The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Yesterday I went down the South Fork American with a local donor who wanted to show me the S. Fork ropes. We accessed the river with IK's and did the Lotus/Greenwood run. This was Wednesday and early, so the flows were down to something like 300 CFS, as opposed to the 1,400 CFS that gets sent down river for whitewater and power generation. At 300 the river was a piece of cake... I had never been in an IK before and I found it pretty easy to get around. We'd get out before the water we wanted to fish and then IK down to the next spot.

The fishing was pretty fun. I have to say that I don't think I've ever caught hotter rainbows... anywhere. These things pulled really, really hard for their size. I only landed three, plus a 20" Northern Sac Pike Minnow (Squaw Fish), but I must have hooked another 12-15, including one I lost at my feet that was about 18" and fought like a steelie. I even had a fish break a hook at the bend.

I was really surprised to find such fun fishing on the S. Fork, as it is not known as a great fishery. This kind of fishing you need to do eitehr before the pulse comes or after it leaves, which limits your options a bit, but it was a lot of fun and I'll be back to do it again... and next time I'm bringing my 5 wt, not my 4 wt.

B-

Good report, Bjorn. Hmmm, S. Fork, who knew?

Buzz

Nice Bjorn! And nice and close to your "hood" too.

You are correct, the S. Fork isn't known as a good fishery, so
I'm quite surprised at your report. I don't know the area you
fished, but I know it's not like that up near Silver Fork.

And I'm amazed they fought that well. Wow. Uh, knowing how
you lay the wood to fish Bjorn, I don't think you need to go
up to a 5wt...I think you need to drop down to a 3 wt.

Thanks for the report.

Living vicariously,

Eric aka Anglernut

It is true that I don't tend to play trout... I tend to haul them up and out quickly to get them on their way again.

I was pretty surprised wiht the fishing... I have heard some folks talk about decent fishing, but it seems hard to imagine when the river is at 1400.

B-

Ya, I wouldn't fish it that high....I tend to always be
the one on fishing outings that falls in. %$$#$#@!!

And that's even with a staff!

Eric