One of my favorite winter fly-fishing sites is Lake McSwain in Merced County. As a year round trout fishery, it boasts some pretty impressive numbers along with one of the more popular trout derby's in California. While most people enjoy putting around the narrow little lake in their johnboats with little trolling motors, I really enjoy the wide open banks and shallow waters for casting flies.
I prefer to use a 10 or 12 wooly bugger on the end of a 4x or 5x tippet with moderate sinking line and then tie another either spruce or dark brown Matuka off the hook with 4x or 3x tippet about 18-24 inches behind the wooly bugger. The matuka's light weight compared to the bead head wooly bugger makes it cast nicely and snags very little, even though the lake is covered with sharp snaggy shale.
I also recommend using muddler minnows if you happen to find yourself at the lake when it's high enough to have a shady spot. Muddlers attract big bottom feeders when the water is warm, especially in the shady areas. Unfortunately, right now, the level is down, but according to the ranger, since the feeder dam at Lake McClure should be repaired soon, the level will be coming up. This is good news for bank fisherman who otherwise need to have a heck of a double hall cast to reach the deep cold waters.
Speaking of big casts... my arm felt like it was nearly going to fall off after casting my 6 wt 9' fast action rod 40+ feet all morning. If you are considering a trip, bring some anti-inflammatories with you.
2.03.2009
10.07.2008
it's been a while
Just a little update for the three people that read this blog.
I have been fishing three times this year, and I haven't had a whole lot of luck. Now I'm in school full time and that coupled with my work schedule kind of limits my otherwise vigorous fishing life.... so... stay tuned... I'm planning a steelhead trip with my pops for this winter... I'm sure that'll be good.
I have been fishing three times this year, and I haven't had a whole lot of luck. Now I'm in school full time and that coupled with my work schedule kind of limits my otherwise vigorous fishing life.... so... stay tuned... I'm planning a steelhead trip with my pops for this winter... I'm sure that'll be good.
6.08.2007
Essential Gear For Fishing (and camping) in the Sierras
Heading up for a day trip into the Sierra Nevadas? Going camping for a few nights? Here are some of the things that the websites and Ranger Station pamphlets don't tell you (although I recommend you pick up a pamphlet or two if you can).
Some essential gear:
1) At least 40 dollars in small bills... You can't get change back for campsite fees when you're sticking a damp envelope into a metal stump.
2) Camp fire permit... You need them to use the fire pits at most campgrounds in Stanislaus national park. they're free and can be picked up at any CDF or Ranger Station.
3) Fire wood... by June, most of the usable timber for campfires is pretty much used up. Bring your own.
4) Polarized Sunglasses... You can't see the fish without 'em.
5) Mosquito repellent... the stronger the better.
6) Scrub Brush and bucket... You can't wash your dishes in the river. You can't wash your dishes in the bathrooms (most don't have running water anyway). You can't wash your dishes at the water pumps. So you need to porter your own water to your fire pit and wash your dishes there. Also, you need the bucket to drown your fire when you hit the sack. It's a condition of getting your camp fire permit.
7) Light... You can never have to many lights especially if you come in from fishing late, haven't had any dinner and you have to try and cook fish in the dark.
8) Mrs. Dash seasoning... Mrs. Dash seasonings can make campfire roasted squirrels taste like Cornish Game Hen (not that I've ever tried Cornish Game Hen), and there's no salt, which is good because at high altitudes, you become dehydrated more quickly.
9) 50-100 feet of parachute cord or clothes line... Seriously, this may be the most useful thing of all. I use it to hoist up garbage into a tree at night. I use it as a line to dry clothes and waders. I use it as a stringer for fish. And I use it to make awesome snares for catching squirrels and such.
10) Water purifier/filter... Sometimes the water pumps will only pump out rust colored, foul tasting water (which makes pretty decent percolated coffee), so you can just go down to the river and pump some water through your filter and have, what I believe to be, the most delicious water you'll find anywhere.
11) Two different weigh fly rods... I use a 5/6 weight 9 foot rod for casting on the lakes and ponds with good heavy casting lines. I use one medium sinker and a floater. You don't really need the fast sinking lines because you can always add weight to the line if you need it to sink faster, but you can't take the density of the core away if you want it to sink slower. I also bring with me a 4/5 weight 7.5 foot rod for casting on the rivers and creeks. Very seldom do I use sinking lines on the rivers and creeks. There just isn't much need for it, generally speaking, as shallow as the rivers are.
12) Waders with wading boots... This ain't fishin' on no Mississippi River. You, my friend are fishing on some the wildest and most inaccessible rivers and creeks in the continental US (or so I've heard). You need some sturdy wading boots and some durable waders to manage you way through his terrain without becoming hypothermic and battered and bruised.
13) A ball cap... No, don't bring your dorky long billed French Legionnaire style desert cap that you bought for $30 out of your pricey little Orvis catalogue. You may be way up in the mountains, but you're still in California. We have an image to uphold. you just need something that will keep your nose from looking like a Strawberry left out in some 115 degree field in the valley. Not cool. Ok... dude?
14) Pre-tied leaders and tippets... (or knotless leaders, whichever you prefer). The bites aren't always predictable, and sometimes they don't last very long, so the more time you waste tying a leader because you cast into one of those unforgiving and always inaccessible manzanitas, the less time you spend catching fish.
15) Flies, lots of flies... I usually don't lose too many, but we all have bad days, and I don't know of many places less than an hour or two drive where you can buy some more. Consider the amount you think you're going to need and add 1 or of each pattern. Sometimes, the fish are only biting one thing, fore instance, an EC Caddis in some deep half shaded pool in the evening (hint hint) and you're planning on spending more than a day or two reaping the fruits of this productive hatch, you better bring 3 to 5 of that pattern..
16) Glow sticks... Most campsites are not well marked, and I don't know of any campgrounds that are lit. I always bring a glow stick or two (you can pick them up for cheap at Home Depot or Target) Crack it and tie it from my clothes line so that I can find my way back on those often hair-raising middle of the night bathroom runs.
17) A tomahawk... No real reason, I just thinks it's cool to carry one around the campground while wearing a loincloth and carrying six or seven dead squirrels over my shoulder. Everyone is always really impressed. It's almost like the whole campground goes quiet and everyone's eyes are just fixated on you when you do that. It's really cool.
18) A GPS... Just a little handheld one without all the fancy bells and whistles will do. They save countless flat-lander lives up there. Mark your campsite as a waypoint and just always follow the same track back that you took from your campsite. It kinda makes those trips to the restroom a little less daunting.
19) Extra garbage bags... You'll probably pick up and carry out more of other campers trash than your own.
20) A camera... If you forget this, your friends will never believe how many fish you caught.
These are just some suggestions to make your trip more comfortable, relaxing and enjoyable. You should always make a checklist of what to bring before hand. Then have someone look over it and scratch off ten or so things that they don't think are important, then pack them anyway, then get irritated because you can't find your flashlight under all that other crap that you packed that you never even needed to take out of your car. Sheesh! Over-packer!
So have fun, dude!
Disclaimer: I don't eat squirrels, I never have, and I don't even think it's legal to. Nor can it be very healthy, they eat garbage. So please, for the love of all things cute and furry, don' kill, trap, molest or eat squirrels. Even if you have a good recipe.
Some essential gear:
1) At least 40 dollars in small bills... You can't get change back for campsite fees when you're sticking a damp envelope into a metal stump.
2) Camp fire permit... You need them to use the fire pits at most campgrounds in Stanislaus national park. they're free and can be picked up at any CDF or Ranger Station.
3) Fire wood... by June, most of the usable timber for campfires is pretty much used up. Bring your own.
4) Polarized Sunglasses... You can't see the fish without 'em.
5) Mosquito repellent... the stronger the better.
6) Scrub Brush and bucket... You can't wash your dishes in the river. You can't wash your dishes in the bathrooms (most don't have running water anyway). You can't wash your dishes at the water pumps. So you need to porter your own water to your fire pit and wash your dishes there. Also, you need the bucket to drown your fire when you hit the sack. It's a condition of getting your camp fire permit.
7) Light... You can never have to many lights especially if you come in from fishing late, haven't had any dinner and you have to try and cook fish in the dark.
8) Mrs. Dash seasoning... Mrs. Dash seasonings can make campfire roasted squirrels taste like Cornish Game Hen (not that I've ever tried Cornish Game Hen), and there's no salt, which is good because at high altitudes, you become dehydrated more quickly.
9) 50-100 feet of parachute cord or clothes line... Seriously, this may be the most useful thing of all. I use it to hoist up garbage into a tree at night. I use it as a line to dry clothes and waders. I use it as a stringer for fish. And I use it to make awesome snares for catching squirrels and such.
10) Water purifier/filter... Sometimes the water pumps will only pump out rust colored, foul tasting water (which makes pretty decent percolated coffee), so you can just go down to the river and pump some water through your filter and have, what I believe to be, the most delicious water you'll find anywhere.
11) Two different weigh fly rods... I use a 5/6 weight 9 foot rod for casting on the lakes and ponds with good heavy casting lines. I use one medium sinker and a floater. You don't really need the fast sinking lines because you can always add weight to the line if you need it to sink faster, but you can't take the density of the core away if you want it to sink slower. I also bring with me a 4/5 weight 7.5 foot rod for casting on the rivers and creeks. Very seldom do I use sinking lines on the rivers and creeks. There just isn't much need for it, generally speaking, as shallow as the rivers are.
12) Waders with wading boots... This ain't fishin' on no Mississippi River. You, my friend are fishing on some the wildest and most inaccessible rivers and creeks in the continental US (or so I've heard). You need some sturdy wading boots and some durable waders to manage you way through his terrain without becoming hypothermic and battered and bruised.
13) A ball cap... No, don't bring your dorky long billed French Legionnaire style desert cap that you bought for $30 out of your pricey little Orvis catalogue. You may be way up in the mountains, but you're still in California. We have an image to uphold. you just need something that will keep your nose from looking like a Strawberry left out in some 115 degree field in the valley. Not cool. Ok... dude?
14) Pre-tied leaders and tippets... (or knotless leaders, whichever you prefer). The bites aren't always predictable, and sometimes they don't last very long, so the more time you waste tying a leader because you cast into one of those unforgiving and always inaccessible manzanitas, the less time you spend catching fish.
15) Flies, lots of flies... I usually don't lose too many, but we all have bad days, and I don't know of many places less than an hour or two drive where you can buy some more. Consider the amount you think you're going to need and add 1 or of each pattern. Sometimes, the fish are only biting one thing, fore instance, an EC Caddis in some deep half shaded pool in the evening (hint hint) and you're planning on spending more than a day or two reaping the fruits of this productive hatch, you better bring 3 to 5 of that pattern..
16) Glow sticks... Most campsites are not well marked, and I don't know of any campgrounds that are lit. I always bring a glow stick or two (you can pick them up for cheap at Home Depot or Target) Crack it and tie it from my clothes line so that I can find my way back on those often hair-raising middle of the night bathroom runs.
17) A tomahawk... No real reason, I just thinks it's cool to carry one around the campground while wearing a loincloth and carrying six or seven dead squirrels over my shoulder. Everyone is always really impressed. It's almost like the whole campground goes quiet and everyone's eyes are just fixated on you when you do that. It's really cool.
18) A GPS... Just a little handheld one without all the fancy bells and whistles will do. They save countless flat-lander lives up there. Mark your campsite as a waypoint and just always follow the same track back that you took from your campsite. It kinda makes those trips to the restroom a little less daunting.
19) Extra garbage bags... You'll probably pick up and carry out more of other campers trash than your own.
20) A camera... If you forget this, your friends will never believe how many fish you caught.
These are just some suggestions to make your trip more comfortable, relaxing and enjoyable. You should always make a checklist of what to bring before hand. Then have someone look over it and scratch off ten or so things that they don't think are important, then pack them anyway, then get irritated because you can't find your flashlight under all that other crap that you packed that you never even needed to take out of your car. Sheesh! Over-packer!
So have fun, dude!
Disclaimer: I don't eat squirrels, I never have, and I don't even think it's legal to. Nor can it be very healthy, they eat garbage. So please, for the love of all things cute and furry, don' kill, trap, molest or eat squirrels. Even if you have a good recipe.
5.29.2007
North Fork plug and streamer tips.
Fishing on the high altitude streams and rivers can be a tad different than your typical streamer fishing. The North Fork of the Stanislaus is the perfect place to break the rules.
Let me start out by saying I LOVE THE STANISLAUS RIVER! I grew up on it. I used to guide on it. I've been camping on it with my dad and brother for over a decade. If one can have a home river, this one is mine, particularly, for me, the North Fork of the Stan. It is a fun river to fish on, hike on, kayak on and fish on. (I know I said that twice). There are some rules that you can break on the Stan and there are some rules that you should break on the Stan. Up in the higher altitudes, I've never had much luck nymphing. Wet flies just don't produce for me, but I know people who knock 'em dead with nymphs. I probably just don't have the technique down well enough since I really favor dry flies and don't give nymphs much of a chance before I get impatient and try something else.
The North Fork is just a great river to learn on. They are mostly plants but every once in a while you may find a German Brown hanging out in the deep strong currents downstream of Sourgrass. You have a huge variety of insects, terrestrials and streamers. The terrain varies vastly from huge granite slides with green froth to babbling brooks to slow moving deep holes. There are cut-banks, grassy meadows, granite boulders and fallen trees. You can really earn your chops on a river like this, but at the same time, it's pretty forgiving.
Deep slow moving pools are a good starting point. there are invariably trout sitting in the murky depths waiting for a wayward crippled minnow to happen by. The best fly would be a dark brown or black Matuka. Carry lots of sizes and make you decision based on the size of the minnows in the area. I ALWAYS cast the streamers downstream of the fish I'm trying to hook and let it sink for a minute (being able to cast 30 feet at least somewhat accurately is preferable but not required). You really don't want to use weight in these holes unless the current is just so strong that it's the only way it's going to sink.
I like to get it between 4 and 12 inches below the surface and then I'll reel in slowly in a kind of jerky motion. Every once in a while I'll slightly twitch my rod to the left or right just to add to the crippled look. You'll get chasers for a while, but don't worry, when they get up the nerve, they attack HARD. Good luck and tight lines.
Let me start out by saying I LOVE THE STANISLAUS RIVER! I grew up on it. I used to guide on it. I've been camping on it with my dad and brother for over a decade. If one can have a home river, this one is mine, particularly, for me, the North Fork of the Stan. It is a fun river to fish on, hike on, kayak on and fish on. (I know I said that twice). There are some rules that you can break on the Stan and there are some rules that you should break on the Stan. Up in the higher altitudes, I've never had much luck nymphing. Wet flies just don't produce for me, but I know people who knock 'em dead with nymphs. I probably just don't have the technique down well enough since I really favor dry flies and don't give nymphs much of a chance before I get impatient and try something else.
The North Fork is just a great river to learn on. They are mostly plants but every once in a while you may find a German Brown hanging out in the deep strong currents downstream of Sourgrass. You have a huge variety of insects, terrestrials and streamers. The terrain varies vastly from huge granite slides with green froth to babbling brooks to slow moving deep holes. There are cut-banks, grassy meadows, granite boulders and fallen trees. You can really earn your chops on a river like this, but at the same time, it's pretty forgiving.
Deep slow moving pools are a good starting point. there are invariably trout sitting in the murky depths waiting for a wayward crippled minnow to happen by. The best fly would be a dark brown or black Matuka. Carry lots of sizes and make you decision based on the size of the minnows in the area. I ALWAYS cast the streamers downstream of the fish I'm trying to hook and let it sink for a minute (being able to cast 30 feet at least somewhat accurately is preferable but not required). You really don't want to use weight in these holes unless the current is just so strong that it's the only way it's going to sink.
I like to get it between 4 and 12 inches below the surface and then I'll reel in slowly in a kind of jerky motion. Every once in a while I'll slightly twitch my rod to the left or right just to add to the crippled look. You'll get chasers for a while, but don't worry, when they get up the nerve, they attack HARD. Good luck and tight lines.
5/29/07
My brother and went fishing on the North Fork of the Stanislaus River Monday evening and this morning. Fishing was pretty good considering all of the pressure that the fish got this weekend. First thing after we got there, about 3:30 pm, the bite started. I started out casting a #10 Parachute Adams under a deep, dark cut-bank and pulled out a nice 10-inch bow. It was a nice fight and it was barely hooked. I was lucky. The PMD hatch was HUGE. In one pool, my brother and I counted more than a half-dozen rainbows between 8" and 12".
I got them chasing a #8 Brown Humpy with a couple lack-luster hits then hooked one on a #12 Blue winged Olive. It was heartbreaking when I got him within a foot of me and he dove. I had stupidly stripped this nice fish in instead of reeling and setting my drag, so you can guess what happened next.
This morning I redeemed myself by landing two beautiful bows. First thing in the morning there was no surface action so I tossed a little brown Matuka (without any weight) downstream into a five-foot deep hole, I just let them sink naturally (makes for fewer lost flies here where submarine logs are plentiful) and stripped in. I probably cast three times when I got a feisty strike and reeled in a beautiful, chubby 12" rainbow. I headed up stream from the big pool and cast into some cut-banks with a #14 and #12 Bird's Nest with a single split shot and a strike indicator. Nothing was taking it, but since this is normally a pretty productive spot, I tossed in another Blue Winged Olive then a bright green comparadun and various PMD patterns. Nothin'. So I walked upstream and came upon a HUGE morning PMD hatch, but there were no fish anywhere (this section is pretty easy to spot fish in.)
I walked back to camp to find Sam getting geared up. We did a little cleaning, some journaling then headed back to the pool that produced so much heat the night before. Sam was casting streamers while I was trying to scare something up with a bead-head #14 Hare's Ear and a strike indicator. There was very little surface action still and it was getting to be kind of late for a good bite but we persisted. We could see all sorts of fish and we threw everything at them from dries to terrestrials to nymphs to streamers and only got them to chase a Matuka but they really weren't in the mood. But again, we persisted. Finally, getting desperate I started casting a #12 Bright Green Comparadun into the leaves above a little cut-bank where I had seen a fish sipping everything that hit the water. Then after over a hour of pressure on this pool, I got a hit. She was a fun fight but easily stripped in. I didn't waste time measuring it because it had taken me so long to get it untangled from my net, but it was probably 10".
All in all, it was a good trip, except that the mosquitoes were atrocious!
Tight lines!
I got them chasing a #8 Brown Humpy with a couple lack-luster hits then hooked one on a #12 Blue winged Olive. It was heartbreaking when I got him within a foot of me and he dove. I had stupidly stripped this nice fish in instead of reeling and setting my drag, so you can guess what happened next.
This morning I redeemed myself by landing two beautiful bows. First thing in the morning there was no surface action so I tossed a little brown Matuka (without any weight) downstream into a five-foot deep hole, I just let them sink naturally (makes for fewer lost flies here where submarine logs are plentiful) and stripped in. I probably cast three times when I got a feisty strike and reeled in a beautiful, chubby 12" rainbow. I headed up stream from the big pool and cast into some cut-banks with a #14 and #12 Bird's Nest with a single split shot and a strike indicator. Nothing was taking it, but since this is normally a pretty productive spot, I tossed in another Blue Winged Olive then a bright green comparadun and various PMD patterns. Nothin'. So I walked upstream and came upon a HUGE morning PMD hatch, but there were no fish anywhere (this section is pretty easy to spot fish in.)
I walked back to camp to find Sam getting geared up. We did a little cleaning, some journaling then headed back to the pool that produced so much heat the night before. Sam was casting streamers while I was trying to scare something up with a bead-head #14 Hare's Ear and a strike indicator. There was very little surface action still and it was getting to be kind of late for a good bite but we persisted. We could see all sorts of fish and we threw everything at them from dries to terrestrials to nymphs to streamers and only got them to chase a Matuka but they really weren't in the mood. But again, we persisted. Finally, getting desperate I started casting a #12 Bright Green Comparadun into the leaves above a little cut-bank where I had seen a fish sipping everything that hit the water. Then after over a hour of pressure on this pool, I got a hit. She was a fun fight but easily stripped in. I didn't waste time measuring it because it had taken me so long to get it untangled from my net, but it was probably 10".
All in all, it was a good trip, except that the mosquitoes were atrocious!
Tight lines!
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