The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I am planning on trying the pit for the first time tomorow in the 3 stretch below lake britton, atleast I think thats what its called there.
a few questions, is it not worth fishing alone, I have stayed away from it so far but I cant help it, I just want to make sure i'm not pushing my luck in that cold of water. also, is there any main flies I should have lots of, and do the fish ever look up this time of year. I found an adult salmonfly today so I'm all excited for the dries.
and finally, anyone headed that way to fish tomorow as well?

It’s one of those places that to get to the good fishing, you have to get away from the road and down into a gorge. There are a few places that have easier access next to the road, but I’ve always had better luck in the harder to get to spots. (go figure) There are reports of mountain lions around there as well, but at least the rattle snakes should still be in hibernation, unless that warm spell a few weeks ago woke them up… Not too long ago, I heard of a CaFG warden or Ranger who was being stalked by a lion, but luckily the ranger was able to get into his (or her) truck from the other side. However, it’s a hearsay story, but…

It is difficult wading with the famous bowling ball size boulders that seem to be covered in Vaseline. (Save the jokes) I’ve never broke anything there (YET), but have fallen in, as with most people who have fished it often. If you were by yourself, and an ankle or arm did decide to bend where it’s not supposed to, then you are in trouble because it takes some effort to get out of there.

With that being said, if you are going alone, then I would probably go down the backside of the dam, at least there are steps and ladders and a relative path to be had. And you can fish for a while without wading.

As far as flies: this time of year I would go big stones, yellow and brown (golden stones, rubberlegs, salmon fly nymphs, etc…) with a smaller mayfly dropper (micro mays or bhfbpt) I’ve had good success with the color yellow. Maybe that was because I almost pissed myself when I went reaching for a tree branch to help me get some footing, and the branches decided to slither up further into the tree. There were 2 good size snakes (not rattlers, but over 5ft in length) in the tree at head level above the water.

I usually fish the Pit alone, and have never had any problems (knock on wood) with injuries. Be sure to have a staff, such as a ski pole, studded boots and just take your time. Try and keep three points of contact as you wade up, and if you feel yourself slip just go with it, rather than jumping around trying to find another rock - this is how you go swimming.

The Pit in March can be hit or miss, depending on the recent weather. It seems like we're in a dry spell right now with some warm weather on the way. The water will still be cold though, and the trout may not be where you think they should be. If you're not getting hit in the usual pockets and runs, try some of the slower tail-out and deeper pools.

Access three has some great water, and this time of year fishing the more popular spots should be just as productive as hiking a ways into the canyon. Like Pound said, the first stretch below Britton can be good - just hike down river-left as far as you can and fish back. The flies that Pound mentioned will work but be sure to have lots of weight and fish each pocket/run thoroughly. This time of year it may take a few more casts in front of those trout to get em' to bite. Good luck and post a report, if you make it back

-Notch

I have fished the Pit a good deal by myself, and have not broken much other than my spirit on a few occasions -- filling your waders with cold water will do that. These days I own a PLB and feel much better down there with it. The smashed-ankle scenario is always a remote possibility.

I'm going to disagree with Pound about getting away from the road, though. Usually that holds true, but there are conditions that seem to stack the fish up in different places at different times. Opening day 2004, with a wet snow falling, I walked 20 yards from the road (as the crow flies, anyway) and saw hordes of fish rising to hapless PMDs (or some cream mayfly). Caught a few too!

Poke around, drift them hare's ears and princes deep, and you'll get some fish. It would be super to hear a report on how it goes.

Hey Pit Boss -

We'll have to meet up there sometime this spring. I have yet to see the boss in action on the Pit. By the sounds of it, this might be the last season on the Pit as we know of it...It may soon be a kayak/pontoon fishery!

Never heard of a PLB? Is that some kind of life-line you have while down deep in the #4 canyon?

I decided to hold off friday when I called the local fly shop and was told water was spilling over the dam. But I got the chance to try it today and headed out with a friend who also had never seen the pit. first off, that river screams trout, and the wading conditions did not dissapoint, I did manage to keep my feet the whole time, but I did ski down a few boulders. anyway, the water was very off color, brown with maybe 6-12in of vis depending on who you are and if you were near a clear trib. fished through a gorgeous section of pocket water with no success and then headed up to the top of a large pool, that has a family of otters playing in the lower end, very cool. the plan was actually to give up on trout, I have never seen a squawfish and I figured drifting a large stone next to seams in top of the pool may attract one, the plan backfired nicely with a nice brown, somthing I did not expect. then I headed right to the top and managed to land one bow on a #16PT and lost three other fish, my friend managed to quick release two others as well. the trip lasted three hours and then we headed over with no success to the very windy baum lake.
I must say, I love the pit that river rocks, if the fishing is ok in chocolate milk than when it clears it must be incredible. and I dont feel too bad about fishing it alone, I just moved alot slower than I usually do

Personal Locator Beacon...

The person to whom I'm related by marriage wants me to get one of the "Spot" Messenger devices, (I think it's so the body can be found as evidence to collect the insurance ).

http://www...m/coffeeresearch51599-20

Paul

PGW, the Spot units get good reviews from people who find it very cool to be able to track someone's hiking trip, but it has enough bad reviews about the coverage and reliability that it probably wouldn't be good to think of it as a real distress call device.

It was those kinds of reviews that turned me away from a nice cheap Spot to a rather pricey ACR unit that fits in the PFD pocket or chest pack.

I rented one of those for my first solo season in Alaska and the price made me realize that two more trips would completely pay for a my own, self-registered unit, and so I went straight to eBay.

Though, I'm not sure if it would actually be able to send my GPS coordinates through the trees on Pit 4 . . .

You bet -- I'll let you know when I'm headed up. Not this weekend, but possibly the next (hope it all clears a bit by then) and definitely come shad time . . . for the "two fer" effect

Sounds good - The possible "triple" might be an option soon with those Girvan bows looking up to spring caddis...

I’m glad you got the chance to fish it. And yes, it is a very cool place. A brownie? Cool…. Which part did you fish?

I think my next trip there will be mid April.

And what is everyone’s largest squaw from the Pit? Mine was about 19 so far, near the "campbround" on 4... ( at least it’s better than a swift kick in the arse.)

I've actually never caught a pikeminnow on the Pit, but I have caught some giant hardhead. Right where you're talking about - where Deep Creek dumps into the Pit there's a nice pool, and four consecutive casts produced four BIG 18-20" hardhead, all in the mouth on #18 black a.p. They fought harder than any trout I caught that day.