Fly Fishing,    Uncategorized

I got that working feelin'

By Tom Chandler 7/8/2006

I'd love to write about the big fish I landed the last two nights (since my Wednesday night foray), but in truth I've been in work-related hibernation the last few days, and haven't yet come up for air. Like any self-employed person, I'm prone to periodic bouts of insecurity based on the idea that if you're not constantly moving forward, then you're moving backwards.

Thus, the mad dash to finish a couple of big Web projects, and to write a new marketing manifesto for my consulting biz. My old freelance copywriter site was pretty but hugely dated, so I've opted for a minimalist, copy-oriented look in my new site. It isn't finished, but interested Underground readers can get a sneak preview at Chandlerwrites.com.

Then there's my brand-new copywriting/marketing blog, the name of which you'll find eerily familiar: The Writer Underground. Given the blog format, it's more familiar ground for my readers. (Feel free to pass both links along to any marketing directors you know.)

As for the fishing, it's still quite good, but perhaps falling off the peak of the last two weeks. Chris Raine had a slow night last night (damned few bugs) and Wayne Eng mentioned that the daytime fishing was getting a little tough. There's still hope I'm going to get out tonight, and if I do, expect words tomorrow.

In the absence of useful fishing information, I'd direct you to Ian Rutter's site since for him, working and fishing amount to almost the same thing... See you on the river (we hope), Tom Chandler
AuthorPicture

Tom Chandler

As the author of the decade leading fly fishing blog Trout Underground, Tom believes that fishing is not about measuring the experience but instead of about having fun. As a staunch environmentalist, he brings to the Yobi Community thought leadership on environmental and access issues facing us today.

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Fishing's good now Larry. Let's hope it stays that way for your trip.
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Hey ! FINALLY able to register and log-in correctly. I don't know what was different but it works for me. I think ? re: using an Orange Stimmy during a Golden Stone fall. That worked for me last summer in early June. That was the first time I had been able to catch anything when the Goldens were dropping out of the sky like little paratroopers. Oh, and a small one too, I think it was a #12. I'll be ... more up there late next week. Larry S
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Tom, I agree that silhouette is more important than color for most sections of the river except when the trout are really keyed in on a hatch, or the section of river receives significant fishing pressure such as from Shasta Retreat to Mossbrae. I fished this section last night and the trout were keyed into Pink Alberts from the word go. For awhile until it got just too dark to see the fly, it was ... more a grab on just about every other cast. That was the good part. The bad was that the smaller fish under 9" would not leave it alone so locating larger fish was pretty difficult. Great night for numbers but not size. I was fishing a few hundred yards below Mossbrae and one fish I landed MAY have been a hatchery fish. Couldn't tell for sure but it was drabber in color than your usual Upper Sac trout and didnt have that wild trout firmness either. This past winter I managed to find some marabou at McKenzie Outfitters that looked to be nearly dead-on for Pink Alberts so I picked up some. Tied up some size 16 Quigley Cripples yesterday before going to the river and the trout definitely agreed that it was a dead-on match for the Pink Albert. This package will last for a LONGGGGG Time too :-). Note to self. Tie more size 16 quigley cripples this week. Brian
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Brian; Knowing that trout aren't colorblind, I guess I was thinking that we're fishing a freestone river where the fish are rarely too technical. I'm beginning to think that silhouette is the critical factor (much more so over color) for most sections of the river, and in truth, I'm becoming more of a "tie Beetle Bugs in a couple colors and the hell with it" presentationist every season. This could ... more be because I'm becoming better at my presentations, or it could be that I'm too lazy to tie a lot of different bugs. And if you remind me of this post in late Fall when the water's crystal clear and I'm looking for ways to tie a thinner quill body on my #22 BWOs, I'll pretend that the LT Nancy wrote it...
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Trout are not colorblind. What size orange stimulator were you using? Keep in mind that there is not just one golden stone hatch on the Upper Sac. There are actually three of them. The main one is the Calanuria (sp?). This is the big size 8 bug you see flying around right now. Then there is a smaller species of golden stone that is about a size 10. The third species is likely a different genus and ... more this guy is about a size 12. It is also a different color than the golden stones as it is rust colored. This may explain the success of the orange stimulator. I think the golden stones are starting to fade out now and will be done in about another week. Didn't see a lot of them last night. Fortunately the trout do remember what they look like and they will hit them for a week or so after the hatch is done. Brian
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Seems like the orange stimulator works just as well for the Golden Stones as the yellow does, so either trout are colorblind or they're not nearly as wrapped up in appearances as us human beings... (ohhh, look at the fins on that one). Nice meeting you folks on the river!
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Alright, we're "coming out": the W* and A* from the previous TC entry are Will and Abby, respectively (up from Berkeley). We quit early the first evening without too much luck, but by the second night, things turned in our favor. Abby got a handful of fish on a pink mayfly pattern tied parachute style. This was her first experience with fish that would really run on her, and she handled it beautifully. ... more She also proved herself as a skilled catch-and-release technician. Oh, and you know those October Caddis patterns that are tucked away in your fly box? Well, if the stone flies are still flying, try one. I found a little forgotten hole up above Cantara where the fish were jumping all over an "Adult October Caddis" (official name) - not too much different than a Stimulator without the palmered hackle. These fish were big and wild, too - they kicked this city slicker's butt. Happy fishing! -Will (and Abby)
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