Lake Davis and other environs

[Woodman]

I had the opportunity to get off from work, home responsibilities and the like for four consecutive days of fishing...that's relatively rare for me these days. The main objective was the Phil Rowley/Bill Forward stillwater clinic at Lake Davis. The drive up gave me the opportunity to fish the Middle Fork Feather, which I don't get to very often. A short hike in resulted in a number of fish like this...even in the heat of the day.

http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i343/jwoodling/mffr.jpg

The clinic was great. Bill and Phil are experienced and good instructors with great senses of humor. Good group of classmates as well...surprisingly about half from the Long Beach Club. I think there is another class scheduled for October. Well worth the modest fee. Time on the water at Davis was productive for most, with good numbers of typical Davis rainbows. The class format helped me to focus on new techniques rather than falling back to what I'm comfortable with.

http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i343/jwoodling/trout.jpg

Damsel hatch was not in full force, but lots of adults around. They seemed to enjoy the Callibaetis hatch as much as the fish and the fishermen.

http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i343/jwoodling/damsel.jpg

Waded early at Davis on Monday to sipping fish in the shallows, and then hightailed it through the Lakes Basin to drop in to the NF Yuba. I had forgotten what a beautiful and productive trout water this is. Lots of 7-12 inch fish on dries. Great way to finish the long weekend.

http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i343/jwoodling/nfyuba.jpg

[Troutstalker55B]

Great report Woodman! It was nice to see a clean rainbow from Lake Davis. So stoked you got to participate in Bill and Phil's clinic. The NFYR? That's my girl this time of year through summer! Thanks again.

Jon.

[Woodman]

Jon,

I caught another fish in this size range that I didn't get a picture of. It had NO sign of any parasites, not even the healed over lesions seen on the fish in the post.

Hard to understand how the effects are so disparate. Hope there's a solution in the future...

[Troutstalker55B]

Woodman,

I've caught very clean fish in the past three years since the parasites have been around, but those fish were in skinny water and what I call athletes (like your pic). I feel the skinny water fish are LONERS and less subjective to hanging around other fish with parasites. The fish I catch with parasites are those in deeper water but high in the column and they are very silvery in color if that means anything. Hope to see you up there in Fall when the real fishing begins!

Jon.

[Rockman]

Love the damsel shot snacking on the baetis. Raw Nature!
While flyfishing below Lake Clementine years ago. I had a big damsel attack my fly which had a split shot just above it. The leader got caught up in its wings, he was hovering around the pool for a good 20 seconds before he got tired and the weight slowwwwly took him down to the pool where a big smallie was watching. The damsel was assasinated a couple of inches above the water. One of those videos I can't share cause it is still stuck in my brain.:eek:

[Bryan Morgan]

Love the picture of the Damsel. Fantastic shot.