Why the "Jimmy Legs" Works on the Sac?

[matt johnson]

Performed a crude autopsy on this rainbow from below Anderson River Park on the Lower Sacramento River today. It was loaded with Pteronarcys nymphs! It had a couple nice fresh ones jammed in its throat, and the half digested blob in its stomach looked like all Pteronarcys parts too!

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee281/ozziebooboo/troutstomach.jpg

Matt.

[Ed Wahl]

AAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ed

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I had heard there are big stone flies on the Lower Sacramento River too.

Matt, was that a "shore lunch"?

I thought you guys were studying the salmon up that way.

[Charlie Gonzales]

How long has there been stoneflies on the lower Sac? It seems like just the past 10 years or less?

[Jay]

Autopsies are performed on dead humans. Necropsies are performed on dead animals.

Please do not mind me. My girlfriend has been on a mind numbing marathon of "Bones" episodes, and that piece of garbage information stuck :D :D :D

[matt johnson]

Matt, was that a "shore lunch"?



We just found this trout while motoring up the river. It had been savaged then dropped by some kind of predator?? It had an ugly face, but was an otherwise nice fresh, healthy looking trout...

Not sure how long the "Salmonfly's" have been in the Sac? I have seen them here and there since I have been on the river since 2002. They may be increasing? While I was having lunch that same day on the river bank I had a Skwala type stonefly and a Yellow Sally crawl on me. Lots of bugs in that river.

Jay, thanks for the "necropsy" clarification. I'll remember that!

The Lower Sac is in great shape right now and the whole river corridor looks gorgeous. Lots of bent rods sticking out of the few guide boats on the river... Matt

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Must be cool to work on a river every day.

[matt johnson]

Must be cool to work on a river every day.

Yeah Bill, I get that a lot!

I do have a cool job, and I try to really appreciate the river when I am on it. But like any job, go out on the same stretch of river enough and it can turn into a "grind". I do love seeing the river change with the seasons, and I still see and learn new things on the river. For example, I knew there were Giant Stoneflies in the Sac, but I had no idea the rainbows were that keyed in on them until I looked in that stomach. That was cool!

I think the best jobs out there are those where you get to help people or critters?

I wish I could "afford" to work in a flyshop again. I miss helping people out with little things like knots, tying flies, and fishing info...

It must be cool to own a flyshop!

Matt.

[Notch]

You know you have a cool job when you can scout the fishing while you're "on the clock".

Can't wait to get back up there and snoop around in some of the canyon water. Should be a good water for the North Valley trout.

[matt johnson]

You know you have a cool job when you can scout the fishing while you're "on the clock".

Or when the supervisors aren't around and you bring the rods along on the survey!!

Yep, more water for the trouts this year. There are a couple of "hot and dry" canyon creeks in the North Valley I've been thinking about that ought to fish really well on the opener....
Matt.

[Don Powell]

Thanks for sharing, Matt

You are unquestionably one of the fishiest guys I have ever met, and deservedly so!

(I am postponing my next trip to the Dean, until circumstances permit you to go!)

[lynnwhite44]

When ever I fish the lower sac the first fly I tie on my rig is a large rubber leg size 4 or 6 in black or brown. Also, with the heavy rubber leg fly I never have to use split shot.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

When ever I fish the lower sac the first fly I tie on my rig is a large rubber leg size 4 or 6 in black or brown. Also, with the heavy rubber leg fly I never have to use split shot.

Great Lynn

**Years ago, before we had indicators, we fished bigger trout streams with a big dark weighted stone fly nymph on the bottom for the "sinker" and a smaller standard nymph (Hares Ear size #12/14) on a short dropper above it.

[Ralph]

How long has there been stoneflies on the lower Sac? It seems like just the past 10 years or less?

The bug population changed in response to the addition of thermal shutters on Shasta. I assume that Pteronarcys likes the extra cold water.