Monthly Archives: March 2010

Last minuite good-bye’s.

This spring if you don’t like the weather just wait awhile – warm & sunny, rain, cold hail & snow—lately Trinity County has been getting it all. Add constant changing pressure systems, a bouncing barometer, and swirling winds from every which way that even the bugs are dazed and confused as to which ones should pop, when and where. Shake it good and blend it all together and you have a classic formula for some very fickle fishing. However, for those who don’t take it all too serious and get run off by howling winds, lightening or simply the combination of all the above, chances are good you just may experience some out of control dry fly action.

Hey Ma’, steelhead on dries.

This past week has really kept Trinity River anglers on their A-game as a wide variety of dry fly opportunities popped with a series of forever changing conditions. Early warm weather triggered some very intense (blizzard) caddis hatches from Junction City on up to Douglas City. The unexpected early season blaze inspired quality late season steelhead (some lingering fresh ‘ens as well as runbacks) and double digit browns to selectively feed on both emerging pupas and drifting adults (new and spent). The strength of the hatch was mid-day. The catalyst — warm record breaking temps/heat. Why—who knows??? Craig Stephens, hit the calm before the storm and experienced steelhead & brown trout dry fly action that blew him away, at least for awhile. Chuck Batts, Ed Pollock, Andy & Connor Laursen, Dave Green, Keith Sutter and Steve & Andy Finley all joined in and scored fishing on top or in the film .

Through the eyes of a Trinity Brown.

Move aside! Just when the stage was set for caddis and everyone filled their fly inventories, appropriated specific times and dialed in their favorite waters for more on top ya-yas, cool, wet, overcast weather arrived, and erased any thought & hope for caddis hatches. While the caddis went bye-bye, the severe 180 degree weather change surprisingly triggered sheets of jumbo-sized , late season Callibaetis mayfly hatches. The big,(size #12) mid-day chocolate colored bon’bons didn’t let anyone down & kept the action going on top. Both steelhead and browns rolled their eyes and porked . Hatch durations included several heat up periods lasting 2-31/2 hours.. Film emergers (Punk-Rockers) for the entrees, Compara-Duns, Bullets served as the main course. Talk about hitting the lotto—our close friends and Oregon fishing guides Randy & Lorna Ridgon (www.oregontrophytrout.com) from Chiloquin, stopped by for a few nights of fun, laughter and ultimately expressed their stellar spring creek talents. Both landed double digit brownies and must mention parted a few 5X tippits. That’s right-ain’t no big’gens here in Ca..

Strange? A few warm-sunny-days, caddis pop. Next few days, cool, wet and overcast- mayflys pop. Whats that all about? One thing that isn’t so strange and not surprising—fish love it all and readily dial in. How long will this unstable exciting top water action last? Your guess is as good as mine or better yet, ask the weather gods. Those feeling lucky and have the time to stretch a line, acclimate, observe and dial in, matching current hatches and their progressive phases, are sure to experience the challenge and excitement of this year’s ever changing spring lineup. (April 1—“TrinityFly Only”waters re-open—call 530-623-6757/e-mail trinflyguy@shasta.com)

Land Locked Steelhead.

Recently we had a few days off and no better way to take a break from the daily rigors than research other favorite waters. Where do local boys go stretch a line late-winter/spring? No brainer—Lewiston Lake. This rich and fertile tailwater supports educated, well fed trout populations and generally fires up late winter early spring. Trout populations are unique and vary; colorful diverse strains that have been planted, some holding over and on the fatten-up, to native silvery chrome, Land Locked steelhead varieties that have successfully reproduced since the inception of Trinity-Lewiston dams. Much like steelhead, (they appear to be distant descendants), they are the ultimate tailwater challenge; selective, well proportioned, turbo charged and literally capable of taking you for a ride.

Chad Sayre- smiles of success.

Our visit to the lower lake revealed the glassy waters of Lewiston was going off and its fishery very much alive and on schedule. The rainy conditions triggered intense late morning/early afternoon midge hatches throughout the entire lower lake. After a brief observation and developing our game plan we boated out to the areas of activity (wade fished and from the craft) and targeted our quarry with tender gear. Light /med. action 5/6wt. Beulah rods, 12ft. leaders-6X tippits.

Lewiston Lake line-up.

Hatch matching on Lewiston Lake, fishing the midge, is always a chore and imperative to success. Lewiston fish generally begin grazing on emerging pupas in the deeper water columns and as the hatch progresses and intensifies they key in on the upper water columns as well as the surface. Over the years we have discovered flats supporting vegetation that slowly transition into main channel waters are prime early season midge waters. Hands down the best pupa imitation was Chris Burton’s locally fashioned and tied CB Pupa (#16). Early, this fished well deep on an intermediate Clear-Camo sinking line. As midge hatches progressed we targeted the upper water columns and the CB pupa produced best when slowly stripped on a floating line. Peak hatch provided a few brief flurries of exciting in-the-film surface opportunities. Our locally fashioned and tied Poly-back Emerger (#18) fished well and turned the heads of some stubborn slabs. For the new comer—simply take the time to check it out. Close observations will most often reveal, bug activity, trout behavior and cruse patterns.

Chris B-using what else-CB Pupa.

Early season midge fishing on Lewiston Lake is a very tender and challenging affair. Fishing can be down right difficult along with unstable weather patterns, complex hatches, selective trout and accepting the light tippit/small bug challenge. You either love it or hate it. It’s all about timing, and the bugs—understanding midge hatch cycles and targeting promising waters with appropriate fly selections. Those who successfully fish Lewiston have learned to appreciate this unique tailwater and quickly realize it is much more than an option.