My California readers will know it’s November 15 — the end of California’s General Trout Season.
Up here the McCloud closes, but the Klamath, Upper Sacramento, Lower Sacramento and Pit Rivers remain open year-round (as do the lakes).
In truth, with so many of California’s rivers now open year round, closing day is more symbolic than the real end of anything — unless you’re a small stream fiend.
Those waters really do close, and the small streams I claim as the Sovereign Property Of The Underground might as well sink right into the fly fishing landscape.
That’s why I’m stealing a couple hours in the middle of the day to throw a fly at a nearby stream.
It’s likely the fish won’t rise to a dry and I’ll find myself tying on a small nymph (maybe),
That means the right fly rod for the job is probably the 8.5′ 4wt Diamondglass, though because this is closing day (which requires something outside the ordinary) I’ll probably kick rational thought to the curb and fish the Beasley 7.5′ 4wt Perfectionist bamboo fly rod.
A 7.5′ rod isn’t exactly the ideal nymphing rod, but it’s damned pretty and casts like Harry Potter’s magic wand, and when you hit 50, you realize you don’t have an infinite supply of closing (or fishing) days left, so you better enjoy ‘em when you can.
See you on the river, Tom Chandler.
“When you hit 50, you realize you don’t have an infinite supply of closing (or fishing) days left”
Wait’ll you hit 70… They become even more important.
Corvus(Quote)
I’ll have two girls in high school in my mid-to-late 60s, so odds are I won’t survive to 70…
Tom Chandler(Quote)
“I’ll have two girls in high school in my mid-to-late 60s” did miss something ? BTW my new bamboo is a 7’6″ and works fine on tiny nymphs
Victor(Quote)
Where have you been? Little M just turned 3, and we found out in August that she had a younger sister (22 months younger) — and that we had 12 hours to decide to adopt her.
You can read all about it here; meanwhile, the paperwork continues.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
The Klamath above Irongate is not open all year it closes on 11/15 as well. Only open all year below Irongate.
Andy Marx(Quote)
Corvus said a mouthful. And with fewer teeth, those of us approaching, near, or past our allotted three score and ten have room for quite a mouthful. Every time I wonder about whether to go fishing, I think, “How many are left” and my decsion is to go, go, go. To paraphrase Sparse Grey Hackle, trout don’t rise in City Cemetary.
Craig(Quote)
I think those girls will help keep you young Tom. Happiness has a big impact on ones life expectancy and I’m sure those girls will bring you much happiness, which means you’ll live longer and have more fishing days!
David(Quote)
I dunno. Friends tell me girls keep you young right up until they turn 13 — which is when you start wishing for death to come in a hurry…
Tom Chandler(Quote)
Chandler hits fifty; fifty hits back…
The card my dad gave me when Jessica was born said “Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! She’ll give you the best years of your life.”
On the inside it read, “And then she’ll start dating.”
Your turn’s next, Tom ol’ boy. Mine’s about decided she’s done kissing frogs…
The Chile Doctor(Quote)
NC and VA. Headed else where with week-end, tailwater and private water, but the small streams are there, and I will be there for them… :D
Andrew(Quote)
Congratulations,I must have been fishing that week,this time of year morning coffee and your site is a routine
Victor(Quote)
“Friends tell me girls keep you young right up until they turn 13 — which is when you start wishing for death to come in a hurry…”
Here is some hope for you Tom. My daughter Emily recently has asked me to show her how to row a drift boat (she really put on quite a show for the rednecks). Same day she and her mom both landed a steelhead.
We started both kids fishing when they were toddlers, its now paying dividends. One of ‘em is allready rowing the “ol’ man” down the creek, and now I could have a backup in the making. Take heart dads! tw
Waterouzel(Quote)
Stream fishing is my favorite! I love how you catch small to decent size trout but they fight soo hard! When you fish in stocked waters, the trout float in on their back alot of times. But the native trout that have been living in those waters are lean and mean.
Tim(Quote)