Looking for Waldo—Darren doing all the right moves on a 4Wt.

I had one of those days in the shop that put a smile on my face, hop in my stride and an eager stoke to stretch a line. No, the till didn’t spill from raging retail sales, selling tackle, feathers and irons(?), but rather a day filled with warmth, spring beauty and a contagious, happy-go-lucky vibe from anglers checking in and eager to go fishing. Cool to witness so many feel’n it.

The first anglers I encountered were already waiting for the doors to open. The early arrivals were jazzed and on a mission, hiking and float tubing nearby Grass Valley lake. Giddy, from success the day before, they hustled and already knew what they needed; our Mr. Pimps and aquatic wasps. They reported the forty-five minute hike was well worth the effort as they experienced pure solitude and remote beauty, quality leeching and mid-day dry fly activity; I wanna go-I wanna go!!!

“Fly Water” last good-byes- Mark Brown

The tubers were off and running so I checked our e-mails, in-between hyped phone inquiries and reviewed some great photos of recent success from friends and clients targeting the Trinity’s “Fly only waters” (Opened April 1). Spring fever was in the air, guides, customers, phone contacts and e-mails all revealed an early season itch to fish and their feed-back indicated most all fisheries were delivering and pumping. The last rains inspired a fresh run of spring Blue-backs (jumbo half-pounders) into the lower Trinity River. A recent warming trend heated the Trinity Lake large-smallmouth bass grab. The first generation of aquatic wasp took advantage of the heat-up and popped on the lower flats of Lewiston Lake. A solid crunch on Grass Valley Lake; Ouch, Trinity waters are firing off and delivering a complete smorgasbord, late winter steelhead, rainbow/brown trout, landlocked salmon (Chinook/Kokanee) and large-smallmouth bass and more to come; the north state general trout season opener (Sat. – April 27) is just around the corner.

The day was full throttle and never a dull moment. Everyone was upbeat, hyped and struck by the infectious desire to get into some action. I felt like an air traffic controller, multi- tasking answering phone calls, e-mails, re-stocked inventories and catered to a flow of walk-ins until the clock wound down to closing time. I headed straight to the “dingy,” for a well-deserved cold one and returned to my office for some time out. Wow, what a pre- season roar; so many local options, where to go and what to do, a great problem to encounter this early in the year.

Mike Irvine and Lewiston Lake max capacity

Fun doesn’t stop in Trinity. After another rendezvous to the “dingy”, I kicked back and gazed at my Cal stream map, reflecting upon yesteryear, waters fished and just how remarkably diverse northern California is. Within a 5-6 hr. radius, north of SF, there is a much bigger picture of northern Cal that reveals a spectrum of hundreds of miles of trout rivers, the entire coastal watersheds (Trinity-Klamath-Eel, Russian) north East (Upper Sac., Pit, McCloud, Fall, Hat), Central Valley (lower Sac., American, Feather, Yuba, Mokelumne,Stanislaus) northern Sierras (Truckee, Carson, Merced) southern Sierras (Hot,Kings,Owens) and numerious others all representing primo freestone, springcreek, tailwater compositions and promise. Whew! If rivers aren’t your bag there are countless stillwaters that can literally swallow you up with a diversity of challenging trout filled waters. Desire something else to get your ya-ya’s and fuel the addiction? There are the reputable beaches, wineries and bleached blonds. Don’t hold back, Cal supports a world, both fresh and salt water, of options, salmon (Chinook-Coho-Kokanee) steelhead, striper, shad and large-smallmouth bass waters all within an easy day’s striking distance.

Meet Eddie Hipol’s – “Resident Evil”

Northern California’s fisheries, highlighted with dramatically varied and scenic landscape beauty, screams with appeal and desire. Yet, surprisingly, many California anglers don’t realize just how good they have it. Whether lack of exposure and or simply unaware of the quality of the fisheries, I’ve always been amazed at the number of anglers that bank their time/coin and fish out of state. Early on, I was one of them and believed grass was greener elsewhere. I learned firsthand, after investing a lifetime of fishing and adding plenty of exotic goose eggs to the nest, you can go a lot further and experience a lot less.

California dream’n, you got it; more like spoiled and that ain’t no pipe dream; our roots are firmly planted. If all this may sound like a chamber of commerce pitch, can I get a break? It is after hrs. and it just punched out this way. Besides, the economy has reflected some very challenging times for many anglers and households. If anglers are able to score good times and tight lines, fishing locally and on a minimal investment, all the better to preach for nor-Cal and its quality fisheries. Now get out there and welcome the 2013 Trout season!!! (*2013 TR Flow Schedule is posted info@trrp.net).

Tom Weseloh doing what he does best-.smil’n/catch’n

Tim Regan and dry fly dream fish – caught on a #14 Callibaetis.

Still on a bit of a buzz, while punching out this blog. Just this morning we had a young (age 16) beginning fly fisher, Derrick Wheeler from Fairfield, come in and inquire about fly fishing and Lewiston Lake. I always get jazzed when an eager and inquisitive Youngblood expresses interest in fly fishing, especially when they are all ears and ask the right questions. Delivering a fifteen minute verbal fly fishing crash course, selling a copy of “Curtis Creek Manifesto” and thoroughly going over effective flies, methods and productive Lewiston waters, Derrick left stoked and on a mission.

Spring has arrived and some mighty beautiful weather has not only activated some bursting beauty but also warmed TR water temperatures, triggering a variety of bug hatches that has created some exciting late season dry fly fishing for late winter steelhead and occasional brown trout. Mayflies, caddis, crane flies and stones have all made their debut. With unsettled March weather, hatches/generations start-ups have kept many guessing; dominate bug and extended hatch durations one day and brief hatch durations of a mixed bag of aquatics the next; strange and unpredictable at best. Although I’m sure the fish are just as puzzled. However, when it gels, they’ve got the feed bag on. Our Punk Rockers (Callibaetis Mayflies), T-Bones (Calineuria Stoneflies), Cream Dreams (Crain flies) Bullets (Hydropsyche Caddis) have been first choice flies when activity pops.

Be careful what you wish for-backyard blizzard caddis hatch.

While most steelhead are runbacks (kelts), surprisingly, anglers are still scoring on the occasional bright winter natives. Wow, it’s the end of March and fresh fish are still arriving, especially below the South Fork. I can’t help but reflect back to August 22, 2012, when we first encountered the lead edge of the 2012 late summer/fall steelhead runs in the lower gorge. Runs were early as a result of additional water flows allocated down the TR to help prevent lethal high water temperatures in the lower Klamath. Nobody told the early arrivals it was August. Most impressive and highlighting the steelhead runs were the large numbers of native stocks, representing great tributary, secondary and main stem conditions. Not cool and deep concerns is the weird and scary numbers of hatchery “hermaphrodites” that showed up. So, where I’m trying to go with all this? Well, to date, the 2012-2013 TR steelhead runs delivered over seven months of opportunity and a whole heap of a hell of a lot of fun for most anyone who timed it right and devoted the time and effort.

Late March, still arriving & sipping dry flies.

And it ain’t over till it’s over. April 1 is the opening of the Trinity River “Fly Fishing Only” waters (Old Lewiston dam down to Old Lewiston Bridge) Open Season: April 1 through September 15 to fly fishing only, zero limit. Flows will be low (300cfs.) so bring your best low water wizard approach. While the opener is often a favored event and social affair it is also a great trout season primer; great time of year to tune up your trout gear, well before the general trout opener. This two mile stretch represents the upper most heart of the Trinity River and supports a variety of water compositions that compliments most all fly fishing methods. Access is easy, via Hatchery, Old Bridge, and Lewiston Lake and most waters require moderate wading skills. This year, the river is serving up a mixed bag (steelhead runbacks, occasional fresh adults, residual rainbows, brown trout and slug, 800,000 of recently released juvenile out-migrants) that should prove to be fun for all. Need effective local flies and advice? Want some- get some, The Trinity Fly Shop is conveniently located, ten minutes from the “Fly waters”, across One Maple Winery on Lewiston Rd. Open seven days a week, 8-5—Your local Source!

Steve Hopkins and dry fly Loch-leven.

Now, back to where I first started. Just before closing the shop, Derrick Wheeler showed up with a sweet smile of success and solid hand shake. While Derrick and his Mom purchased a few more flies they also showed Patty and I a photo of his first, fly (Mr. Pimp) caught 18” Lewiston rainbow; fly casting in a kayak. Right on Derrick! And that’s how my day started and ended. It really doesn’t get any better! See ya on the opener!!!

Here they come, hatchery outmigrants by the thousands.