placement of a rubber band or zip tie that you fasten over by pinching the tab shut to ensure your box will stay put. With a click of the top “open” tab the box folds away from you and displays two halves of compartments to hold big and small flies. Each compartment is very secure and will not open on its own ensuring you won’t see your prized patterns drift down the currents.

During my field test I put the box on the upper right side of my vest and filled it with my Skwala stone fly patterns for the day. While making presentations to a very selective trout that would not take my first choice of fly, I simply went to my iFish Belt Box and in seconds had another different fly on ready to give that fish another cast. There were no zippered pockets to battle or fumble through; all my flies were right where I needed them. Sometimes simpler is better, and when I fish small creeks and streams all I need in the way of tackle is some flies, nippers, tippet, some gel floatant, and my forceps. I can put all the tackle in a shirt pocket, while the Belt Box holds my flies in an easy to get to location.

Some drawbacks with boxes that have sealed compartments is that you never want to put back wet flies back in them as rust will form on your hooks. (Note: I did an experiment with water soaked flies left in the box in a cold environment for 2 days and much to my surprise there was no rust and my flies were dry!!!) This is where a good fly patch comes in handy to dry out them out before putting them back in the compartments for later use. The Belt Box is not bomb proof, but like any good piece of equipment if you ensure proper care it will last for years. Compartment boxes are not wind friendly, your dry flies are subject to being blown out while the compartment lid is open. The Belt Box does offer better wind protection than most compartment style boxes on the market though.

I can honestly say that this little innovative box will be a new companion with me when I venture out onto the water, especially those lush deep canyons in the Sierra where the tiniest of creeks hold some of the prettiest trout on the planet. For more information and to see the complete line of iFish products visit their website at http://www.ifish.com/

Lance Gray & Company Lower Yuba River Tour

Lance Gray of Lance Gray & Company and myself have teamed up to provide anglers a tour of the incredibly moody Lower Yuba River. We will shorten the learning curve and the countless hours of prospecting that so many anglers new to the Yuba River struggle with. Included on the tour is a highly informative day describing access points, hatches, flies, techniques, tactics, and times to fish. The tour is limited to 6 people, and the date for this opportunity will be on March 6th. To sign up or for more information please contact Lance at lancegrayandcompany@yahoo.com ~ 530.517.2204. His website is http://lancegrayandcompany.com/, where you can learn more about Lance and his highly popular fly fishing tours.

The Pale Morning Dun Mayfly

The Pale Morning Dun mayfly is one of the more prettier mayflies we have here in the west, Genus Ephemerlla is a favorite among trout. This is a hatch where an angler can sleep in and have a leisurely breakfast before getting out on the water. PMDs hatch late morning to noon time. These mayflies start hatching as the weather warms in early spring, but on some rivers like the Lower Yuba they begin even earlier due to the lower elevations and the fact that it's a tailwater which can fool the bugs with the rise and fall from water releases. Colors of the dun range from a yellowish olive to light olive, and some have pastels of orange and pink. From the crawler family, these mayflies have three tails and are 7-12mm.

As PMDs get active before the hatch trout will feed heavily on nymphs that let go of the bottom part of the river and become available in the drift. High sticking is very effective during this time but I prefer to swing flies in the tailouts of major runs and riffles. The simple act of your fly rising at the end of the swing mimics the emerging nymphs quite well and aggressive takes are the norm.  The nymphs drift to the top water column buoyed by gasses trapped in their exoskeleton upon emergence. To perpetuate the species the PMDs come off in massive numbers at times which can cause quite the feeding frenzy when the trout take notice. Fish can also get fussy at this time but not too selective so an angler will still find it challenging yet fruitful.

The freshly hatched dun is active for two days, then the transformation to spinner takes place in stream side foliage. Spinners have clear wings and a rust colored body, males have over sized orange eyes that attract the female when finding a mate. After mating the male spinners fall to the water and become spent while the female drops her eggs from the air over riffles or by floating on the water. The eggs are yellow in color and some trout key in on females with egg sacs during a spinner fall. The rusty spinner is the standard dry fly to use at this time.

The PMD Sparkle Dun is my go to fly when duns are hatching, refusals are rare with this fly and the trailing shuck lets trout know that this mayfly is a helpless emerger, or even a cripple which translates to an easy meal. Sizes 14 and 16 will cover any hatch you may encounter. Now is the time to spin up some PMD patterns and fill your box with dreams of blanket hatches and rising tout.

Skwala Stoneflies Are Starting to Hatch On The Lower Yuba

Every January fly anglers look forward to one of the most anticipated aquatic insect hatches on the lower Yuba River; The Skwala Stonefly emergence. It’s a hatch where fishing the dry fly right next to the bank where the naturals crawl out from the water gets the best results. This stonefly gets active in mid-December and nymphs make their way to the quiet waters next to the cobble stone banks. When conditions are right, the nymphs crawl up the shore and under loose rocks and hatch into a fully mature winged adult whose prime purpose is to find a mate to produce offspring.

Warms days are best for a good hatch; the adults make their way to the tops of the rocks and warm up in the sun. The female will then fly over the water, some drop their sacs from the air like a clumsy B-17 bomber and others land on the water flush and float down the currents before releasing the eggs. It’s the latter that gets the attention of a hungry trout looking for a big meal in the meager cold winter months. As the weeks go by in January and into February the trout “key in” on the stoneflies, they know the insects are in the system and available for their afternoon meal.

Photo by Dan LaCount

Keys for the fly angler to be successful are for one using a good pattern. The bullet head Skwala with rubber legs gives the fly plenty of movement and just the right profile of the natural, it fools the wariest of trout most every time. Secondly these fish are spooky and selective when in the skinny water next to the bank. Their senses are on high alert for predators like the Blue Heron, and selective because of the masses of fly anglers fishing for them with artificial stonefly patterns.
 

One way to cut down on trout refusing your fly is to present it fly first, casting downstream and feeding out line to your intended target with a drag free drift. This way the fly comes into their view first and not the leader and fly line. Lastly look for active fish rising for the Skwala stonefly, and hone in on their exact location before making your presentation to them. Blind casting and beating the water can push the trout away from the bank and out of the feeding lanes. The lower Yuba offers the best dry fly fishing in winter for the entire state and fly anglers should concentrate their efforts here for it’s the best game in town!

Happy New Year And A Big Thank You!

2012 brought great success, tail spinning disasters, big fish, big smiles, and lessons learned the hard way. This year was by far my most successful year in the books regarding my guide service. Most of you may think guiding is all ice cream and cake but behind the scenes are massive campaigns with networking, marketing, and public relations. Not to mention the countless hours of tying flies, researching, organizing, writing articles, and problem solving be it a complicated fishery or a boat motor. It's a job that I don't just love but know I was put on this earth to do; sharing the knowledge. The picture above says it all!

I want to first thank all my clients who ventured in the deep canyons and combed the fertile stillwaters with me whether the fishing was red hot or mediocre, no matter the venue I will always provide the very best to them in service and adventure. Next I'd like to thank my Dad who made my fly fishing knowledge what it is today, and the rest of my family and friends for their support. To all the fly shops, magazines, lodges, restaurants, cafes, hotels, newspapers, fly fishing clubs, sponsors, fly fishing reps and manufacturers, my website designer, mechanics, guide friends, the bugs, the fish, and to all those I have forgotten - THANK YOU!!!     

In the grand scheme of things 2013 is just another year, a set of numbers that click away with each passing of the moon. Yes, we are all a little older, but a bit wiser too. May this year bring all of you good fortune, happiness, good health, and plenty of hook ups! See you on the water.

Upcoming Presentations - Yuba River & Eagle Lake

Looking for more information on the Yuba River and Eagle Lake? If your near these two stops I have scheduled please come by and learn more on these two magnificent fisheries as I unlock the secrets so you can have better angling success on your next trip!

On January 8th I will be in Modesto at the Stanislaus Fly Fisher's monthly club meeting presenting "Fly Fishing the Lower Yuba River". The general meeting starts at 6:00pm and is followed by my super informative power point program featuring the Yuba watershed, access points, techniques, tactics, entomology, and the flies that produce!  This river is a moody one and I'll share my insight on what works best for all the seasons including some special hatches that take place here. You'll walk away with some more ammo for your next quest to this grand tail water. For more information click here; http://www.stanislausflyfishers.org/Home.html

The following evening Ill be in the hub of great trout fishing at the Trinity Shasta Fly Fisher's monthly club meeting in Redding on January 9th presenting my best power point program; "Eagle Lake". If you have never fly fished the ancient shores of Eagle Lake you will most certainly want to after you see my program. The history of the lake and its connection to the great Lake Lahontan is reason alone to come check out and learn about the Eagle Lake Rainbow trout. You'll be introduced to a variety of access points to fish, and the unique habits of these magnificent trout. Flies, tactics, and techniques are thoroughly covered as well. The general meeting starts at 7:00pm followed by my stellar presentation. For more information click here; http://shastatrinityflyfishers.org/

Knowledge is power!

Lower Yuba River Report

Photo by Ralph Cutter http://www.flyline.com/

The flows on the Yuba river are way down after running so high from the huge amount of rain a few weeks ago. During the peak of the storm flows were at 34,000 cfs and Englebright dam was spilling over the top in dramatic fashion. Right now the flows are stabilized at 1,300 cfs and the river will be clearing in the next week, look for the resident rainbows and migrating steelhead to be on the bite again. Yuba County Water Agency just announced that the regular winter flows will be released from Englebright until spring. These flows range from 900 to 1,300 cfs and depending on the size of storms or lack of will determine the flow schedule. For anglers this means you will have plenty of spots to fish from the bank and you will be able to cross the river in select spots.  Right now your best approach for fly fishing is using san juan worms, micro spawn shrimp in pink, jimmy rubber legs stonefly, red copper johns, Hogan’s red headed step child, and Skwalla stone fly nymphs. These flies are best presented under an indicator and a dead drift in the deeper holding water below riffles and runs.

Frank Rinella with a beautiful wild steelhead. Photo by Clay Hash http://www.flyfishingtraditions.com/

The new year on the Yuba brings the best winter dry fly fishing in the state, it happens every year and more and more fly anglers are catching on to this great game. Since the Lower Yuba is located on the edge of the central valley temperatures are very comfortable for this time of year, especially when the sun is out. Skwalla stoneflies, pale morning dun mayflies, and gray drakes become the focal point for the trout. As we get into late February we can look forward to the March brown mayflies hatching well into April. Presenting dry flies to selective feeders is very challenging on the Yuba, it’s not easy and to be able to hook into a few nice fish is really satisfying; you’ll earn every one of them!

For information on flow schedules click here; http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/yubaStages.html
For general fishing information call Tom Page of Reel Anglers fly shop in Grass Valley - 
(530) 477-5397.

Product Review; FoxFury Headlamps

All headlamps are not created equal, in fact when it came time to choosing one for a climb on Mt. Shasta in Northern California, I opted for the best. To be successful for a summit bid on big peaks a true alpine start is the only way. This start requires the climber to be on the route just after midnight to allow enough time to summit at first light and to get back down before conditions get sketchy with avalanches and rock fall later in the day. Climbing at night is very spooky, it's creepy venturing upwards into the unknown and your headlamp is a key element in your safety. FoxFury makes dozens of models for professionals in all types of occupations, mostly police, fire, and military work. I chose the Performance Outdoor / Work headlamp. It offers 20 LED lights that cast 62.0 Lumen (779 candle power) and a range of 100-150 feet with a generous amount of peripheral vision. Enough to clearly see the route ahead and hidden dangers that other headlamps would miss.

For fly fishing it has become an indispensable tool when doing missions at Eagle lake at O dark-thirty, lighting my way to the bountiful buckets before the other guys are waiting for first light. It's also my best buddy when rigging the boat in the dark and making sure everything is safely in its place. I highly recommend this headlamp and the customer service provided by FoxFury is the very best; They want you safe out there no matter the job! Check out their website here; http://www.foxfury.com/ and look over the complete line.

Don't be stuck with inferior lighting and suffer like a caveman waving a low power torch, Illuminate your next adventure with FoxFury!

Tying The Emergent Sparkle Pupa

Gary Lafontaine left a legacy in the fly fishing world when he departed way too early from this earth. It did not matter what project, fly, or idea he worked on, it was always done Gary's way; thinking outside the box with every detail accounted for and a method to the madness. There is one fly pattern that he created that could be considered his masterpiece, the fly that replaced every other caddis pattern past, present, and future; The Emergent Sparkle Pupa.

This is an easy fly to tie but there is one key element to it that Gary preached, and that was tying it sparse so it held the air bubbles just like the natural had when emerging to the surface. It's also the translucency of the fly that pulls reluctant fish off the bottom to consume on this sparkling creation. There are some basic color combos to this fly like yellow underbody/brown overbody, bright green/brown, ginger/tan, dark gray/gray, and orange/brown. Don't be afraid to experiment. I tied a combo of an amber underbody with a clear antron overbody and cleaned house on the Madison River in Montana around the West Fork area.

My two favorite ways of fishing the Emergent Sparkle Pupa is to cast down and across current and swinging it into pods of rising fish, or greasing the entire fly and feeding it with a fly first drift to individual fish down technical feeding lanes. Even fished poorly this fly catches more trout than any other caddis pattern and that alone may explain its popularity with fly anglers.

RECIPE:
Hook: Tiemco 100 or standard dry fly hook #6-20.
Underbody: Finely chopped sparkle blend touch dubbed.
Overbody: Sparkle yarn/Antron.
Wing: Deer hair.
Head: dubbed fur or marabou fibers.

Lake Davis Report 11/23; "Really?"

November 23th and not another fly angler in sight but my boys, there was nobody. The weather yesterday was absolutely gorgeous, 58-60 degrees, and not a puff of wind to be had. The water temps ran 42-47.8 degrees and there was no ice or snow to be found thanks to the last storm being so warm. Snow geese were hanging out before making the long flight south, and the coots were still tearing up vegetation while being on the lookout for one hungry northern harrier hawk that was swooping in for the kill. It was one of those unbelievable days when you had to pinch yourself and say "Really?"

Duane from Anaheim and his nephew Will had such a good time hooking fish in the skinny water. The fishing is still great but the fall bite is past its peak, not as many hook ups today as the past 3 weeks have provided. There were some rising fish as well and quite a bit of small brown spiders (size 18) falling on the water when their web rides came to an end. The fish were keying in on them. Floating lines, 3x, burnt orange and peacock wiggles tails got the attention of rainbows running 16-19". One fish was 23" and close to 4 pounds, it was a real slab!

It's safe to say we have some more fans of fly fishing stillwaters off the bank. Once I show anglers just how easy it can be during the most productive times of the year they understand why this game is so special. Another shot of rain/snow is forecasted from late Wednesday through Sunday, but until then it's going to be nice during the day at Lake Davis. Go get some 'cause once she freezes over it's a long time until the damsels get active and the fish are found in the skinny water right at your feet.

Lake Davis Report 11/11 - Still Red Hot!

The latest storm blew through leaving a wake of 3" of fresh snow and bitter arctic air. This morning the temps were a balmy 20 degrees, our friend the sun was out though and greeted us with some much needed warmth. I've decided to put the boat away for the season so all of my endeavors to the buckets will be on foot. Hiking out is not a bad thing at all,  you generate a little heat and hear the quietness that only can be found after a snowfall.

In only a matter of days the creek had frozen solid offering a precarious crossing with a chance of falling through, the ice crackled and moaned with each step but held my weight as I reached the other side.

My guest today was Mario who had never fished Lake Davis in the fall, after averaging 10 fish an hour he understood why I get so excited about this time of year! He was also amazed how many fish he hooked into from this spot without ever having to move or get his feet wet. Water temps ranged from 38-44 degrees and there were many rising trout midging on a nice windless day. 60 fish were touched at least with 50 to the bank. In one word Mario described the fishing; INSANE!

An averaged sized rainbow from today, they were clean, beautiful, and full of fight ranging is size from 17-20". Stomach samples showed many damselfly nymphs, daphnia, and a few crawdads.

It's that time of year when the stove gets put into the pack, a hot meal keeps one warm and focused on the task at hand.

Burnt orange wiggle tails did the damage today as did sheep creek specials and damsel nymph patterns. Shore ice was creeping in on certain banks and some coves were locked in solid. The end is near but for now Lake Davis is very fishable. For those willing to hike 20 minutes, I can guide you to an excellent day of catching big numbers right off the bank!

The Gypsy Guide Tour; "That's A Wrap!"

The final two days of "LeTour"commenced at beautiful Lake Davis blazing wild in fall color. This was a very important trip for me since my clients were the guys who were on my vessel when we had to make a mayday distress call at Eagle Lake. I needed to wave the magic wand and pull a trout out of my hat, needless to say the fish gods had my back on this trip. I arrived on Saturday and went to Camp 5 boat ramp to see who was around. I met an angler who I had spoke to on the phone earlier in the week, Dave is another soldier who stalks trout from the bank and sight fishes when conditions allow. It's always great to hear stories from individuals who ply the shores of Lake Davis.

I rough camped full gypsy style for the next two nights on the log skidder site by Camp 5. Just the bare necessities came on this trip; A simple stove, the 15 pound -20 degree sleeping bag, and my insulated camo "mansuit" that is a must when you're cold weather camping. Once night came it was cold and a bit spooky, and those thumps and crunching sounds in the distance always add a few extra hairs to stand up on the back of my neck. The modern age lends a hand though as I answer business emails, Facebook my thoughts while checking in on my special friends, and running the Foo Fighters channel on Pandora keeping them bears away. Smartphones are one serious tool. The coyotes kept me company while singing the most eerie melodies, and the stars brilliant sparkle lit up the night sky in grand fashion. I pondered life in the darkness and thought of my upcoming birthday; 47 years old and to be honest life just keeps getting better, and better. I feel blessed.

Dan and Dean from the east bay had rescheduled another 2 days with me after the Eagle lake debacle. Talk about about winning the lottery, these guys picked the peak of the fishing at the lake combined with the warmest November weather I can ever remember! Yesterday the high was near 70 degrees at 5,700 feet; I was wearing a t-shirt! Very little wind to deal with and at times many rising trout.

It's hard to explain to someone how good the fishing was and how many hook ups we had. To an average person it would seem like the old fisherman's lies and bragging breath. Bent rods all day long no matter what style of fishing we chose to present flies; Shallow water with a floating line, Int. line with a fast strip, stalking individual trout off the bank, or the Jay Fair trolling technique all kicked ass! In two days these guys touched about 140 rainbows, bringing about 100 to the boat. So much action and so many fish we really lost count on the exact numbers. This is by far the best two days of the entire year on Lake Davis I got to experience - It was insane!

The rainbows ran from 16-20" and some so colored up in a crimson scheme that it looked like someone airbrushed them. These fish now have shoulders to them and they fought extremely well. The fishing will remain good but cold arctic air and snow is moving into the region for the next few days and the end could be coming soon. In any event I'll be back up with a few more client trips after the storm blows through.

I'm kinda sad that this trip has to end, I wish I could provide these perfect conditions everyday to my guest. But reality stares me in the face and I realize that times like these are gifts in life that are meant to be cherished memories. You know the ones that you play over and over in your head that make you grin and put that sparkle in your eye no matter how bad a day you're having. On my way home driving down hwy 49 through the twisty turns I was jonesing for a hot shower to rid my body of that stinky trout smell I had acquired from two days of pure bliss, and my temper-pedic bed. Through every turn in the damp darkness of the canyon I kept asking myself; "Did we really hammer all those fish or what?" Yes Jon, there is a Santa Claus!

Eagle Lake Presentation at Santa Cruz Fly Fisherman

Please join me and the Santa Cruz Fly Fisherman on November 7th at their monthly meeting as I share the secrets of Eagle Lake; home of the special and ancient rainbow trout. My Power Point program consists of over a 130 slides explaining the history of the lake, access points, techniques, tactics, flies, and entomology. If your near the Santa Cruz area make sure to stop by as the meeting is open to the public, and everyone is welcome! For more information and directions to the clubhouse follow this link: http://www.santacruzflyfishermen.org/ 

The Gypsy Guide Tour; Part 2

My second leg of "LeTour" was a short 3 day run at Lake Davis where prior to my arrival a foot of new snow had fallen upon the region. The fall colors where either peaking or just starting due to our complicated Indian Summer. I had my concerns about the necessary baggage this time of year; the boat. Backing down an ice covered ramp with a potential for jack knifing your trailer into a dock is not a good thing. I'm fine about not using a boat and having a long hike to the buckets, but with paying customers they deserve the best service possible; I will deliver come hell or high water for them.

As I made my way down to the Camp 5 boat ramp on Thursday I helped remove a pine tree that some good old local boys started to wrestle with. This is pretty common after storms up at the lake no matter what time of year and a good reason to keep a saw in the truck.

The ramp was in pretty good shape due its location of a southern exposure with protection from the wind. Even though the sun would do most the work, I still shoveled off the ramp and sanded it in preparation for my trips.

The new snow was melting fast and the cold weather dropped the water temps from 55 to 43 degrees! Saturday the fishing was still good but those rainbows had to adjust to the quick drop in water temperatures so the catch rate was a little off. It was such a gorgeous day, a fresh coating of sparkling snow around the lake and the willows blazing in color against a cobalt blue sky. Mother nature continues to take my breath away no matter how many years I've been around her; what a sweetheart!

Sunday was "OFF THE HOOK"! Water temps started out at 44 degrees again but by afternoon they climbed to 55 degrees. I chose some spots away from the masses of tubers that crowded the north end of the lake that offered these trout some sanctuary. Quiet coves filled with floating grass, junk, and noisy Coots splashing about can be very productive.

Rainbows today ran 15-20", the color and condition of these trout have got to be seen; absolutely beautiful for being from a hatchery. It's the fertile waters of Lake Davis and the abundant food that make them what they are.

We also had plenty of risers in front of us today and the boys had never had so much fun casting to targets and stalking individual fish. Between the two of them they touched at least 50 rainbows and landed about 30 of them! Effective flies right now are the ones in your stillwater box; These trout are on the gorge trying to fatten up for winter and will hit anything. JUST GET YOUR FLY IN FRONT OF THEM! We did best on Baiocchi's Sheep Creek Specials, and Jay Fair wiggle tails in dark fiery brown and burnt orange #10 & #12.

There is a high for guides after a day like today that no drug or bottle of booze can replicate, your so pumped up; you glow! It is so satisfying to me to be able to share and teach the shallow water style of fly fishing stillwaters. I give my students a solid foundation that they they can grow from and have confidence on the water when they are out there on their own. That in its own is worth more to me than anything. I'm happily tired from chasing these two trout bums around with a net all day. Today was awesome, this trip will float around my head for quite some time.

THE FALL BITE IS PEAKING AT LAKE DAVIS AND WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, GET YOUR ASS IN GEAR AND GET UP THERE TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC!