Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute

Visit Adaptive Fly Fishing to learn more about an organization that teaches fly fishing to anglers with special needs.

Fishing & Photography

Fly fishers often spend so much time focusing on catching fish that they lose focus on what surrounds them. Fish live in beautiful places, if you haven't noticed. I love fly-fishing, but I also love making pictures.

On the water I carry an 8.1 mega pixel Sony Cyber-Shot "point and shoot." It's user-friendly, but has many functions for the more advanced picture taker. It's not waterproof but can handle a splatter of water once in a while. The picture of the High Sierra mountains (upper right) was taken with my Sony Cyber-Shot.

I also have a Nikon D-40 Digital SLR camera I use for more advanced shooting. Photographers call this camera an "amateur" camera, as opposed to a "professional" grade camera. While there may be some truth to that, my D-40 is much more advanced than anything Ansel Adams ever dreamed of. I don't carry my Nikon on the water. It's lightweight but too big.

The picture of the red thistle (above left) was taken with my Nikon D-40 after a day of fishing on Wolf Creek in northern California's Alpine County.

So, if you love fly-fishing consider adding photography to your hobby. You will be enriched greatly. Back away from the water for a little while and you will find stunning landscapes, beautiful flowers and wildlife.

Click here to see some of the pictures I've taken while on fly-fishing trips at the Virtual Fly Guides Facebook Page.

Additionally, whether you are a Nikon enthusiast or not, you will find Ken Rockwell's website very helpful. Check him out at http://www.kenrockwell.com.

Make sure you post your pics of fish and scenery, and your fishing reports, on the Virtual Fly Guides bulletin board http://tinyurl.com/yhsgtye.

Tight Lines and Good Pictures,

Sean Wallentine
Co-Founder, The Virtual Fly Guides

**Coming Soon** Get Your Own VFG Sticker

Shortly after the first of the year, the Virtual Fly Guides will selling the VFG Sticker through PayPal. Keep checking back with us for more details to get your own!

Big Rainbow Trout Released

Putah Creek, CA Fly Fishing Video

Sean Wallentine on Putah Creek, CA

December 2009

Putah Creek, CA Fly Fishing Report

Sean Wallentine
Sacramento, CA

Body of Water: Putah Creek, CA
Date: Monday, December 21, 2009
# of Fish Caught: 4
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 19", 21", 22", 22"
Effective Flies: #22 Killer (peacock hurl head and red chenille body/tail)

Summary:
Fished alone from 8am to 1pm. Weather was great. It was about 50 degrees, foggy in the morning, mostly cloudy with no wind. It started getting breezy and began raining at 1pm when I called it quits.

Water flows were good, about 100 cfs is my best guess. Regular winter lows. The fish were very active. I fished below the campground at a place called "the point."

I used 6lb flourocarbon tippet and a very small (#22) midge called a "Killer." It as no bead, a peacock hurl head and a body/tail of red chenille.

It was important to use the stronger tippet because I caught some big fish. Landed four fish that were 19", 21", and two 22-inch Rainbows.

Great day on the creek!

Guess Who Will Get My Xmas Money?

Bob Marriott's Fly Fishing Store

Merry Christmas to all from the Virtual Fly Guides!

McCloud River, CA Fly Fishing Report

Darin Wallentine

McCloud River Rainbow

Fly Fishing near the South Lake Tahoe Area: Pyramid Creek

Click on this link to view MapQuest for directions to

Pyramid Creek

Fly Fishing near the South Lake Tahoe Area: South Fork of the American River

Click on this link to view MapQuest for directions to the

South Fork of the American River

Visit us tomorrow for Day 2 of Fly Fishing near the South Lake Tahoe Area when we feature Pyramid Creek.

Fly Fishing near the South Lake Tahoe Area: Wolf Creek

Click on this link to view MapQuest for directions to

Wolf Creek

Visit us tomorrow for Day 2 of Fly Fishing the South Lake Tahoe Area when we feature the South Fork of the American River.

Fly Fishing near the South Lake Tahoe Area: West Carson River

Click on this link to view MapQuest for directions to the

West Carson River

Visit us tomorrow for Day 2 of Fly Fishing near the South Lake Tahoe Area when we feature Wolf Creek.

Fly Fishing near the South Lake Tahoe Area: East Carson River

Click on this link to view MapQuest for directions to the

East Carson River

Visit us tomorrow for Day 2 of Fly Fishing near the South Lake Tahoe Area when we feature the West Carson River.

Fly Fishing near the South Lake Tahoe Area: West Walker River

Click on this link to view MapQuest for directions to the

West Walker River

Driving from South Lake Tahoe, the West Walker River is one of your longer drives.

Visit us tomorrow for Day 2 of Fly Fishing near the South Lake Tahoe Area when we feature the East Carson River.

McCloud River, CA Fly Fishing Report

Sean Wallentine

McCloud River Rainbow Trout

Jazz and Fly Fishing

I ran across this video a while back. Very cool! Check this out from Jazz and Fly Fishing.

Jazz and Fly Fishing trailer from Jazz and Fly Fishing on Vimeo.

Burney Creek, CA Fly Fishing Report

Darin Wallentine

Burney Creek, CA

Profile of East Creek, CA High Sierra

East Creek flows north out of Lake Reflection and into East Lake. The creek then flows out of East Lake and tumbles down to Bubbs Creek at Junction Meadow, moving from Tulare County into Fresno County, California. Eventually, the waters from East Creek and Bubbs Creek merge with the Kings River. The upper reaches of this wonderful High Sierra stream, between Lake Reflection and East Lake, is full of eager Rainbows and Rainbow/Golden Trout hybrids.

The lower section, which is much steeper, is almost exclusively home to Browns. And if given the opportunity, don't pass up fly fishing the tail outs of both East Lake and Lake Reflection where the lakes flow into the streams. These are the most productive sections, especially with a dry fly!

To get to East Creek, take Highway 180 out of Fresno (Kings River Scenic Byway) to the mountain hamlet of Cedar Grove. Just past Cedar Grove is Road's End, where you begin your hike at the clearly marked trail head. After you climb your way 12 miles up to Junction Meadow, this is a good place to camp overnight. From Junction Meadow, take the trail to East Lake and Lake Reflection.

Once you arrive, there are miles and miles of productive trout water.

Steelhead Days

Don Van Schenck

Trinity River, CA Steelhead

Steelhead Days

Don Van Schenck

Sacramento, CA

Trinity River, CA

Dec 3-4, 2009

Equipment: Rod 6 w 10 ft/ 7 WF Floating line/ 3x to top fly/ 4x to dropper

Flies Used: Size 12 Golden Stone to Size 16 FB PT, Blue and Red Copper John, Size 18 Micro May

Other Details: 30 solid hook-ups/ 23 steelies and 1 sea-run brown landed/ 12 fish per man/ WOW

Virtual Fly Guides Podcast Episode 2

"Night on the Lake Fork"

Taken at 10pm on the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, CO

Photo by Sean Wallentine

Fly Fishing Home Away from Home Part 2

This photo, taken by Sean Wallentine, is the night time version of yesterdays post. We were invited to stay at a friends log mansion for a week near Lake City, Colorado. The property is right on the Lake Fork of the Gunnision River and has a private pond with large rainbows. A special thanks to our hosts.

Fly Fishing Home Away from Home Part 1

Spoiled Fly Fishermen

One Fly Fisher's Verdict on Vibram Sole Wading Boots

After much analysis, I found a well written article comparing felt sole and Vibram sole wading boots. I have added the link here for all to read.

Vibram Sole Wading Boots Analysis