So winter is here it seems like at least today. There was a
little frost this morning in Chico, Ca and the morning air temps were around
38. Haven’t seen really any rain in the last two weeks and we even saw weather
this last week in the 80s! CRAZY but CRAZY seems to be the new normal with
regards to weather. Here are some fishing reports and things that have been
going on…you know random stuff you can read to kill time on a Thursday.
Open Dates:
Dec: 17, 21-23, 29-31
Jan: 2, 5-7, 14, 28
Feb: 20
Lower Sac Stripers: Fishing has slowed dramatically
but the river is fishable and the big fish are the ones that are eating…I mean
really big. This is when you may fish all day for one grab but it will be a
true trophy. I fished last week when the weather was warmer and caught plenty
of 3-8lb fish and had one monster follow and tail slap a fly on an I-Line.
Winter striper fishing on the river can be good or bad just depends on the
weather and water
Lower Sacramento River Trout: December is
traditionally one of, if not my favorite, month to fish the Sac for trout. Most
of the guides and recreational anglers are gone…moving back down south or to
the Trinity and while numbers are not huge we do usually catch some of the
biggest rainbows of the year. Fishing small and deep is the key and with a poor
salmon return it seems this small and deep approach we use in December has
already started from what I hear.
Feather River Steelhead: Fishing is pretty workmen
like…good numbers no reports of monsters but steady fishing if you can get a
clean run and fresh water. Getting fresh water is the biggest issue on the
feather. If you are the first one to fish it you will get the fish…if not can
be tough.
Lower Yuba River: Lower yuba slowed down with the
flow drop as the flows are back down to 775. I am really not a fan of fishing
the Yuba at these flows but good
rain can push the flows back up to around a 1000cfs really quick so hopefully
we get some rain soon and that happens.
Butte Creek: Is open and flows are around 150cfs…a
good wade fishing flow. There should be some steelhead up in the creek with the
good rains we had in October. May get out and check it out this weekend.
Sports Reports....a lot has happened. Baseball season
was good…I am glad that the giants lost the way they did so they will be publicly
forced to spend some money on a closer/bull pen. The total embarrassment of the
way they lost game 4 is going to force them to spend some money.
Notre Dame is what they are…YOUNG. Expectations were way to
high this year. We are starting on average 14 freshman a game so you get what
you get with that. That said I support Coach Kelly and in no way blame him or
his staff or the losses…that said I am glad Van Gormer (d-cordinator) is
gone…His schemes were way to complicated and many times the kids looked lost.
Hopefully Kaiser stays and all this experience for these young kids helps next
year as pretty much everyone will be back.
Music: Been listening to a ton of Sturgill Simpson
sense the wife and I were lucky enough to go see him this last weekend at the
Cascade Theater in Redding, CA aka the Bakersfield of the North State. By far top 5 shows I have ever seen…the
musicianship was amazing. Plus Sturgill is just a bad ass…talk about the real
deal man.
In other news my band Royal Oaks is heading into the studio
this weekend for two day of tracking for our upcoming album…always a fun yet
taxing experience. We will also be playing Dec 10th down at Slims in
SF with Chuck Ragan, Rocky Votolato, Reverand Peyton and the Big Damn Band, and
Travis Hayes for the Inagural Cast Hope Benefit Concert.
