Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing for Beginners

Beginner Fly Fisher's Guide to Tying Fishing Knots

5/20/2017 5 minutes

Fishing’s Critical Connections

Some say that the quality of knot you use is a matter of life and death. I disagree, I can tell you that it’s much more serious than that!

By now, poor knots and dull hooks should be a thing of the past. Unfortunately for many anglers this isn’t the case. While we can’t make sure everyone fishes with sharp hooks, we can provide anglers with the knowledge of the importance of knot-tying, and introduce them to some of fishing’s most effective and famous knots. Remember the knot is a critical link between you and the fish, making knot tying one of the most important skills in fishing.

Knot Anatomy

Knots require sufficient turns and wraps to stop the line from slipping. When a fish bites, wraps and turns spread and absorb the strain of the line, reducing the chance of another “one that got away” story. The more change in shape a connector goes through, the less weight it can hold. While well tied knots can still slip, tighten, or change shape under intense strain, the strongest knots are those that change least while under stress.

Good Knot-Tying Habits

As with most techniques and skills, there are good and bad habits to knot-tying. Following these tips will allow you to tie knots better, quicker, and in any situation.

Special thanks to the FIX.com blog for contributing this post!

Source: Tying the Knot: Fishing's Critical Connections. FIX.com. Feb 2017.

Destinations

Red Bluff California

Red Bluff is a city in and the county seat of Tehama County, California, United States. The population was 14,076 at the 2010 census, up from 13,147 at the 2000 census. Red Bluff is ... moreon the northern edge of the Sacramento Valley, and is the third largest city in the Shasta Cascade region. It is about 30 mi south of Redding, 40 mi northwest of Chico, and 125 mi north of Sacramento.

Trips:

Jet Boat Trip on Feather, Yuba or American Rivers

Float Trip on the Lower Sacramento River with Steel Bridge Guides

Float Trip on the Yuba River with Nor Cal Fly Guides

All 6 Fishing Trips

Fishing Waters:

Sacramento River Fishing Report

Fishing Waters

American River Fishing Report

The American River watershed offers fishermen (and fisherwomen) a wide range of experiences, from fly-fishing in the clear streams of the Sierra Nevada to casting for steelhead in ... morethe lower American as it flows through Sacramento. The American River contains two main sections. The North Fork and the Lower American River

The North Fork of the American River is designated as a while trout water. Most of the North Fork flows through a deep canyon carved through metamorphic rock. It has a very rugged character with very steep slopes and a narrow bottom. Deep pools framed by sheer cliffs, waterfalls cascading from 40 to 70 feet, and benches, densely wooded with alder and willow are typical of the beauty found in the North Fork Canyon. The fishery is dominated by Rainbow trout, with an occasional Brown trout (the brown trout are usually lunkers!).

Fishing enthusiasts can choose from a number of trails to access the river canyon, most of them dropping steeply from the canyon rim down to the water. While visitation peaks in the summer, primarily driven by hikers/swimmers, late spring into mid-summer is typically the height of the boating season. The highest boatable reach is known as Generation Gap (12 miles), run by only the most experienced Class V boaters, which can only be accessed by a three-mile long walk. The next lower reach, known as Giant Gap (14 miles), is also Class V and is accessed by a two-mile hike down the Euchre Bar Trail. Although overnight camping permits are not required, if visitors want a campfire, they will need to obtain a fire permit.

The Lower American River is a short stretch of river, flowing through the city of Sacramento, is the most heavily used recreation river in California. It provides an urban greenway for trail and boating activities and is also known for its runs of steelhead trout and salmon.

Game Fish Opportunities:

Guide Reports:

American River Fishing Report for August

American River Fishing Report for June

American River Fishing Report 5-5-16

Fishing Trips:

Jet Boat Trip on Feather, Yuba or American Rivers

Float Trip on the American River with Nor Cal Fly Guides

Fishing Access Sites:

Creature Instruments

media-printer.com

Beta Fishing

Sacramento River Fishing Report

The Sacramento River is the principal river of Northern California in the United States, and is the largest river in California. Rising in the Klamath Mountains, near Mount Shasta ... more(in Siskiyou county), the river flows south for 445 miles, through the northern section (Sacramento Valley) of the Central Valley, before reaching the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay. It forms a common delta with the San Joaquin River before entering Suisun Bay, the northern arm of San Francisco Bay. The river drains about 27,500 square miles, with an average annual runoff of 22 million acre-feet, in 19 California counties, mostly within a region bounded by the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada known as the Sacramento Valley, but also extending as far as the volcanic plateaus of Northeastern California.

Game Fish Opportunities:

Guide Reports:

Lower Sacramento River Fishing Report August 2017

Great Fishing on the Lower Sacramento - June Fishing Report

Lower Sacramento Fishing is Too Good to Believe

All 4 Guide Fishing Reports

Fishing Trips:

Float Trip on the Lower Sacramento River with Steel Bridge Guides

Float Trip on the Lower Sacramento River with Nor Cal Fly Guides

Trinity River Fishing Report

The Trinity River is the longest tributary of the Klamath River, approximately 165 miles (266 km) long, in northwestern California in the United States. It drains an area of the Coast ... moreRanges, including the southern Klamath Mountains, northwest of the Sacramento Valley. Designated a National Wild and Scenic River, along most of its course the Trinity flows swiftly through tight canyons and mountain meadows.

The river is also known for its runs of salmon and steelhead maintained in part by hatcheries. The king salmon enter the river in mid-July and are there generally through October before fading out in early November. The steelhead arrive in October and typically are in the river through March. In 1981 the United States Congress designated the entire river downstream from the Lewiston Dam to its mouth on the Klamath, as well as portions of the river's tributaries, as the Trinity Wild and Scenic River.

The Trinity is known for its runs of salmon and steelhead; the king salmon are available mid-July through October, when the steelhead arrive and typically stay through March. It's open year round, and the Fly Fishing Only Section (200 feet bwloe Lewiston Dam to the Old Lewiston Bridge) is open April 1-September 15.

Guide Reports:

Trinity River Fishing Report for August 2017

Trinity River will be the go to Steelhead Fishery for the next 3 months

Fishing Trips:

Float Trip on the Trinity River with Steel Bridge Guides

Float Trip on the Trinity River with Nor Cal Fly Guides

Trips

Float Trip on the Trinity River with Steel Bridge Guides

450

/ Boat

Capacity:

1 - 2 anglers

Days:

Daily

Duration:

1 day

Fishing Waters:

Trinity River Fishing Report

Destination:

Redding California

The Trinity River is California's most productive steelhead river. It's steelhead season is also the longest. We catch adult fish from September through March. During the early season ... morewe fish near Willow Creek. We follow the fish up the river through the Del Loma, Junction City, Douglas City, and Lewiston areas. We primarily swing flies with spey rods and switch rods, but we are not above catching these fish with nymphs and indicators if that's what you prefer. We use rafts and drift boats on the Trinity.

Float Trip on the American River with Nor Cal Fly Guides

425-

550

/ Boat

Capacity:

1 - 2 anglers

Days:

Daily

Duration:

4 hours - 8 hours

Fishing Waters:

American River Fishing Report

Destination:

Fly Fishing the American River in Northern Califronia will leave even the most advanced fly fisherman wanting more. That is why a knowledgable American River Fly Fishing Guide will ... morenot only educate you on the river sytem and its species, but show you the ins and outs, when, where, why, how and with what. Whether you are swinging for steelhead on the Lower American River or dry fly fishing the South Fork American River, you will be pleasantly pleased with the results.

The American River system is where you can start out fishing the Lower American River for shad, striper or steelhead while wet wading on a summer morning, then go eat lunch, get back on the road shoot up hwy 50 and within 45 minutes, have 30 fish on the South Fork American River fishing drys. Fishing the American River is one that can satisfy any fly fishing crave. The Lower American River is known for its shad, striper, steelhead and salmon runs. Shad start to enter the river in late spring, with some entering as early as April, the fishing starts to pick up in late May and early June, with July being the best. Even though the migration has ended the fishing can be great on those late July summer nights. If you have never fought a shad on a fly rod, I highly suggest it, they don’t call it the poor man’s tarpon for nothing. There are two methods used when shad fishing, one is swinging flys specifically tied for shad, the other is drifting flies under an indicator. Either technique is productive when used properly.

As far as stripers go, there are some resident fish in the river system year round, but can be extremely hard to catch due to the lack of numbers. When the weather warms so does the water as well as the Striper migration. The stripers start entering the river in early April and they are in the river system through September. Your best numbers in the lower part of the river is between April and May. June is a little slower due to the amount of shad that are in the river system and the stripers actively feeding on them, but once the shad are gone the fishing really heats up from late July through August, September and sometimes even October depending on the weather and water conditions. The best technique used for stripers is by stripping or swinging clousers with sink tips, full sinks and shoot head lines.

Now for the Steelhead, half pounders can be year round, but are mostly caught from late summer to spring. They can be caught using many techniques, from swinging to nymphing and even throwing drys. The best months to be on the water for half pounders are August through October along with March April and May. Don’t be discouraged by the word half pounder, this was the original run before the Eel and Mad river strain (winter run steelhead) was introduced in the 70's. These guys can put up a real fight for their size and most half pounders are wild fish ranging from 16-22" some even pushing 5 pounds and they are always full of spunk. The winter run doesn’t start showing up until the beginning of October, this is also peak time for the salmon run. The winter run steelhead that are on the American came from the Eel and Mad River systems, that was introduce by DFG to protect the steelhead population after the dams where e rected. These fish can be caught throughout the length of river from mid October all the way through March, sometimes even April. These fish range anywhere from 5 to 15 pounds. As far as fishing techniques goes, these big boys can be caught with the same techniques used on their half brothers, just scaled up a bit. If you want to get into steelhead and don't want to travel severals hours and possibly get a big goose egg, the American River is where its at. Not only is it our back yard, but we have 30+ years fishing this river system and we know where these fish hold throughout the year. Come enjoy some backyard fishing on a great river like the American river.

-Brian-

Float Trip on the Lower Sacramento River with Nor Cal Fly Guides

465-

600

/ Boat

Capacity:

1 - 2 anglers

Days:

Daily

Duration:

4 hours - 8 hours

Fishing Waters:

Sacramento River Fishing Report

Destination:

Red Bluff California

Redding California

If you have ever driven over the Lower Sacramento River or even fished it, you know that due to its shear size and abundance of water, this makes it extremely intimidating. That's ... morewhy having a knowledgable Lower Sacramento River Fly Fishing Guide is so important. A great guide will not only put you on the fish, but will also show you the fishy spots accessable by land, the put ins and pull outs for boats, as well as the bug life, the flies to use and when you go on your own, how to put all that t ogether to be successful. The Lower Sacramento River is a big tailwater fishery and California's biggest trout river, and its rainbows are just as big and powerful as the river they live in. If you want big fish and year-round fishing, this is the river for you. With more food than your local all you can eat buffets (2,500 insects per square foot of river), the average fish grows to a healthy and hard-fighting 16-18", and pigs pushing two feet are not out of the question, so bring some big guns. The fishing season is year-round, and water temperatures remain fairly constant too, as the river comes out of the bottom of Shasta Lake.

This river consists of long, indescribable, spring creek like stretches that are broken up by islands, deep pools, long riffles, gravel bars and undulating shelf’s, many of which are more pronounced during lower flows.

If having one of the best trout fisheries in the state isn’t enough, the Lower Sac also hosts some great runs of Steelhead and Chinook salmon too. It also hosts a variety of other fish, such as, shad, squawfish, stripers, largemouth and smallmouth bass, these populations of fish become higher the farther you get away from Shasta Lake. The highest flows are during the summer months, when snow melt is at its greatest, so a drift boat is highly recommended.

You can walk and wade during the higher flows if you so desire, but staying near the bank will be your safest bet. The best time to walk and wade the Lower Sac is going to be during fall, winter and early spring, there is very little snow melt, and the rain that falls goes to filling up the lake, so the river is low and great for walk and wading. This is the time to get out there and really learn the river's bottom and fish those slots that only come out in lower flows, either way “PLEASE WADE WITH CAUTION”. But due to the river’s size and the amount of private property along its banks, those that prefer to wade have two options. One is to fish from public parks and access points along the 16 miles or river between Redding and Anderson, or, from your boat, getting out at the riffles and fishy slots to make some casts.

Public access is fairly easy though on the Lower Sac, there are 6 boat launches, and many public parks and access points along the river that flows almost parallel with interstate 5.

-Brian

Outfitters

Nor Cal Fly Guides

(12)

We are a team of friendly and knowledgeable fly fishing guides, with a combined 40 years of fly fishing experience, dedicated to making your adventure on the water with us as enjoyable ... moreand informative as possible. We want you to succeed in all of your fishy endeavors, and we will take the time with you to make sure that you have all the techniques and skills necessary to catch fish wherever you go. Float or Walk and wade with us on one of Northern California's finest rivers and streams and we will accommodate our guiding style to meet your needs and abilities. With our extensive fly fishing knowledge and experience on waters all over Northern California, we will guide you on a fly fishing trip you will not soon forget.

NCFG practices catch and release on all boats. We respect the sport of fishing and wish to give all anglers the opportunity to experience the gratification we strive to give each of our clients.

Fishing Trips:

Jet Boat Trip on Feather, Yuba or American Rivers

Float Trip on the Yuba River with Nor Cal Fly Guides

Float Trip on the American River with Nor Cal Fly Guides

All 6 Fishing Trips

Fishing Reports:

Trinity River Fishing Report for August 2017

Lower Sacramento River Fishing Report August 2017

Fishing Report on the Yuba River August 2017

All 17 Guide Fishing Reports

Guides: