The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I've been fishing all the rivers around the Mother Lode foothill region. The lower Tuolumne, Stanislaus and Merced Rivers. Fishing is not too bad.
Seems like the best times are mid day. Not a whole bunch of surface action but if you are patient and watch the water you may see a few.

More time on the water will reveal more spots where the fish like to hang. Most risers seem to prefer the flatwater sections which make a drag free presentation a must. Best fly for me has been a PMD para size 18. If you go suburface, use a bright colored attractor such as a glo bug or a pink dirty worm. (S.J. worm) and a nymph under that.

The Stan has some big fish in it now as do all the rivers. The Tuolumne looks the best, color wise. The Merced is the worst looking, but doesn't fish as bad as it looks.

A fly I've been having luck with in the last few days is the black A.P. BH size 16. Or, maybe it was an 18? not sure. Been hammering a few with the black bow bugger too.

It's fun to take three rods along. One 5 wt. for dries, a 7 wt. for streamers and another 7 wt. for the double nymph rig (with bobicator) Work the sections once with the dries, and then go through it again with the nymph setup. I only use the 5 wt. if I see a steady riser. I spend a lot of time just looking for fish.

Been seeing more than a few people out there fly fishing. Mostly on the weekends. Let's see....NO Bait! Barbless hooks and no killing any fish. Steelhead Report Card & Delta stamp. The wardens are out there all the time now. I've been checked numerous times on all rivers. One time a warden was checking me out with binocs. I held up my license, he kept looking. Then I whipped out my steelhead card ... then he left!

The image I'm trying to post is one from today...right at 20" - I guess he was hungry.(again) 11 am to 2 pm - 12 hooked, 6 to hand...some very nice fish got away!! Darn!

Just been hoofin it ...no boating right now. water is pretty low. My knees are killing me!




(spam)>I still am guiding about once a week now. Would like to do a little more than that. The fishing is good now. Gimme a call. I can show you some cool spots!
Happy Presidents Day! The weather is awesome, go enjoy it!!
.....................Berms-rookie poster
PS>>...a great bunch of people here.

Nice fish Berms!

BTW, you're no longer a rookie poster. You've graduated to Junior poster!

Just finished tying up some Bow River Buggers that I have nicknamed the Big Black Ugly Fugger. I showed one to my wife last night and she was scared. Pretty sure that's a good sign. Planning to throw these over some pig browns next week down south. Size 2 hook, TMC 5363, Tung Cone Head, Lead wrapped half the shank, Lot's of black marabou on the tail, with 2-3 strands of Krystal Flash on each side, black chenille, black hackle, black dyed deer hair collar.

I'm bringing an 8 weight and a helmet to throw them!

Phil, please, please, please don't hit yourself in the back of the head with one of those....you'll come back loonier than you already are. Have fun down there.

I'm getting looney with anticipation!

Also try a differing collar color other than black on a black body. I think the contrast in colors gets 'em goin. White collar on a black body works very well. I've never tried all black on that Bow bugger. Always contrasting. you may be on to something...very jealous of your intinerary!
.................Jr. poster berms

In Eureka we used to tie a "Darth Bugger" that was very popular at the lagoons. Long nymph hook with a big black marabou tail and pearl KF, black crystal chenille body, black saddle palmer, and a black bead with lots of lead underneath. They worked great, and Mike sold tons of them!

-- T.

Got a few with a blonde elk collar as well, but in 6's.

Tied quite a few in Olive and black as well!

All black with a red collar under a black collar. I've had requests for these, and people up North of the Border seem to like them.

"All black with a red collar under a black collar."
Hmmmmmm... wheels are spinning! never seen that one. Verrry interesting!

I can't remember if I tied a bunch of these for a shop in Alberta or BC, but it was one of the two. Had some individuals from up there who wanted the same thing. It was a very gill-y looking creature, but I never fished the thing myself. Fact is, I've never caught a fish on any sort of bugger, so I don't tie them for myself anymore. Odd. Funny, perhaps.