COOL EXPRESSIONS (Good Things Happen to Those Who Wade)

The beauty and wild—a hint of why many of us fish

Temps have been soaring above the century mark for the past few days and according to the weather gurus seems like this will be the trend for a while. Hey it is summer and anyone in their right mind knows it is that time of year to head to
your favorite watering hole. I know it may sound like a bit of a chamber commerce spiel but Trinity County has a broad diversity of waters to enjoy and provide relief from the heat. Besides where else can you, your family and friends go camping, backpacking, hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, swimming, skiing, boarding, as well as choose over (53) high mountain lakes, 1600 miles of fishable streams, three major impoundments (Trinity-Lewiston-Ruth Lakes) and 120mi. Trinity R. (supporting resident and anadromous fish stocks) to stretch a line all within an hr. or two radius? Just say’n!

Gwinnie Spurr knows how to beat the heat and express her fly fishing talents.

Summertime fishing has its own challenges yet quality fishing can be experienced by those who take the time to tune in and understand conditions, waters and fish behavior. In other words, if you find 100 plus degrees uncomfortable do you feel like pork’n out? Think about how fish feel. The summer season serves up some of the longest days of the year, broadcasting 12 plus hrs. of blazing sunlight and heat. Waters are warming; often gin clear, flows receding and, naturally, fish become spooky and selective. As in the case of many north state lakes, spring creeks and tailwaters, prolonged daylight and warming temperatures also activate vigorous aquatic vegetation growths that carpet and even suffocate favorite waters that add other levels of excitement, or frustration, when fish are hooked. Granted these are not the best conditions however those willing to forfeit banker hours, and adjust their fishing schedules, targeting waters early and late and taking advantage of low lighting, cool temperatures, height of aquatic activity and complimenting waters accordingly, are sure to put the odds in their favor scoring summertime success. Here are five local options sure to help you and your friends cool down and enjoy.

Trinity Alps

Wild side high altitude chill out. Backpacking, hiking, wilderness camping and stillwater (53 high mountain lakes) and small cr. fishing for brookies and bows. Unsurpassed scenery, timeless and a personal favorite; will be heading in early august with family. Remember Forest Service wilderness permits and latest info regarding trail conditions, campfires/burn permits (Weaverville Ranger Station 530-623-2121).

Trinity Lake

Early and late top water bass action happens all summer and is wide open for those who take advantage. The north end tailings, East arm, Hay flat and most any rocky points throughout Captains Point and the narrows are key target waters. A 7-8 wt. rod, Poppers- Deer Hair Mice- Hair divers and 1X tippits will do it. Mid-day enjoy the convenient multi water activities and beauty of the surrounding Alps while sipping your favorite iced bev..

Trinity Freestones

Wet wading, casting, small sticks/ dry flies for pocket water colorful natives. Coffee Cr.-Swift Cr.-Stuarts Fork all dropping yet still fishing. Personal strategy, stash a bike and fish up or down without having to hike back over the same waters; maximizing new waters and eager fish. Humpies, Ants, Hoppers, Elk-Hair Caddis Trudes and mini-Muddlers all effective. Fun- solitude- heat relief, this is your go-to and much more.

Louie-Louie Lake

“Aqua Velva Man”- Richard Burton, exercising max mesh capacity.

Cold waters fertile and bug infested Lewiston lake fishes all summer because of the intense water diversions; more like fishing a large spring creek; excellent tubing, boating, pontoon and wading. Louie is no gemmy; flows are dictated by commercial ag/hydro power demands therefore unpredictable at best. Simply take what is delivered and tune in with current conditions. Mid-summer you can count on early and late leeching-streamers (mimicking freshwater lampreys-damsels-kokanee fry) throughout the entire lake. Upper channels go big- go home (Mr. Pimps-Ole Blue-Pineapple- Yellow-n- Olive—all local favorite Trinity Fly Shop ties) fished on clear-camo intermediate/multi-tip lines. Lower lake, scale down sizes and fish in and around woody structures and shallow tapering shoals. Late afternoon/evenings the lower flats light up with small 16-18 tan caddis and 18-20 midge hatches. Soft-hackles-small pupas fished under an indicator or sunk lines effective. Poly-backs and deer hair adult patterns effective for those willing to head hunt surface scroungers. As mentioned Lewiston is not an easy one to unravel. However, if given a sincere effort, Louie can equally deliver slabs that may rival personal best. Currently happening!

Bob Jones has ever reason to smile—Louie-Louie!

Trinity River

Never know what may crush your fly when targeting the TR in the summertime.

Fly Only Waters fish all summer, best early-late, for residual trout (rainbow-brown), summer steelhead and spring-summer chinook. Currently bright attractors fished in deep water holding pools with sinking lines/tips are enticing occasional chinooks in the 6-9 lb. range. Faster waters are supporting occasional summer steelhead up to 6 lbs. Nymphing (Goldenstones-Burlaps-Diablos) streamers (Dace-Yellow-n-Olive—Epoxy minnows) and some top water patterns (skaters/muddlers) all solid choices. Most exciting are the current late afternoon/evening PMD hatches, two different generations (big-#12 and small-#16) inspiring a little bit of everything to key and crunch; (Biot parachutes-Pullover-Cripple-Cream Dream-Compara-duns) all effective. Success happens to those who take the time to hunt their targets, time their rhythms and follows the golden rule— one quality cast, at the right time and lane, is better than 20 carefree hacks. Remember these waters are ZERO limit and open thru Sept. 15th.

So next time you catch one of your friends sniveling about nowhere to fish during the height of the summer season slap some sense into them, or better yet, leave’m behind and get with the program! Stay Wet, Cool & Tight Looped–Herb

Too close for comfort, FLAT FIRE, one ridge from TFS—That time of year, BE FIRE SAFE!

HYMENOPTERA 101 (Revisited)

It’s hymenoptera time & Kit Kreick knows where to be and what to use

Some of you have visited the shop inquiring about fishing and the “ant” hatch currently happening on local Trinity waters. So no time is better than now to crack the bug code. Anyone desiring to catch a slab- learn how to say Hymenoptera and read on.

Another hungry bow sporting a wasp tattoo fell for the Come-n Get It approach

Hymenoptera, Latin order for aquatic diving wasp. Sounds like something out of the prehistoric age. Maybe so, however, diving wasp is a major aquatic insect (terrestrial) that hatches each spring, triggered by the first hot (80 degree) windy heat ups of April-May in many north state waters. Locally they hatch on Trinity-Lewiston-Grass Valley Lakes and the lower Trinity River. Wasp hatches are a main event, the meat and potatoes to hunk bows-browns, smallmouth even squawfish, inspiring feeding sprees and creating some of the most exciting wet and dry fly opportunities of the season. According to Patrick McCafferty’s book (Angling Entomology) the diving wasp undergo a complete metamorphosis; emerging from their host, and float to the surface before drifting to shore. The adults dry and take flight to the top of the evergreens, mate and afterward, the females dive to the bottom of the river or lake, planting their eggs on another aquatic, often caddis. Sounds like a Stephen King thriller – but a key aquatic every sillwater and tailwater angler should be well in tune with and inventory.

At first glance, it is easy to understand why wasps are often mistaken for flying ants. Close observations reveal they look similar; you can touch’em, they don’t sting, stink or bite. A mouthful, wasps are generally large critters (#8-#14 with the larger representing first generations) dwarfing most spring aquatics, sporting black bodies with a pronounced translucent wing set. You almost never see them in flight and their low floating in-the-film profile is well disguised. Wasp hatches, referred to as float-ups, often coincide with other aquatics such as Callibaetis mayflies and early season caddis and often overshadowed or mistaken for other aquatics; leading the unaware filtering thru fly boxes and baffled.

Right place-right time—TR brown trout love to crush wasps

Fish target both float-ups and the drifting adults in the film. Depending upon conditions, early season float-ups are generally sparse, lasting an hour or two. Despite scant bug activity fish readily key and crunch; opening the door for quality wet fly opportunities. Fishing float-ups, target slow weedy habitats and favorite fishy waters with intermediate sink lines, such as clear-camo, or type 2-3 full sink lines fished with slow steady retrieves, mimicking active wasps. Count down presentations seeking desired water columns fish are zoning- in and munching. Wet patterns should be sparsely dressed and match the size of the naturals. Size matters, trumping color shades. Takes are deliberate, there is nothing subtle, beef tippits (generally 4X) whenever possible to accept contact and deter loose ends.

When wasps are observed in the surface film and fish actively on them, naturally follow suit with floating lines and properly sized wasp patterns to compliment naturals and conditions. Dry wasp patterns are somewhat generic, looking similar to ants with pronounced abdomens and wing set. I favor a black Deer Hair wasp pattern (always available Trinity Fly shop); reflecting sparse body- Dun wing-Brn. hackle and black deer hair tied over the back of the abdomen for desired flotation. If windy, choppy conditions prevail it helps to have optional patterns tied with dense foam bodies complimented with a Hi-Vis wing post for optimum float and visibility. For additional effective wasp patterns check out (Stillwater Fly Fishing Secrets by Hal Janssen); Hal also includes tying instructions. Early season fish can be eager, often moving 2-3 ft. to inhale your fly. Days like this are fairly common and if you are one that falls into the category, “better to be lucky than good,” cast and fish wherever your gut instincts dictate; sometimes you can do no wrong. Unfortunately there is the flip side. As the season progresses, overlapping wasp generations intensify and fish become porked and extremely selective; some situations you might be better off fishing Roll-Aids. Bright side of the flip side, the first few weeks after generation float-ups expire, wasps are still on the taste buds and you can effectively fish them, often yielding solid success, without a trace of a natural.

Head hunting, casting to specific targets, rather than random casting, has proved to be most successful, especially for larger quarry. Take time to observe active fish and their feeding patterns. Lead targets 3-4 ft. with clean presentations; which can be achieved by a forceful Bounce Cast or simply overshooting your target a couple feet and lifting the rod tip straight up, dragging your fly back into the feed zone; ultimately straightening your line-leader-tippit. Be patient; don’t try to catch them all. Leave your pattern in an active feed zone, a minute or two, they will find it; either inhaling it or rejection. If fish are unwilling to accept a dead drifted presentation, try slow steady retrieves. We reference this— the “come’n-get it” approach; can be deadly when fish are sensitive. Seasonal float up durations generally last two-three weeks; possibly longer depending upon conditions. Keep in mind; cool weather suppresses generation float-ups, prolonging season duration while unseasonably warm weather accelerates generation float-ups and duration. In any case fish crave and inhale them. Be aware, be prepared—never leave home without them!

Straight From the Line-ups – Trinity-Lewiston Grass Valley Lakes—Its Hymenopteria time- Happening NOW! Get Out There!!!

Double digit fish often drop their guard, craving and inhaling wasps-its 4x or just another fish story

POOR MAN’S NEW ZEALAND (Last Chance for Winter Steel?)

Steelhead

Nikki Steegan has every right to holler’n shout-Catching/releasing her first steelhead on a fly, with the guidance of Darren Victorine

This post comes much too late however sometimes you just have to slow the train down, take some time off to enjoy the ride and reboot.

Straight From the Lineups

Fish On!

It ain’t over till it’s over according to Mike Morris and tight line counterpart

Trinity River

March madness recently delivered a one-two punch that belted NorCal with much needed rain and snow. The latest round of weather was one of this winter’s strongest storms and helped replenish a dismal snow pack in the Trinity Alps (30%) and refueled the Trinity River; activating late season steelhead movements, bug hatches and firing up fishing and anglers.

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NEW YEAR-NEW GENERATIONS (New Beginnings)

Teach a child how to fly fish and have a friend for Life!-Carlo & Tavlyn Bereono savoring the moment after releasing her first steelie!

Not since the movie “A River Runs through It” ignited a mega jolt of fly fishing popularity have we witnessed the latest addition of newbies expressing interest in fly fishing. Not everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Most unusual is the latest surge of young children, mostly under 15 yrs. of age, expressing interests, suiting up and eager to learn how to cast and fly fish.

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