Ellis Lake

Spring Bassin’

A Bass That Found Some Bugger Fun

Fly fishing for bass is seasonal for me. As a fly angler who lives near some of the best trout rivers in California I can target trout all year around; therefore a bass on a fly is something special that only comes once a year in the spring and summer. Spring is finally here and I can now begin to successfully chase America’s favorite gamefish, the largemouth bass.

High and muddy rivers have shifted my attention to my favorite place, Ellis Lake. This lake is where I first began fishing when I was a youngin. Bluegills that ate worms, hotdogs, and bread were always the catch of the day. It is great to see a new generation of kiddos out there doing the same thing I was doing when I was a kid. Good stuff.

Bass Bed

The fish in the lake are beginning to wake up. A few largemouth are in spawning mode which can be anything from cruising around, bedding, or sunbathing. Most of the fish are still in sunbathing mode where they will spook instantly as soon as they see you.

I’ve been able to find a few fish that are willing to play during each one of my outings. Flies seem to be the best way to catch these fish. After I hooked and landed my second bass of the day, a kid that was fishing for bluegills a few steps away came up to me and asked how I was able to catch two bass within minutes apart. Just a few moments ago he was skeptical of my fly rod and told me in an unsure matter, “I don’t think the fish out here eat flies.” I quickly changed his mind.
Afterwards I told him that these fish like the way a fly slowly sinks, especially when presented right in front of their faces. Anything that sinks too fast won’t garner the attention of these bass. I don’t think he was paying attention. In one ear out the other.

The Smaller The Better

Catching blues and greens like I did years ago when I was a kid is still fun. Why is that? Well, it’s because I’m getting them on top with a dry that looks like an ant. Nothing like fighting a 3” fish on a fly rod.

I’m still trying to figure out how to catch largemouth bass more consistently on a fly. Reading and fishing a lake or pond isn’t nearly as easy as reading a river. A bass on a fly is something unique and different.

Here’s a cool video from the local InformativeFisherman on Spring Bass Fishing.

Putah Creek

Spring Breaking On Putah Creek

The Prettiest Spot On Putah Creek

Spring has sprung and today officially marks my first day on spring break; the teaching profession definitely has its pay-offs. The Yuba is still high at 4,000 CFS, the Feather is getting cranked up to 6x it’s normal flow, and the Truckee is fishing well but is two hours away. Not a lot options at the moment but I do love Putah Creek…

Lush Green Hills

The morning was a bit windy and cold but the afternoon was warm and sunny. The creek was full of life today with lizards scurrying around, woodpeckers knocking on trees, and waterfowl floating the flows. The hills that were burnt by last years Wragg Fire are coming back to life with greenery from one hill to the next. It was a beautiful day out on Putah Creek.

First Fish of the Day

Putah Creek flows have been cranked up to a decent 100 CFS which made my day much more productive. The creek is still off-color a bit but the clarity has improved since I visited the creek last week.
Fly selection was absolutely critical this trip. All of my fish came off one specific fly pattern in a specific color and size.
After hooking and landing my first fish of the day, I had trouble finding the next one. I went through several patterns using different techniques but nothing was happening. Finally, I looked in my fly box and thought, “What the hell, the same fly worked earlier… maybe changing the color will work.” My next cast is a take; my first Putah 20incher of the year!

Big Ole Putah

The same fly caught me fish all day, though they were mostly just pretty little babies. I’m still working on mastering Putah Creek and so far it’s been quite the journey. With different flows throughout the year to adapt to, I feel like I am only just beginning to understand where, when, and why.

Pretty Babies
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