East Walker River, CA Fly Fishing Report

Ross Kingsley

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

East Walker River, CA

February 2009

Rainbows and Browns 8" to 12"

Flies Used: #18 Sawyer PT and #20 Black WD-40

Other Details: Fished near Bridgeport, CA below the first mile. Mostly pocket water this far down because of low flow but did alright. Flies have to be small and fish are in the deepest water possible.

West Walker River, CA Fly Fishing Video

Putah Creek, CA Fly Fishing Report

Dan Wallentine

Irvine, CA

Putah Creek, CA

February 2008

Caught 2 Rainbows an 18" and 22".

Flies Used: Cooper Bead Copper John #16 and Pheasant Tail Nymph #16.

Other Details: Fished mostly near the Hwy 128 bridge.

Profile of Putah Creek, CA

When you mention to other fly fishers you've spent the day on Putah Creek, you usually receive a strange look, like you used some sort of obscenity. What is obscene is the size of some of the trout that lie in Putah Creek. There are some monster rainbows and browns that make this roadside river home.

Fly fishers usually wait until November 16th to make their trek to Putah. On November 16th to the Friday before the last Saturday in April, Putah Creek has special regulations, including artificial flies, barbless hooks, and catch and release. The remainder of the year has no special regulations and a limit of 5 fish per day. Always check for updates in regulation changes.

Putah Creek is a tail water that flows from the base of Monticello Dam that holds back Lake Berryessa near Vacaville, CA. All along Highway 128, Putah Creek has access points for fishermen all the way to Lake Solano. A very inconspicuous body of water, Lake Solano is created by a diversion dam downstream from Lake Berryessa.

There are many places to fish Putah Creek from Pleasant Valley Road all the way to the dam. The access points are numbered from #1 nearest the dam to #5 farther down toward Lake Solano.

Putah Creek is a place that will challenge fly fishers with difficult wading, dark deep pools and runs, and large trout that will snap your tippet as they charge up and down river when hooked.

Looking for a guide or more information about Putah Creek, contact Greg Bonovich at Putah Creek Fly Fishing Guides Service .

San Juan River, NM Fly Fishing Report

Darin Wallentine

Tucson, AZ

San Juan River, NM

August 2002

Caught 34 Rainbows up to 22"

Flies Used: Tan San Juan Worm #16, Red Larva #18, and Dark Brown Midge Larva #20.

Other Details: Parked at the church lot. Fished the Kiddie Pool, the areas between Kiddie Pool and the Upper Flats, and the Upper Flats.

Profile of the San Juan River, NM

When fly fishers congregate to spin their tales, it is likely that fly fishing destinations will float to the surface. Conversations will begin with places like the Green River, the Henry's Fork, or a variety of assorted trout hunting destinations. But after a short time, the conversation rapidly turns to the San Juan River in northern New Mexico. For most fly fishers, they have made their pilgrimage to the San Juan at least once. And for a few of us, it seems to be an annual trek. Whether it is your first time, or your tenth, the experience is always the same. The anticipation of a hefty trout at the end of a tightly strained line floods the senses.

The San Juan River that most know of or have heard of, is a tail water that flows out of the bottom of the dam that creates Navajo Reservoir. The water is always cold and trout infested. Located near the small fly fishing community of Navajo Dam, NM, the San Juan River is an important economic focus for it's residents. There are a variety of shops, outfitters, motels and businesses catering to the wader clad tourists.

If you have not made your trek to the San Juan, it needs to be on your short list of places to fish. It will challenge all skill levels and in spite of the frequent bad rap that the San Juan is too crowded, there are many places to test your angling skill, even with some solitude.