First Davis Trip

[Fochetti]

I went to Davis this last Tuesday and Weds to check out the place. I was very pleased with it's beauty. Went to the Northeast side of the lake the first day and caught a couple small ones. The were all covered on parasites and I have to say it was rather disgusting. Saw a lot of fish rising but could not figure out what they were taking. Had a lot of grabs with not many hookups.

That night I ventured over to the other side of the lake and tried cow creek. Not to much action, got some more grabs and no hook ups. I talked to a really nice guy and he gave me a fly that was working for him.

I packed up and camped in the area that is free. Had a beautiful camp all to myself...

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3164.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3166.jpg

The next morning I got to the lake and it was very nice out.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3170.jpg

I put on the fly the guy gave me and within five minutes hooked up. It was a very simple damsel imitation with a stiff hackle collar and very sparse marabou tail.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3171.jpg

Started seeing risers so I casted over them and hooked up to anther couple fish very quickly.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3173.jpg

Unfortunately all the fish I caught had a lot of parasites on them. This was was bad and the sores were pretty gnarly.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3176.jpg

I did manage to hook into one of the most gorgeous rainbows I have ever caught. Look at the green coloration and spots. It's a shame it had a few parasites, but not as bad as some others.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3180.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3181.jpg

I caught ten and called it a day since the wind started to pick up really bad. On my way in I stopped in a some "flats" and saw a nice rainbow cruising so I started casting to it. All of a sudden in just stopped moving and went belly up. By the time I got over it was already dead. I have never seen something like that. I hope the fish there can stay healthy cause it's a special place. It really is a bummer about the parasites, it seems like they just can't catch a break.

On my way home I stopped at the Little Truckee off 89 right by the bridge near the Little Truckee campground. I wanted to see if there was any risers. Sure enough there was, so I rigged up with a sz 20 parachute adams
and hooked the smallest fish of my life. I did not even know it was on until I picked up my fly. Does anyone know what this is? I don't think it is a rainbow. Anyways I caught like three of them and realized they were all that was rising so I took off.

Pretty little guys.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3196.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3198.jpg

[Dabalone]

Guessing its a young pike minnow.

A pic
http://calfish.ucdavis.edu/calfish/SacramentoPikeminnow.htm

[Ed Wahl]

Same site, different fish.

http://calfish.ucdavis.edu/calfish/LahontanRedside.htm

Ed

[OceanSunfish]

Nice report.

I sure hope that lake fills up in a couple of years and perhaps the additional water will allow it to regain full health. That lake and its fish can't catch a break.

Anyone know if those parasites are there for good? Are they the same thing that aflict fish in Folsom, Berryessa, et al.

[Dabalone]

I have fished Davis off and on since the early seventies, but its been a good six years since I was last there. I don't remember ever seeing a parasite problem with any of the fish I have taken there, in fact, they have always been clean beautiful rainbows with their deserved reputation of being hard fighters. This parasite problem seems to be something new, as far as I know nothing much has changed with the lake environment, always been weedy in the shallow areas and does warm up in the summer. Are they adding a different strain of rainbow?

[Fochetti]

I am no expert on Davis, but what I have heard is that since the last kill-off they planted 10,000,000 pounds? of fish to revive the lake. My guess is that some of those fish had the parasites and it has spread through the lake. If anyone knows what is going on or where it came from please correct me. Can this be eradicated, I sure hope so.

[jayclarkflyfishing]

I am no expert on Davis, but what I have heard is that since the last kill-off they planted 10,000,000 pounds? of fish to revive the lake. My guess is that some of those fish had the parasites and it has spread through the lake. If anyone knows what is going on or where it came from please correct me. Can this be eradicated, I sure hope so.

John-
After the latest treatment over 1 million fish were planted(not 10,000,000 lbs).I was told by a DFG biologist that the copepods(parasites) are naturally occuring in many lakes in the area including Davis.I feel that she may be mistaken as there have been no instances that I know of them occurring at Davis in the past(I have been fishing the lake since I was a kid growing up in the area in the early 70's).My thoughts are they came from one of the hatcheries that the fish originated from.I have no proof to substantiate this claim but this is my theory.


See you on the water!

Jay

[Tony Buzolich]

That little guy looks to be a Red Sided Dace and are common throughout the Sierra. Other kinds of Dace are scattered in most mountain lakes and streams.

Eagle Lake has a huge population of Dace as well. Often when fishing there in November millions of them are frozen solid to the rocks and shoreline.

Pretty ugly thing about all those parasites (copopods or whatever?). I'm wondering if these things can be transferred from one body of water to another on your boots or waders like the New Zealand Mud Snails.

Here's another scary thought along the same lines. What about water contact sports like swimming? Are these things transferrable to humans? Ever watch the Discovery Channel about being "Eaten Alive" where tape-worms, Galardia, Bott Fly Larva, etc. get in to the human body?

I know there are bugs everywhere but "TROUT" are supposed to come out of pristine clean running streams and lakes and be a thing of beauty. These poor guys look a little sad.

Are all of the fish in Davis lake like this?

[Fochetti]

Tony those were my thought exactly when fishing out there I did not even want to touch the fish it really disgusted me. When I got home I thoroughly inspected and cleaned all my gear. But you never know if they are still on anything, I sure hope not.

I also agree with the pristine part about trout, personally I fish for them because they are such beautiful fish. So, I am not sure if I will go back in the near future. I sure hope they can do something about it.

[jayclarkflyfishing]

After a little research(google is my friend),I realize that my theory about copepods coming from the hatchery is wrong.It appears that the copepods are naturally occuring and have been in Davis a long time.There is an "outbreak" taking place in many parts of the lake.Not all fish have them.I don't know what can be done about ,but the copepods won't stop me from fishing there.The pull of the bigger fish is worth it alone!!

See you on the water!

Jay

[Fochetti]

Well I guess I was wrong which is not uncommon. If this is the case it seems like a better scenario than if they cam from a hatchery, because I would think the fish would be able to fight them off or evolve some kind of response to them. I really hope they can fight through them cause the fish were pretty nasty. The last thing that worries me is: Can they be transferred to humans or dogs, and what do they actually do health wise to the fish?

John

[Dabalone]

Not a biologist, but, I believe it does most parasites no good to kill its hosts, a live host is a giving host. Here is a interesting controlled study examining brook trout and copepod infestation, sounds as if the results may be similar to what is being seen at Davis.

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3545334