Local fly fishing guide Wayne Eng used to grow so depressed when the Upper Sacramento River closed for the season, we considered confiscating his belt and shoelaces and placing him on suicide watch.
Now he gets to fish the Upper Sacramento all winter long (which is good, because it runs right by his home), and Wednesday, he was very, very happy the fishing season extends year-round. Why? Here’s 27 great reasons…):
Bigger than life? Wayne Eng's 27" of Upper Sacramento Brown Trout happiness.
That’s an Upper Sacramento Brown trout which Wayne suggests taped out at 27 inches. That’s two-seven, Undergrounders. On a river not exactly known for its populations of monster brown trout.
He caught it on a (ta-da!) black woolly bugger – at a time when the rain and snow melt were just starting to drive higher flows and murk the water a bit – an awfully good time to go headhunting.
Still, these kind of fish have a tendency to appear in the winter, and you’re often left to wonder exactly where the hell they were all summer.
Hiding at the bottom of a deep pool? Living the high life in Lake Shasta? Lacking a hideously outsized government research grant more information, we’re not sure.
But at least we know the things exist.
See you at the fly bin, Tom Chandler.
{ 3 trackbacks }
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Fish porn! Merry X-mas Wayne! Loon(Quote)
Wow – great fish! What kind of rod is that in the background? Those of use sitting at desks with inquiring minds want to know… Seth(Quote)
It’s a terrible rod – a Sage RPL+ 2wt, that’s really a 4wt (at least to me). Wayne loves it, but to the low-modulus huggers among us (me), it’s not one of Sage’s better efforts. Tom Chandler(Quote)
Say it ain’t so! Seth(Quote)
Wayne catches a HUGE brown on the Upper Sac, and the Dunsmuir Brewery Works open all in the same week! I am so glad I bought in Dunsmuir when property was affordable!
Wait till the real world hears about all of this.
Congrats to Wayne and to the brewery.
Makes me want to go out and fish. Or go out and drink. Decisions, decisions.
Chris Chris Raine(Quote)
The property values of my Dunsmuir home (the Underground’s Ancestral Home remains in my hands) have already shot up a good 20%.
Hell, now I can afford to go drinking… Tom Chandler(Quote)
Tequila…Tequila and some more forget that belly rusting brew…the more (tequila) you drink the longer you can fish these days, think numb no more.
Sam…a very happy dog congratulating Wayne samistopdog(Quote)
Just goes to show ya the more you fish, the more good things happen. Just last summer while stripping a bugger for bass in Lake Siskyou I hooked 18″ brown. Well done Wayne Brian(Quote)
Congratulations Wayne! What a beautiful fish! Joe Eberle(Quote)
Wow what a great looking fish and an equally impressive picture! I’ve fished the lower Sac but never the Upper … maybe I need to make the trip! Kevin Newell(Quote)
Great looking Brown for that area! Can’t wait to get back again myself troutdawg(Quote)
Beautiful fish! On a 2 weight, huh? Alright, a 4 weight, if you want… Geeeeez. Nice photos, as well. Kentucky Jim(Quote)
I’ve never even SEEN a brown in the U.Sac. In fact, I had a long discussion with Wayne in early November, as to why not. I think he said there were some: not sure I believed him. OK, Wayne, I believe you now!
Hmm, Wayne fishing a wooley bugger … divine inspiration, or did he know something was up? Terry Joyce(Quote)
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
By the way, does Wayne ever dress in dark clothing and don a Santa hat? Don(Quote)
Could have happened to me… Tom Chandler(Quote)
Oh yeah! Way to go Wayne. What a great gift for the holiday. All us Brown hunters in Montana are envious as hell! All hail Wayne and the beautiful Brown! fishhead(Quote)
It’s better to be lucky than good! When Myrna Rae and I moved to Dunsmuir I had certain fly fishing related goals , find a Hardy reel [25.00 with 7.6 fenwick glass rod=yard sale] . cast like Tom,the two Daves, Mark and Steven [still workin on it] catch a two foot wild trout [ yes!] and sing like Barry White ……Well Im singin now!………!..just lucky I guess. wayne eng(Quote)
Your the most honest guy I know Wayne….could have said you caught it on an “Eng Theng”… but that’s not you. That’s why we all love ‘ya. Nice fish, Wayne! Bob Papazian(Quote)
Wayno, thanks for helping me off stream with 3″ spiral fracture of right fib.
I see you caught said fish on Tupperware. It does not exist. Flykuni(Quote)