The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Great weekend on the Trinity meeting with good friends sharing the river. The fishing was tough, and that's probably an understatement. The water is low and clear and very cold 40-41 degrees and heavy frost both mornings. Which has cut down on crowds a bit. But makes catching pretty tough. While there are still lot's of fish in the system, they have been pounded, and the river desperately needs rain.

Weekend Details:

Fished Friday in several spots from DC to JC and beyond. One nice hen to about 8 pounds to show for it. Fished a run with quite a few fish in residence, but they sure weren't interested in my flies! In one part of the run I could see several fish holding right in front of me, and watched them slide out of the way everytime my flies drifted through. Guideboat drifting by were consistenly sharing the same story of tough conditions. Met up with Dawn and Greg at Arttus Friday night. They fixed an excellent dinner of Calzones, with a spot of Red wine to wash it down. Awesome! Jet and Joey arrived late after dinner. Some months back I sent Joey a bunch of hooks with a request that he tie me a fly for my collection. When Joey and Jet arrived, Joey presented two plastic boxes stuffed full of streamers, and salmon flies and many others. Wow! That kid has a bright future as a fly tyer!

Got up early/late Saturday morning and dawdled getting out. Salman stopped by early to wake us all up. By the time coffee was brewed and gear packed in the truck, we were 15 minutes late getting to the run of choice. So headed for a back-up. Five of us hooked one Saturday morning. We returned to the house and warmed up, had lunch and then headed over the hill below JC. A long tough afternoon that yielded no fish, despite hitting a couple very good runs. Greg had several takes and pricked a couple of fish, but did not hook up. We returned to Arttus about 5:00, cold and shivering. The river banks were frosty throughout the day and never did thaw, and the water was cold, and leak in the right foot of my waders only added to the romance of steelheading!

Saturday evening we had a feast for kings. We had Salman and the kids, Joey, Jet, Greg and Dawn, and a special guest who is trying to establish residency in California during the steelhead months, Arizona Bruce. We had a nice dinner of duck and goose, risotto, asparagus and some more red to wash it down with. After dinner, Arizona Bruce gave an excellent slide show on his recent trip to British Columbia to fish for Steelhead in the Skeena drainage, on the Bulkley river. It was an awesome show and we finished the evening late and crashed into bed, knowing the steelhead alarm would wake us early.

This morning, Joey and Jet headed out at 5:45 to meet up with Arizona Bruce at the Bakery for coffee before heading to a favorite run somewhere over the hill. Joey or Jet have not caught a steelhead before and we are
hopeful they had success today. We've not heard a report. Greg and I headed to another favorite run and worked it hard for three hours. Both of us pricked a fish, but no hook-up. We finally gave up and headed back to the warmth of the house mid-morning to pack and begin the long drive home. Heading over the pass this afternoon it was snowing heavily and the north state appears like it is going to get pounded with rain. That will sure be welcome, as the river needs it!

Hey Phil,

Great Report Phil! Sounds like a grand time up there, with good friends, good food, and steelhead fishing on a beautiful river even if the fishing wasn't red hot . Sure wish I could find time to get away and do some of that .

Best Wishes to all!

Bill

I just want to give a big thanks to Phil for putting on this mini bash. I committed at the last minute and deicided I did not have enough excuses not to go this time. Joey and I went on his/my first hunting trip with Peter at Yankee Shough for Chukkars on Friday Afternoon. This is another story to come. So, after I vacuumed the sealed the Chukkars we hit the road late for the Trinity mini bash.
Arrived Late on Friday night and up semi early on Sat morning. Joey and I fished with Greg, Phil and Salman and it was about 24 degrees out and frosty. I soon discovered I have a nice leak in my waders below my right knee. We fished hard and Phil was the only one to hook/land a fish. Can back for lunch and Dawn had the pizza in the oven ready to go when we arrived back.

Joey and I went to fish the Pigeon point area while the others went to some more challenging waters. We fished the run below up to the Samlon hole with no success. Headed up stream looking for water and fished one one run with not luck. We were a little aggressive with our wader and Joey got a little water over the top of his waders. All other runs we occupied so we decide to call it a day and go warm up.

Went back to the house and hung out with Dawn, Greg and Snicker. Phil returned at dark and prepared an awesome wild duck and goose dinner that was top notch. I don't eat wild game very often and I have to say that it turned out really good and my son eat his fair share as well. After dinner Arizona Bruce came by and put on a slide show about sheelhead fishing British Columbia. AB put on a good show and somehow they convinced me to get up at 0500 and give it a second try with leaky waders and all. So I gathered all our wet stuff and put it in the dryer for round 2 on Sunday morning. Set the alarm and watch the rest of Dawn's flying blades chick flick.

Joey and I met AB at the Bakery in Weaverville ay 0600. We proceded to AB's run in the dark at hit the water at first light. AB was AWESOME and rigged Joey up with flies and indicator. He gave him great instruction and I think he was hooked up in 15 mins. I on the other used my standard rig and soon leaned that I now have a hole in the crotch in addition to the one on my right leg. I fiahed for 30-45min before AB rigged me up with his set-up. Soon I too caught and landed my first Steelhead and he sure was a beauty. Sunday was much warmer than Sat but we started to get cold and I had to be back for work today. We owe AB a huge THANKS for sharing his water and techniques with us. We learned that Joe now has a leak in his waders. Must be those black berry bushes.

Here is Joey's first Steelhead caught on 12-02-07 at age 11.




Here is my first Steelhead caught on 12-02-07 at age 44.



I just want to give a big thanks to Phil for setting up the mini Bash. We want to thank everyone for all the tips and showing us how to fish the water. Dawn thanks for handling the cleanup after the party. Greg thanks for giving up your spot to save the boy from the bears. I wish you have told me the couch was a fold out. Thanks Salman for showing us your home waters.

I'm not quite sure I caught the Steelhead bug yet but I sure like to try it again without leaky waders. Joey has hit his vice at home already and duplicated some of AB's patterns.

Thanks everyone for a great time!


Jet

I just want to give a big thanks to Phil for putting on this mini bash. I committed at the last minute and deicided I did not have enough excuses not to go this time. Joey and I went on his/my first hunting trip with Peter at Yankee Shough for Chukkars on Friday Afternoon. This is another story to come. So, after I vacuumed the sealed the Chukkars we hit the road late for the Trinity mini bash.
Arrived Late on Friday night and up semi early on Sat morning. Joey and I fished with Greg, Phil and Salman and it was about 24 degrees out and frosty. I soon discovered I have a nice leak in my waders below my right knee. We fished hard and Phil was the only one to hook/land a fish. Can back for lunch and Dawn had the pizza in the oven ready to go when we arrived back.

Joey and I went to fish the Pigeon point area while the others went to some more challenging waters. We fished the run below up to the Samlon hole with no success. Headed up stream looking for water and fished one one run with not luck. We were a little aggressive with our wader and Joey got a little water over the top of his waders. All other runs we occupied so we decide to call it a day and go warm up.

Went back to the house and hung out with Dawn, Greg and Snicker. Phil returned at dark and prepared an awesome wild duck and goose dinner that was top notch. I don't eat wild game very often and I have to say that it turned out really good and my son eat his fair share as well. After dinner Arizona Bruce came by and put on a slide show about sheelhead fishing British Columbia. AB put on a good show and somehow they convinced me to get up at 0500 and give it a second try with leaky waders and all. So I gathered all our wet stuff and put it in the dryer for round 2 on Sunday morning. Set the alarm and watch the rest of Dawn's flying blades chick flick.

Joey and I met AB at the Bakery in Weaverville ay 0600. We proceded to AB's run in the dark at hit the water at first light. AB was AWESOME and rigged Joey up with flies and indicator. He gave him great instruction and I think he was hooked up in 15 mins. I on the other used my standard rig and soon leaned that I now have a hole in the crotch in addition to the one on my right leg. I fiahed for 30-45min before AB rigged me up with his set-up. Soon I too caught and landed my first Steelhead and he sure was a beauty. Sunday was much warmer than Sat but we started to get cold and I had to be back for work today. We owe AB a huge THANKS for sharing his water and techniques with us. We learned that Joe now has a leak in his waders. Must be those black berry bushes.

Here is Joey's first Steelhead caught on 12-02-07 at age 11.




Here is my first Steelhead caught on 12-02-07 at age 44.



I just want to give a big thanks to Phil for setting up the mini Bash. We want to thank everyone for all the tips and showing us how to fish the water. Dawn thanks for handling the cleanup after the party. Greg thanks for giving up your spot to save the boy from the bears. I wish you have told me the couch was a fold out. Thanks Salman for showing us your home waters.

I'm not quite sure I caught the Steelhead bug yet but I sure like to try it again without leaky waders. Joey has hit his vice at home already and duplicated some of AB's patterns.

Thanks everyone for a great time!


Jet

Awesome! I am glad to hear you guys hooked up! I wish I was there to see it.

It was great hanging out with everyone. Thanks for organizing, Phil!

Dawn

Awesome Joe. Glad you and Joey got into fish!

My pleasure.

Way to go Joey...you to Joe.

Outstanding father and son memory.

Paul

you have just let a the steelheader inside you loose. Look forward to some of the best freezing cold days of your life!!!! congrats!!

Hey Joe,

I would wager the number of father son combinations that caught a steelhead fishing together on the same day is a mighty small number. Outstanding job!

Congrats to both of you!

Bill

Hey Joe,
I was so excited for both of you guys I forgot to log in. Wanted to make sure you knew the congrats were from "Bluegrass Bill".

Best Wishes!

Bill

Thats great Joe, Congrats to you and Joey on your first taste of steel.
Sunday was a much better day to fish with the warmer temps and light rain,
the fish were on the bite... amazing what a couple degree temp change can do.
It was warm enough for popcicles