With the general trout season opening in less than 24 hours, the Underground’s Fly Gear Readiness Department is busy dulling hooks, jumbling fly boxes, nicking leaders and pinholing my waders in preparation for tomorrow’s opener.
In truth, catching trout on opening day is more an observation of a tradition than a pent-up need to fly fish, but I still find myself headed out the door this afternoon for a little scouting session.
Tradition, it turns out, creates its own inertia.
As for the fishing, the flows on the local rivers look pretty good (though warmer weather brings them up), but first:
AN IMPORTANT FLY FISHING-RELATED ALERT
I heard a fourth-hand rumor — just confirmed (second hand) by Bob Grace of the Ted Fay Fly Shop — that the road to the Ah Di Nah Campground isn’t yet open (blocked by a snow drift), though the road to Ash Camp is passable.
Flows at Ash Camp are fairly low, and the McCloud should be absolutely crowded fishable for the opener.
Rumor also has it the Nature Conservancy caretaker had to hike into the Conservancy along the Pacific Crest Trail, so if you were planning to hit that water this weekend, better bring some boots.
More Fishing Reports
And speaking of the Ted Fay Fly Shop — California’s second-longest running fly shop — they’re going to try and keep their Guide Notes fishing report and Stream Conditions reports current this year, so better bookmark ‘em.
I also talked to local guide Craig Nielsen (owner of Shasta Trout guide service), who spoke to us from his hot tub and was leaving this afternoon for a steelhead trip on a secret Alaskan stream.
That’s style no matter how you spin it, and we’re awarding him an Official Underground Bastard Designation, despite him not inviting us along.
We can’t wait to see the pictures from the trip.
His clients have been catching fish on the Trout Underground deep nymphing, which pretty much squares with what all the other non-dry-fly snobs have been telling me.
Me? I wouldn’t know.
See you on opening day, Tom Chandler.
UPDATE: Scouting Day Photos
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My brother and five other undesirables are heading out tonight for the same secret Alaskan steelhead stream. Craig knows what they look like, so he can run the other way should he spot any of them. All have promised to taunt me mercilessly upon their return.
SMJ(Quote)
Screw them. You’ll be in a warm place, catching carp — the Golden Ghost.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
SMJ,
You guys are tough. My brother and I were in Alaska on the Anchor catching steelhead last September above the campground bridge. The fish were fresh and bright and it was one of the best fly fishing days of my life. I envy you guys a little bit. Except for the fact that we were fishing in 60 degree temps and you are most likely far south of that!
Joe Kelly(Quote)
It is indeed just a few hours until the dawn of the “holy” day. Good, it’s about time!
Gene Bach(Quote)
I’m headed somewhere else, but using
a telephonehigh-tech intelligence gathering equipment, it seems the Upper Sac is waking up a bit, and some nice fish were caught today, and one guide reported really hammering ‘em (oddly, he didn’t say where).Tom Chandler(Quote)