With cabin fever settling in for the duration and the Upper Sacramento fishing slower than in previous winters, it’s not hard to look ahead to warmer days.
I don’t know about you, but bouncing around inside my head are detailed (and mostly unrealistic) plans for 2007’s fishing trips, and while some of them might actually come to pass, they almost certainly won’t happen the way I imagine them.
Which – if you stop to think about it – is probably the point.
It’s the kind of rainy day, lay-around-the-house leisure activity that could waste a whole afternoon, assuming such a thing could ever be a waste.
What’s the plan?
The Early Season
Winter fishing on the Upper Sacramento hasn’t been stellar, but with the snowpack far below normal and no real storms in sight, we’re looking a drought right in the eye.
That’s not the best news for salmon, steelhead and the California delta, but it’s not the end of the world up here in the mountains.
With a little luck, we could hit a few good hatches before the runoff even gets going, and once started, it won’t last long.
A drought would also open the backcountry earlier, and if I sound almost giddy at the prospect of a drought, so be it.
One man’s tomato stake is another’s priceless bamboo fly rod, and complaining about the weather rarely changes it.
I’m just making lemonade.
Tennessee
About the time the runoff gets out of hand I could be winging my way to Tennessee.
You’ll find me headhunting Tennessee’s rich tailwaters, and enjoying my time on the smaller rivers and streams of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
I might even tumble for an overnight trip into the park’s backcountry, and scarf a few slawdogs at the local Phillips 66.
I’ll even have a chance to test fly the lies which don’t work in California any more, but might find a new audience in the Southeast, where they’ll make a worthy addition to the Southern oral tradition.
Consider me a verbal philanthropist.
Tennessee’s key attraction is the fly fishing diversity; one day I’m casting for tiny brook trout in tiny streams, the next I’m fishing a blanket caddis hatch on a rainbow tailwater, and yet another I’m chasing Brown trout with streamers the size of squirrels.
The bonus? All this happens while the Upper Sacramento fishes poorly.
Idaho? Wyoming? Montana?
This summer, I’m mulling over a tour of the trouty fleshpots in the Rocky Mountain West. A new trip.
Sure, Yellowstone’s famous rivers call, but I’m looking for destinations not found on the travel plans of the well-to-do angling set.
Instead, lesser-explored parts of Idaho beckon, as do some of the more interesting bits of Montana and Wyoming.
A handful of covert hints have come my way, and the old saw about killing you after telling you applies.
More on this as it happens.
The Backcountry
Last year I fished the backcountry’s lakes and tiny streams more than usual, and had so much fun I expect more of it.
Starting in early summer, the backcountry loses its snowbound status, and all the underfished Brookie lakes open.
I even bought a shiny new ultralight backpacking tent, and have been turning equipment lists over in my head.
Modern day backpackers prune away excess weight seemingly at the subatomic level, and though I won’t exhibit that level of mania, I’m learning that a 45-pound pack takes all the fun out of backpacking.
The goal? Pare the backpacking equipment list down far enough that a float tube is a possibility.
Of all the trips I’ve listed, the backcountry wanderings offer the greatest potential for solitude – a solo appreciation of beauty that
Maine
Every year I’ve gone, Maine has delivered a different fishing experience. It’s not a 100% lock that we’ll go this year, but I hope we do.
It’s textbook smallmouth bass water, and smallies are pure fun on the fin.
Plus the lakes are beautiful, the Grand Lake Canoes are beautiful, the smallmouth bass are beautiful, and the whole setup is just plain, well… beautiful.
It’s not the kind of vacation where you fish until you drop, but it’s the perfect vacation when fishing is a main course on the menu, but you want to spend a lot of time with the L&T Spouse too.
Salt Anyone?
I admit to a long-distance fascination with redfish, and keep idly speculating on the costs of a Gulf Coast redfish trip.
Complicating matters is the need for a boat and guide, which run upwards of $450 a day.
It’s hard to imagine coughing up several grand (flight, rental, hotel, guide, slaw dogs) for a couple days of fishing, but this is how trips happen.
I start with the seed of an idea, and the whole thint eventually dies on the vine or grows into a full blown idea.
The Usual Suspects
Naturally, I’ll be fishing all the local hangouts: the Upper Sacramento, Rogue, Klamath, McCloud – and a few smaller venues which I am not going to mention in print.
Of course, once you compile a list of all the places you want to fish, you realize you couldn’t possibly do so outside the confines of a trust fund or winning lottery ticket.
It’s a reality that hovers around the periphery of any wintertime “places to fish” list, but if you let it slow you down then you’re taking life too seriously.
One thing is true: driving 15 minutes to fish for an evening is something done (or not done) on the spur of the moment, but epic trips to places you’ve never been require some small amount of planning, or they simply don’t happen.
So what’s your plan for 2007? Where are you headed?
[tags]fly fishing, fishing, 2007[/tags]
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
2007 season is all that is in my thoughts at the moment – wild plans have included – New Zealand, Russia and tiny streams in the North of Scotland :)
Ahhh- roll on roll on !
Alistair
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If you want to go redfishing I happen to know a guy in North Carolina…
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2007 isn’t going to be a big destination year. There will be several trips to Michigan, of course. Looks like the Delaware in May. Otherwise, it will just be TN and NC. We are getting a gang up to do the Smith in MT in 2008 (something I have always wanted to do).
The big wild card is that it looks like I will be traveling to the Redding, CA area a good bit for business in 2007. I don’t know if there are any fish in the area, but on my first visit there appeared to be a decent looking stream or two. Plus, a flyshop I have been ordering stuff from for years sits right on the interstate, so there must be a trout somewhere in that area. Any thoughts?
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Our “Trout Camp 07′” (a tradition since 1995) will consist of 8 of my closest fishing buddies and will take place in Montana in earlie June. Steelheading, Trout, Salmon on the Rouge, Muskegon, Pere Marquette, Manistee, Fox, Two Hearted, Tequaminon etc. Throughout upper and lower peninsula Michigan. Smallies on the Flat and Grand when the weather gets to hot for Trout. Hit some small streams for Brookies and some lakes for Bass. I almost have my plans down to dates days and minutes, drives my wife crazy. Tom, if you get near Michigan in your travels look me up (I know you have my e-mail address) I will take you on a drift of the river of your choice.
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I love putting trips together in my head! I would really like to get back to the Bow River this yaer. I went last July and had an awesome time. Also want to do the Montana/Wyoming corner for a few days. Other than that, I am blessed to live in the foothills of the Sierras outside of Sacramento and plan to hit as many small streams and tairns as possible. Nothing like a 15″ brookie out of a quiet mountain lake early in the morning.
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Teh Wind Knot,
Both the McCloud and the Pit Rivers are in the Redding area. I’m a southern California guy, and have never fished either river, but would like to get up there soon, perhaps this coming fall. I’ve been told that the McCloud is one of the two rivers which provided the brood stock for the famous New Zealand rainbows – the McCloud River Rainbow.
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I think you can get a good guide down here on the Gulf for less than $450….you can spend even less than that if you want to go out in my circa 1970 bass boat with a hand-start Johnson 40 on the back. No slaw dogs, but you can get a good “half ‘n half” oyster/shrimp po boy.
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Whoa, big fellas. Too many to reply too…
First of all, Redding is ground zero for Northern California’s trout fishing. Way too many opportunities to name. But don’t mention the Redding Fly Shop. Please.
and ijsouth – a free guide trip but NO slaw dogs? I’m insulted…
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Try the Big Hole C4 ranch. Great people. Great fishing. We went last year and filmed a TV show there.
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That’s in Montana, since I forgot to say. :/
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Whoa…. There…. my dear Elitists brethren….while Redding may be the “Center Point” of Nor Cal Fishing, I concentrate on the small streams and lakes in Lake, Glen, and Medicino counties as well as the Medicino Forest, Snow Mountain and Yolo Bolo areas all accessed by Jeep and the Discovery Trail.
Just back from Central America a wife pleasing trip to South and Central America, and even with many bigger fish on Flies even a few trout in Costa Rican Mts. and Guatemala, it never once held a candle to the beauty and solitude of small streams and lakes that abound from San Francisco north and East of the IV Freeway. (can not bring myself to call it a highway). And as one well knows, there is no real life south of the Northern border of Petaluma where they swill our cheap water..
From now on my money will go into DAM REMOVAL, and where that fails, FISH LADDERS, and FISH SCREENS THAT WORK for Power Plants along the Eel, Russian, and East Fork of Russian and sundry other steams devoid of Salmon and Steelhead in the Napa, Lake, and Mendicino Counties. I would love to see the Salmon and Steelhead back in these drainages. So forgo a couple of those exotic trips and help build a future for the next few generations to enjoy by putting your mouths where true dreams should be..
YISOAB
The Grebe
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Tom,
We have a place on the Missouri near Craig, MT. We’ve been going out twice a year for a while now. This year, I plan to try a different route. My brother and I may have a little work to do in northern CO. We are talking about getting chores done asap and taking the rest of the time for a leisurely/indirect drive through WY and back to Boise. Our goal is to fish smaller WY water and avoid the crowds. Any tips would be appreciated.
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Tom, your earlier post with the link to fisheyeguyphotography.com did indeed make me crazy, despite your warnings. That, plus dragfree.blogspot.com have me planning all sorts of craziness: Michigan in early May, Maine for brookies and landlocked salmon, then perhaps some hiking for cutthroat and goldens in CO and CA, respectively. I would love to sneak a trip to the Upper Sac in there – that river done stoled ma heart, an’ I don’t mind admittin’ it neither!
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who could forget central washington in july for the finest capr fishing this planet has to offer?
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I am heading back to upstate NY this spring for steelhead or brown trout, then again in the fall for salmon. A buddy and I are going to try really hard to catch a carp on the fly around here (VA/MD). I’ll do my usual smallie fishing in the Shenandoah. But I’m most looking forward to my Montana trip with my wife in July and a guided float trip!
Your thoughts about Maine have me thinking about that state again, I have been wanting to go there since before I started fishing. Now it seems like a must-visit state!
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Looking for a ultralight weight float tube for your summer backcountry trips? Toys R Us has them. You can get them with either SpongeBob Squarepants or the Little Mermaid printed on them. (I’m his brother, it’s my JOB to taunt him so).
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Actually, we could go to the French Quarter and get a Lucky Dog…they’re a New Orleans institution – Jimmy Hoffa in every bite.
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Well, my local waters are the redfish-infested marshes of South La., so there’ll be plenty of that. Other destinations: Andros (Bahamas) for Bones in April, Jackson Hole in August, and hopefully another trip to the backcountry of GSMNP. After the Jackson trip I may head up to Yellowstone . . .
Tom, shoot me a line if you want guide recommendations for redfishing about an hour outside of New Orleans.
BillyB
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Almost forgot…the places I’ll go this year:
1. February (weather permitting, just after Mardi Gras) – Smokies…hope the hatches start a bit early.
2. April/May – Brookies in North Carolina and Virginia
3. Various times in summmer – more trips to smokies, etc.
In between, trips out to the local marshes for reds and specks. I’m pretty resigned to short, long-weekend type trips – I have my kids with me, and I have to work around their schedule…plus, it keeps the costs down. I can make it to Townsend, TN from my front door in a little over 9 hours, which isn’t bad.
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no reason the “backpacking gear” part of hike-in gear list should be more than 12-15 lbs for summer in the Sierra. Leaves room for 30?!% lbs of fishing gear?
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It will likely be the Upper Sacramento between Dunsmuir and Lake Siskiyou. Been through there many times, but have not fished as often as I should have.
Armed with my copy of “how to crap inna woods,” I will see if I can achieve local fame by despoiling all of TC’s favorite haunts.
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In the near future I will be spending a good deal of time at my local stocked trout stream until the saltwater heats up, then it’s on to striped bass et al.
As far as travel goes:
I will be fly fishing for peacock bass in Miami this spring, without a doubt. My favorite freshwater fish on fly.
I have my annual trip to upstate new york after ice out to fly fish for northern pike.
I have a trip scheduled for Boca Grande for some tarpon on conventional tackle, then probing the backcountry for snook, reds, and speckled trout.
And I have a trip slated for New England to chase after school bluefin with the long rod again.
Of course I have dreams of wading the flats of the Seychelles, but the odds of that happening are beyond negligible.
And catching a carp on fly is high on my wish list, too.
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Gotta love all the plans. Still, I’m as interested in the “why” as much as the “where.”
What is it about a place that draws us, even if the trip is long and the fish are small?
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Staying at home in 2007, (Nor Cal)
Wonderful to see those staying close to home fishing and enjoying it.
I for one went to Central, and South America and Aruba fly fishing. Although catching fish, some quite large, the experience in the back country of Mendicino Forest Lake County north to the Trinity Alps beats it all.
We have so much unknown (by the general public) small fly water to utilize it is unreal. I for one love it.
If big buck trips are your thing, consider what I am doing from now on: …
Fighting to get the Salmon and Steelhead back into Napa, Lake, and Mendicino Counties. Mainly the East Fork of the Russian River, Eel River, and the Upper Spring Creeks of the Snow Mountain Wilderness area of the Mendicino Forest.
What a boon to the sports related business’s that would be. I am putting my money and volunteerism where my mouth is, and would like to suggest the same for all fly fisherman and women in these areas. The big rivers are making progress toward restoration. Now let’s fight for the smaller steams and rivers as well.
1. I am donating to projects that further restoration, and writing Legislatures and the Governor.
2. I take a “We can work together with those opposed, but the fish and there habitat come first. You can have your power and water but only after the fish and their habitat are safe.
3. I teach fly tying to Boy & Girl Scouts and their families. I am developing a program that teaches fly fishing from the non-elitist standpoint. You do not need an expensive fly outfit to be successful. With inexpensive equipment one can often out fish many of our elitist posers who pay big money to have the guides provide the photo top’s for show and tell with their peers.
4. I resolve to instill a love for the finer aspects of Fly Fishing: mentally, healthfully, and spiritually. A Sunday on the river thinking about what the Great Scout in the Sky has provided is a rewarding and personal growth experience for us all.
That $5,000.00 exotic trip and $1,000.00 plus fishing outfit may become a reality for you in the future but for now we should keep the money in the good old USA and help to fix the problems that may cost future generations the ability to experience all that fly fishing and fishing in general is. Cement Bath tub trout are ok for locked lakes but how about supporting our native spawning fish to ensure the future for them and our children.
A river clean enough to raise native trout is clean enough to use for drinking water and a lot prettier and healthier than rock and concrete channels.
YISOAB
The Grebe
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I travel 2 1/2 hours by car to a small stream in the sourthernmost part of the Sierra. I moved to California from Kentucky part because of the Sierra Nevada range, the “range of light” as John Muir called it. The first time I came west, I fell in love with the mountains.
But the southern Sierra at lower elevations are not like the northern Sierra, and certainly not like the eastern slope up north, and I’m not talking about the fishing. When I go there, I get this strange feeling, as if something were not right. When I traveled to them often in the summer, the mountains were my haven in the summer, a place of refuge from the heat and congestion and smog.
Where I love to fish most in the southern range remains hot during the day; it only gets cool at night.
But in the later part of the day, when the caddis begin to dive bomb the smooth water and the brown trout come out to play, I get to “walk into the postcard”.
I’ve encountered rattlesnakes, fire ants, heat and thirst, but when that happens, nothing else matters.
The stream is small, a spring creek of sorts, flow in the range of 100 cfs, lined on both sides with willows. Unassuming, and thankfully overlooked (walk 3/4 of a mile and your away from every other fisherman), it is easy to wade, not at all tricky in that respect, and grants me a few browns every time I go there. An incredible respite from Los Angeles, and home again at night, if I wish.
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…”What is it about a place that draws us, even if the trip is long and the fish are small?”…
Good question. For me, this trout fishing on small streams is a recently acquired addiction. I think some of it has to be the setting; the mountains are such a contrast to where I live, so there’s that. There is also the amazement that I still have when I look at all that rushing water – how can anything live in that? The marshes of Southeast Louisiana are fish factories, and even a casual visitor can see that – all sorts of bait activity in the water, tons of birds, etc. The little freestone streams, by contrast, are beautiful, but harsh at the same time. You quickly find out that there are indeed fish there, and some of the most beautifully colored creatures in the world, too. Then, there’s the test of presenting your fly perfectly to incredibly skitterish trout – this must be how a brain surgeon feels with a scalpel in his hand. It is a completely different style of fishing for me, and that probably explains, at least in part, why I would fill up my tank, herd my kids in the car, and drive 700 miles for a chance to catch a 6 inch fish.
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I just lined up a Mosquito Lagoon excursion for April in conjunction with a Mouseville trip.
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Trout fishing in the winter? Try North central Arkansas. After all, this IS where the world record brown trout comes from. Right now we have an inch of snow on the ground and soon to melt with the 40 degree temps tommorrow. But best of all a shad kill coming through the dam and large hungry trout eager to devour anything white. Life is goooood! Marc
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