Go as much as you can..........

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

There is a group of guys here that seem like they are always posting pictures here.

Well, it is because they go fishing all the time and after a while they get to be better fly fishers.

One of my little secrets to success is the fact that I either get some info from those guys who fish a particular place or I try to go with them.

Guy here like 'Steve' V, Jeff C, Ed W, Gordon, Maury, Andy, Charlie, Frank and others fish every week, year round. That is why they are good fly fishers and seem to always catch fish. I ask these guys question every time I see them on my quest to learn more all the time.

New people come along all the time and it is so nice to see them progress.

Sadly some have issues which keep them from going a lot so they can enjoy and keep learning on the great message board.

Thanks to all who come here and especially those who post.

.

[Bluegrass Bill]

Good advice Bill! Just the information shared on the board over the wide range of subjects is a tremendous help. I have had the opportunity to meet some of the folks you have mentioned and they are a tremendous resource for increasing your knowledge and success in fishing. I met Scott V up at Davis lake a couple weeks back and learned he loves to fish the delta from his kayak. I later asked if he could show me some of the ropes kayak fishing the delta and now that is going to happen :)

[Scott V]

Steve V, your killing me Bill. We slayed them at Davis today. My buddy Craig caught his two biggest trout on fly today. My biggest was about 24 or so and had to weight at least 5 or 6 pounds. Killer day on the water with smallest fish being 19"

[Bluegrass Bill]

Scott, Wow,that sounds like an incredible day :) ! You definitely do hit the water a lot! Got my Kayak on the water yesterday on the American River. Rack system works fine, got things down on securing it etc. Here are a couple pictures I took. Pretty day on the water :)

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[fishnbeatsworkin]

Steve V, your killing me Bill. We slayed them at Davis today. My buddy Craig caught his two biggest trout on fly today. My biggest was about 24 or so and had to weight at least 5 or 6 pounds. Killer day on the water with smallest fish being 19"

I should have fished near you guys or at least watched what you were doing. I got skunked at Davis today. I was doing so bad, I left about 2 pm & was home by 6

[Ed Wahl]

Thanks for the inclusion Bill. I used to hit it hard but these days I'm one of those "issues" guys, can't get out like that anymore. I'm still fishing when I can and training and hunting my bird dogs. Yep, I picked up another one. You guys who've tried to float new rods past the wife had it easy, try doing it with a dog.
It's still kind of dicey.
I'll still help the folks out when I can and post pics when I do get out fishing. Maybe I can get a shot of a dog grabbing a fish that's just grabbed a fly. It's happened before.
Ed

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Steve V, your killing me Bill. "

Scott and I have an inside joke here......way back I called him Steve intsead of Scott. I thought it was OK because it still started with an 'S'.

[Scott V]

Scott and I have an inside joke here......way back I called him Steve intsead of Scott. I thought it was OK because it still started with an 'S'.

You can call me whatever you want pops.

[Morgan]

Only one way to improve right...? Thats gettin out there!
If I dont fish ATLEAST one day a week I go crazy.....cant improve my skills sittn at home or at work.
Gotta get on the water.
I am a "newbie" still. But getting out on the water 150+ days a year helps shrink that learning curve.
As well as fishing w/ seasoned fly fishers....that helps tremendously!
The constant yelling...."stop your rod tip"..."dont bend your wrist"...."set"....."strip"...."mend...keep stacking".
All of this constant banter and time spent on the water has been a blessing.
And each time we go fish a new piece of water it is eye opening. Whether its the scenery or the fishing...or both.
I always look forward to that next outing or meeting those other fly fishing nerds who share the same passion.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Many years ago when my first fly shop was only 884 sq ft and I was it, I spent all day "on the counter" talking fly fishing to lots of folks.

For the new folks I also talked about another benefit to going more.....it was the fact that it increases your odds.

I use to say to them that with about every 6 or so outtings you should hit one of those days or periods when the fish are either 'there' in the case of migratory fish or they are 'on'.


In my life time I can just think about all those special days when the fish God was good to us.

I have had those wonderful days on the South Fork of the American, the Pit River, the Truckee, Hat Creek and the Upper Sac where the fishing was beyond wonderful.

I have also had those special days many years ago on the Trinity, Klamath, Rogue, Eel, Gualala and Garcia Rivers for Steelhead. I have to thank to master fly fishers Joe Shirshac and Al Perryman for taking me with them many years ago to these special rivers.

Some of my best days were on Christmas Island wading all day with good friends looking for that next little group of Bonefish.

Chasing Baby Tarpon in the MX Yucatan and Belize was hard to beat too. Fishing those shallow grass flats, jungle rivers and backwater lagoons is so exciting. My good friend Leo Gutterrres helped us pioneer these remote destinations.

One reason you fish is so you can have a few of those special days in a beautiful place with good friends.

.

[steveg137]

I'd LOVE to get out every week but living in SF it's hard given typically means weekend or at least overnight trip.

Other than Putah Creek I'd like to explore some closer to home waters that can fish without a boat.

I've taken my pontoon on Lower Yuba and done ok but it's tough going on the drift.

Someone mentioned some of the stocked lakes in Bay Area can be worth a shot? Would also like to try for Carp.

Anyone has advice on water to access from shore or Pontoon would be very welcome!

Steve

[Scott V]

Only one way to improve right...? Thats gettin out there!
If I dont fish ATLEAST one day a week I go crazy.....cant improve my skills sittn at home or at work.
Gotta get on the water.
I am a "newbie" still. But getting out on the water 150+ days a year helps shrink that learning curve.
As well as fishing w/ seasoned fly fishers....that helps tremendously!
The constant yelling...."stop your rod tip"..."dont bend your wrist"...."set"....."strip"...."mend...keep stacking".
All of this constant banter and time spent on the water has been a blessing.
And each time we go fish a new piece of water it is eye opening. Whether its the scenery or the fishing...or both.
I always look forward to that next outing or meeting those other fly fishing nerds who share the same passion.

If you ever need someone to yell at you while fishing, let me know. I would be glad to do that. :cool:

[bigfly]

Thanks Bill, for providing a place where people that fish a lot, can post......
You are right.....practice,practice,practice......
Hope you all are getting out.

Jim

[fishabuoy]

Hey Steve-

If you live in "The City" proper - you should think about fishing the beaches ! While it has a rather steep learning curve, and requires some VERY different tactics and tackle from your typical trout setup, it can be an extremely rewarding experience - and it's literally "right there" within a 1/2 hour drive.

Best-
Bob V

[jbird]

Lifes twists and turns take us down different roads throughout our lives. If you are in a place in your life to fish a lot... do it! No excuses! Because in all likelyhood, that will change. But you will retain your knowledge so when you can get out, you will still have that knowledge and instinct to solve the fish puzzles presented.

I lived in Oregon for 25 years and fished a minimum of 200 days a year for much of that time. I used to journal my steelhead and caught well over 1000 adult fish. then I migrated to stillwater trophy trout when the steelhead scene got under my skin. I was really getting the still water dialed in... Then all of a sudden I was relocated to Wisconsin. The very worst part of the state for fishing. With the distance I have to travel to fish now, it has become an occasional activity rather than an obsession.

Fish NOW, while you can! Great thread Bill! Sobering.

[Morgan]

Did something a little different get his week.
My other half and I visited my folks over the weekend.
While she went hunting for a wedding dress I did some fishing.

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Today we went for a short yet steep hike into desolation.
It's usually just casting practice.
But today I got lucky and caught my first fish on the fly in this lake.
Great views and good time spent with my other half.

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[Bob Loblaw]

I get to fish about once a month and sometimes even that's tough. I have a 7 year old which means very full weekend schedules. I've had some great multi day trips this year though so I can't complain. I'd love to fish with people who really know what they are doing, right now I'm figuring it out by myself and the learning curve is not steep! hard to learn much from a skunking!

[markz]

Hi,
When I lived in San Jose, I learned how to fly fish for striped bass in Oneill Forebay-that was alot of fun. Low light was best and I generally went before sunrise in my inflatable kayak. Now, there is an inspection, so no early low light in the morning until your water craft is checked for mussels. Best months were from Labor day until end of Nov.

We moved to Walnut Creek and now it's taking my 8 year old and 6 year old gear fishing for trout, largemouth bass and striped bass.

Someone asked about trout fishing in the east bay lakes. San Pablo Reservoir (boat inspection) is closed right now, but when it opens in Feb trout fishing can be very good as long as the water is not muddy. Shadow Cliffs (no boat inspection). I would recommend this place for trout in Dec/Jan but check the plants. Also bass fishing on the other side of the levee (Arroyo) in spring. Del valle is farther can be good for trout near the marina and east beach(easy access for pontoon) but make sure water is not muddy.

Like someone said some parts of your life you can do alot of fly fishing and other parts well.....

Have Fun
Mark Z