Small streams in high gear

[Gregg]

Some of the tucked away streams and creeks are amazing right now, and the scenery is insane. It's hard to not want to spend every single day up here...

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/673/mxMdOf.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/ipmxMdOfj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/673/MTsqmw.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/ipMTsqmwj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/673/zFDtCl.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/ipzFDtClj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/912/CIX9kB.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pcCIX9kBj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/538/3RxWPD.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/ey3RxWPDj)

The standard blend of stimulator or foam body stone with a dropper has been the go to rig, occasionally dredging the pools with a rubberleg and copper john under an indicator for the bigger fish. Lots of rises, plenty of takes, most days are 20-30 fish to hand days so the action is consistent and super fun. Water temps are around 54 most places, about as good as it gets.

[cdevine]

Some of the tucked away streams and creeks are amazing right now, and the scenery is insane. It's hard to not want to spend every single day up here...

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/673/mxMdOf.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/ipmxMdOfj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/673/MTsqmw.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/ipMTsqmwj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/673/zFDtCl.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/ipzFDtClj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/912/CIX9kB.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pcCIX9kBj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/538/3RxWPD.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/ey3RxWPDj)

The standard blend of stimulator or foam body stone with a dropper has been the go to rig, occasionally dredging the pools with a rubberleg and copper john under an indicator for the bigger fish. Lots of rises, plenty of takes, most days are 20-30 fish to hand days so the action is consistent and super fun. Water temps are around 54 most places, about as good as it gets.


Thanks for sharing. Really awesome stuff. Also you rarely see anybody and basically have the water all to yourself. Can't beat it.

[PV_Premier]

outstanding report. beautiful scenery. maybe i'll try one of the sierra county creeks tomorrow.

[Sheepdog8404]

Great report! Not looking for specifics but what area is this in? I recognize that 2nd to last pic from instagram recently, but can't seem to find it again.

[Morgan]

Great report! Not looking for specifics but what area is this in? I recognize that 2nd to last pic from instagram recently, but can't seem to find it again.

Great post! DOnt give up your location. Solitude is a plus in these areas. The reason for no location given on Instagram.
Exploring is part of the adventure when it comes to finding that new spot.
If there is water in it year round, then more than likely there is fish.

[Bob G]

I strongly agree with Gangster regarding the exploring!

Enjoy, Bob

[Gregg]

The secret spot will die with me, but I will say it's in Plumas County. There's a lot of water up there to explore, and most of it isn't even that hard to access. I'll usually grab a topo map and blue line it and look for moderate drops in elevation. I've struck out more times than I'd want to admit, got to what I thought would be decent water and found a dry gulch instead, but if you can recon where streams start converging you'll find water.

Side note, while we were driving up yesterday a bear ran across the highway right in front of us. I've seen juvenile black bears a bunch, even some that were more cinnamon colored, but this guy was definitely brown, shaggier/more matted fur, a larger and more rounded head, and a heavier build. Still a juvenile, and I know brown bears were hunted to extinction in California, but I swear it did not look like a black bear. Gonna call DFG anyway, but if the news breaks that browns are re stablishing in California you heard it here first!

[Sheepdog8404]

The secret spot will die with me, but I will say it's in Plumas County. There's a lot of water up there to explore, and most of it isn't even that hard to access. I'll usually grab a topo map and blue line it and look for moderate drops in elevation. I've struck out more times than I'd want to admit, got to what I thought would be decent water and found a dry gulch instead, but if you can recon where streams start converging you'll find water.

Thanks Gregg! That is the vague information I was hoping to hear. Didn't want it to seem like it was a typical FNG response looking for your spot... just simply looking for an idea of which part of the state is all. Your strategy on looking for new fishable water through the use of a Topo map is exactly the same as mine! I've been doing that for a few years now since the drought has gotten so bad and most of the easy water has been severely depleted/fished out. Down here in San Diego, there's only a few creeks that hold trout and I've found the areas with the most water by doing what you explained. Thank god I'll only have to live here for a couple more months and then get to move back up to Northern California!

That bear sighting is very interesting to hear. I'll be looking forward to reading about what DFG tells you regarding your description!

[Gregg]

Random question, but are you 2wt_drifter on IG?

[k.hanley]

Say hey Gregg and Sheepdog,

Here's a little video I made a few years ago for folks who wanted to explore with a topo map. Thought it would be a nice addition to the message you guys have established here. The adventure of exploration is a sweet deal for sure.

Stay safe out there.
Cheers, Ken

http://medialibrary.pacificextremes.com/pacific-extremes-freshwater.php?vid=4

[Sheepdog8404]

Random question, but are you 2wt_drifter on IG?

That is correct! Can't seem to find you though...


Say hey Gregg and Sheepdog,

Here's a little video I made a few years ago for folks who wanted to explore with a topo map. Thought it would be a nice addition to the message you guys have established here. The adventure of exploration is a sweet deal for sure.

Stay safe out there.
Cheers, Ken

http://medialibrary.pacificextremes.com/pacific-extremes-freshwater.php?vid=4

Thanks for the awesome video, Ken! Looks like it's a more common technique than I thought. Thank you for posting that link for us!

[Mark Kranhold]

Gregg, funny you mentioned a bear looking like that! There was one spotted on a game camera up by our cabin in Plumas that looked very much like a Grizz, big head with a hump on its back. The Camera owner gave the picture to Zeke the local game warden up there to check out, long store short I asked Zeke about that bear and he just said we have some big bears up here. Not sure if it's cover up but I would assume there would be some serious livestock kill around if there was a Grizz in Plumas, lots of cattle ranches. Nice pics and lots of creeking around up there! Just got back this evening my self. Not to high jack but here were some takers.108431084410845

[Ed Wahl]

Sheepdog, it's not common at all. The places you'll find doing this will almost always be yours alone. I've used this method for decades and for me a river is really crowded if I see one other fisherman during a day. If you're moving to the Sac. area shoot me a pm when you get here and I'll give you a couple of leads.

Ed

[Sheepdog8404]

Sheepdog, it's not common at all. The places you'll find doing this will almost always be yours alone. I've used this method for decades and for me a river is really crowded if I see one other fisherman during a day. If you're moving to the Sac. area shoot me a pm when you get here and I'll give you a couple of leads.

Ed

I'm with you on that, Ed! I've found many streams where I saw another angler fishing hundreds of yards up/downstream of the spot I was getting to and felt like I should just go somewhere else... "it's too crowded!" hahaha

Thanks for the offer, also! We will be moving to san Jose for a couple years for school and then up to Placerville area for a long time!

[Gregg]

Ken - that's an incredible video, super helpful. When I said I kept striking out it was exactly because I was following blue lines that were broken on the map. Would be rad to have a clinic or class at Kiene's about Topo maps and how to read them, especially the elevation changes.

[atavuss]

REI has classes on how to read a topo map, how to navigate with a GPS, etc. Punch in your zip code and see if they have classes near you: http://www.rei.com/learn.html

[PV_Premier]

following up -

i went to a reasonably well known, but somewhat poorly accessible small stream yesterday.

started fishing around 10:30am, and was off the water by 3. i covered just under a mile of water fishing my way upstream.

landed about 30 fish between 5-14", 100% on dry fly (parachute adams)

water temps were 52 at the start and bumped up to 55 by the day's end

[Troutstalker55B]

Say hey Gregg and Sheepdog,

Here's a little video I made a few years ago for folks who wanted to explore with a topo map. Thought it would be a nice addition to the message you guys have established here. The adventure of exploration is a sweet deal for sure.

Stay safe out there.
Cheers, Ken

http://medialibrary.pacificextremes.com/pacific-extremes-freshwater.php?vid=4

Thanks Ken, you're awesome. Looking forward to our next project! - J.

[k.hanley]

Jon.............Good times ahead for sure. Getting close.

Gregg.........Those REI clinics bring back great memories for me. I taught most of those clinics for REI from the late 70's through the early 90's. I'll contact the Kiene's team and see if we can set something up. Good idea.

Dog...........The reason we made the video was to prompt folks not to be common in their actions and experiences. It was created to help promote a sense of adventure while experiencing some terrific FF experiences. A quick side note -- Ed's smiling mug is in the video.

California is such a tremendous place. Stay safe out there. Use extra caution concerning your personal impact on our backcountry waterways (especially this year to be sure).

Thanks for the good vibes guys. Much appreciated.
Cheers, Ken

[Gregg]

Another little guy from a run back up the hill on Tuesday.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/540/q4k6Cq.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/f0q4k6Cqj)

Been fishing an Echo 7'6" #3. It's been pretty perfect, but wind tends to rip through these little canyons in the afternoon and hauling line into it can be a bit of a beast. Would love some recs on another #3, maybe even a #2, but with a little more power...if that even exists.

[EricO]

Hey Gregg,

Do you have the Echo Carbon? My good buddy has one, and says it's a little too soft for him.

Been thinking about a 2-3 wt that is more fast action, because my Orvis Full Flex 2wt blows!
Takes about, oh, 5 seconds for it to load...not easy to fish when you have tons of brush around
and need to whip a fly out without much backcast.

EO

[John Sv]

Kinda not what you ask, but I do the opposite. I overload by glass 3 wt with a #4 line and have found that to be the ticket for windy canyon creeks. Fish fight the same on my Steffen with a 3 or a 4, FWIW

[Mark Kranhold]

If you can find a older Redington CPS 3wt ,I think you might like it.

[Gregg]

I'll definitely scout that Redington, I've heard really good things about it also. I'm not sure which Echo it would be comparable to now, it's a few years old and I think before they started naming them. I think it was like $170, so maybe in the range of the Carbon? I spend a lot of time on these smaller technical creeks, they're some of my favorite to fish, but finding the right 3wt is kinda tough, need a lot of features packed into a little rod. Enough power to load and roll cast into the wind, enough reach to high stick through plunge pools, enough stiffness to turn over an indicator rig, but enough control to make a bunch of little delicate mends in cross currents...so much to ask from a #3 haha.

That idea to overline it to a 4 might be the move. Gonna try that first and then scout other rods if needs be.

EO of you find a good faster action #2 let me know, I'd be super down for that.

[EricO]

LOL, ya that's a lot of stuff for a 3wt Gregg. I am primarily looking for a 3wt for my wife.

I picked up an Orvis Hydros 3wt several years ago.

It's one of my favorite rods...bought it because they had a nice trade in deal at Orvis.
I only paid $225 with trade in...totally worth it. It's 8'6", and fast action. If you can find one,
highly recommend it...pretty sure they discontinued it though.

EO

[Gregg]

@Mark

The response I got from Kate at DFG:

Hi Gregg,
Without a photograph, it is hard to confirm. All I can say is that color and size are deceiving. The most notable characteristics that define black bears is the longer, more upright ears and the long, straight profile. Brown bears have a dished profile and lower set, rounded ears. Black bears also have darker colored claws and leave a rounded front paw print. Keep in mind that bears in late spring are going to be shaggy.
The closest populations of brown bears are in Washington, northern Idaho and eastern Idaho near Yellowstone. It is not unheard of for a lone animal to cross into California, such as our wolverine who is genetically from Idaho.
If anyone can get a photo of this animal, I would love to see it.
Best,
Kate

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/537/YQLy4B.png (https://imageshack.com/i/exYQLy4Bp)

The more I read her description and look at the comparison images...the more sure I am in what we saw. I could be totally mistaken, but something that's in the back of my mind when I go out now...but then again I just watched The Edge with Anthony Hopkins haha

[Jeff C.]

I love my 386 Redinton CPS lined with a WF4 line. Good call Mark!

[John Sv]

I live in Truckee and we have many bears that are cinnamon and even blond. The one that lived under our neighbors porch we called sliver tip and was a black bear that had the exact color of a grizzly. We had one that the neighbors kids call cinnamon because of her colors. The one that gets in our work dumpster is cinnamon/blond too and BIG. FWIW.