Happy Friday!!!!!

Well I can honestly say it feels like winter here…it gets dark at like 430pm and is cold and rainy. I think I have gone to bed at like 7pm the last few nights…pretty sad when your 9 year old stays up later then you.

To be totally honest I have not been doing a ton of fishing. The crowds and hords of people chasing the “egg bite” in October is a hard hurdle to get over for me…I use to love October and enjoy the competitive nature of the guiding during that time of year, but as I have gotten older I have really lost more and more interest in it…that said the fishing during October has seemingly declined every year as well so that hasn’t help hold my interest either…All that said I love fishing and guiding in November –February. Most of the other guides mover over to the coast or Trinity and the Sac, Yuba, and Feather become fairly devoid of people. There are not huge numbers caught on any of those rivers but there is always the chance for a big number day on the Yuba or Sac if the stars align…BUT What does happen though is we catch some of the biggest fish of the year, there are chances to swing flies on the Yuba, Winter steelhead move up the Yuba, sac, and feather that we can run into occasionally …and we may even get some days on Butte Creek where we fish for wild steelhead in one of the most beautiful canyons in California…That said like most things in life winter fishing is really all timing. Rain, wind, blown out rivers, frigid temperatures, and just plain shitty fishing can greet you on any given day. The older I get the more l find myself leaning towards fishing that provides the “chance” or where the reward is enormous but the chance of being rewarded is slim…Almost like an addict needing a strong and stronger dose.

I think this is what draws me to striper fishing and winter trout and steelhead fishing. In striper fishing one fish could be 12” and the next 40lbs as one of my mentors told me very early on, You are always one cast away from a 50lber. Winter fishing is very much the same way…any day the stars can align and it can be AMAZING, but in reality that doesn’t happen very often. When it does though it is so far and above what is normal fishing that it brings me back year after year. The chase or the possibility is what scratches the itch now a days for me…This is really what coastal or true blood steelhead fishermen talk about…how they justify the freezing ass cold water and casting for hours on end matched with late night and early morning drives of 2-5 hours in the dark…I get it, just not my thing.

Either way winter trout and steelhead fishing on the Lower Sac, Lower Yuba, and Feather are some of my favorite fishing of the year and I am really excited as last year with the apocalyptic winter I got almost no winter fishing in.

Open dates:

Nov 18, 21,

Dec 9, 21 -23, 27-30

Jan 4, 5, 13, 15, 20, 27

Feb 3, 10, 12, 17, 19,

Lower Sacramento River: Guided the Lower Sac up outside of Anderson over the last week and fishing was fair at best. I didn’t see one salmon from Possey down to Balls Ferry over a few days. I have heard there are a few redds, but nothing like there should be. The hope is the salmon are late, but I have a hard time believing that with the lack of success of salmon anglers lower in the system. Most people are saying that most of the salmon went up the feather and that is why salmon fishing was so good this year on the feather for most salmon anglers as it was full of Sac and Feather fish. The common explanation for this is that this is the first year of returns for “trucked fish” – Fish that were trucked down to rio vista during the drought and not allowed to migrate out and down the various rivers, imprinting on the way. Either way trout fishing on the Sac is tough right now….I don’t have an answer why but it is what it is. Flows have dropped this week from 8K to 5K so this should mix things up a bit and concentrate fish which is never a bad thing.

Striper fishing on the Sac – Fishing is fair to good depending on weather and air temps. I have had a great afternoons fishing when the weather has been stable but with huge pressure and weather swings moving in fishing can get a bit tough.

Lower Yuba River: Flows are hovering around 1K and I have heard very little on how the river is fishing. Last time I was on it a few weeks ago fishing was fair…a few reds but nothing that I would call great egg bite fishing. Most people I talk to are fishing dry flies and catching fish but most are pretty small in the 10-12” range. I really think that we need some big pushes of water and even some late run salmon to pull fish up into the river again or at least the bigger fish. That said the flows at 1K are at a good level for that to happen – not the usual 700 that the river can be at this time of year. Looking forward to a good winter on the Yuba…really missed it last winter.

Feather River: There is a bunch of steelhead in the feather and the run has been really good. That said there are a bunch of guides and anglers over there fishing and guiding. I have been going out in my jet boat and trying to navigate around them or doing some different floats to stay away from people. That said it is crowded and that is just part of the game.

Appearances:

I will tying on Loon Live this coming week with Matt Callies – tune in here on Thursday Nov. 16 at 6pm or after to check out the archive.

 

I will be live Nov 16!!!

Upcoming Events:

Lots of cool stuff coming up…

Truckee Fly Fishing Festival

Saturday November 18th Matt Heron (Truckee/Western Nevada Director of Cast Hope) Fly Fishing has partnered with Truckee Tourism Business Improvement District to bring you a day of fly fishing fun! 

There will be a "demo day" with Sage, Rio, Costa, Simms, Redington and Truckee Trout Unlimited, the evening will conclude with a showing of the Fly Fishing Film Tour at the Truckee Community Arts Center. Come and enjoy the best films in the industry while drinking a few beers and meeting new friends. The event will also have a raffle and fundraiser for the Reno/Tahoe Cast Hope Branch. 
Purchase Your Tickets - HERE 

Demo Day and Guide Presentations 
The Free Demo Day will be from 10am-3:30pm at the Glenshire Bridge Fishing Access parking lot in Truckee. Rub elbows with the best Reps. in the biz from Sage, Rio, Costa, Simms, Redington and Truckee Trout Unlimited. Cast the newest rods and lines, try on some new shades and more. During this event, some of the best guides on the Truckee with be giving presentations on topics such as short line nymphing, indicator fishing, single hand spey and more. Dress for any weather and be ready to fish!


Fly Fishing Film Tour 
The evening will conclude with a showing of the Fly Fishing Film Tour at the Truckee Community Arts Center. Come and enjoy the best films in the industry while drinking a few beers and meeting new friends. The event will also have a raffle and fundraiser for the Reno/Tahoe Cast Hope. A local non-profit that gets at risk and underprivileged youth on the water through exposure to the outdoors via fly fishing. 
By November 1st tickets will be available locally, at a discount, at Ace Mountain Hardware in Truckee and the Reno Fly Shop for $15. Tickets maybe purchased online at the f3t.com or at the door for $20. Space is limited. 
Detailed Schedule of Events - HERE 
Purchase Your Tickets - HERE 

Cast Hope 4^th Annual Steelhead Tournament

This is going to be a great weekend with friends, fishing, great food, drinks, and raising money for Cast Hope. As always, all proceeds from the event go to benefit Cast Hope. People attending the event will be receiving 3 nights lodging at Indian Creek Lodge and 2 days of guided fishing on Trinity River. The event includes gourmet meals, wine/beer, a door prize package, two day guided fly fishing tournament with five prize categories! If you are interested in attending this event email Ryan Johnston at info@casthope.org, space is limited. Good Luck to this year’s Anglers! 

Dates: The event is going to be held on Dec 7-10, 2017. You will check in on Thursday evening. Fish on Friday and Saturday. Then check out Sunday morning. 

Location: The steelhead tournament will be taking place on the Trinity River near Weaverville, CA. Fish from 25-30" are common on this river with the potential at fish in the 31-35" range being caught every year. This tournament is going to be open to both nymphing and swinging for steelhead. Steelhead caught swinging will carry more weight in terms of points for the tournament. 

Lodging: We will be staying at the Indian Creek Lodge in Douglas City (http://iclodge.net). Indian Creek is directly on highway 299 with the river running through the back of the property. The Lodge is more a hotel style place with an awesome banquet room where we will be doing meals and hosting all of our festivities. 

Meals/Drinks: All meals and drinks are included in the price of entry. You will be served a delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day of the event. There is also unlimited beer and wine included. 

Cost: The cost of the event is going to be $2,500 per individual angler or $4,000 for a team of two. A great price with everything that comes included in the package. 

Prizes: There are going to be some awesome prizes for the winners this year. All of the prizes are going to be based around the thought of steelhead and will include rods, trips, and cold weather gear. In total there will be 5 different prizes given away to the top 3 anglers, top team, and Big Fish caught. In addition to the actual prizes each participant will be receiving a free swag bag with a Simms Bag, Simms Jacket, Simms Shirt, and other Cast Hope Goodies. 

Sponsor: This steelhead event is being sponsored by The Fly Shop ( http://www.theflyshop.com). We will be using all of their guides for the fishing. They have been around for a long time and are looked upon highly with expertise on the Trinity River

2^nd Annual Cast Hope Benefit Concert

Join us for a fantastic evening featuring Chuck Ragan, Dave House, Chris Shiflett (from Foo Fighters), and Inland, December 16, 2017 to benefit Cast Hope. Mark your calendars, you don’t want to miss this concert event! 

Event Date: December 16, 2017 - 6:30pm-10:00pm 
Location: Goldfield Trading Post (http://goldfieldtradingpost.com) 
1630 J Street, Sacramento, CA 
Cost: $15-$20 per person 

All ticket proceeds go to Cast Hope. Click HERE for tickets