The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I drifted the lower sac thurs and fri with a buddy.the first day we drifted from bonnieview to balls ferrie.We only saw a couple of other boats on that drift.There was a little wind that pushed the boat around a bit but not real bad.The fishing was fun but the catching was a little slow.We only hooked eight fish landing three.The fish were caught on a size 16 s$m.
Yesterday we drifted from the possie ground to bonnieview because we thought that would be more protected from the wind.The wind was blowing harder than the day before and it was tough to get a good drift from the boat.There were a lot more boats and people on that drift.With all the fisherman in that area I didn't see a whole lot of fish caught.We tried glo bugs,caddis pupas,micro mays,and we only had three fish on,which we didn't land,but saw they were hooked on a 16 s$m.
Now this is the part of my report that really makes me feel like I don't know what I'm doing.I had two friends walk to a riffle below battle creek and never moved the whole day.They caught thirty fish had two steelhead on which they lost and had a bunch of other bites.They tried egg patterns for a while and got nothing.All there fish were caught on size 16 s$m's and size 16 micro mays.I think I'm parking that boat for a while.
I hope the report will be a help.

I wouldn't worry too much. The salmon are off the redds already in many places. Hence, the fish are spread out but are still stacked in some places - and if you can find those spots, you'll have a good day. We fished lower on the river (Anderson - just below Mudball) on Tuesday and fishing was slow for the third week of October. We landed four adults at the Barge Hole, but it was incredibly crowded, especially for a weekday. I think total, we put 20-25 fish into the net. Only two of em' on egg patterns. The majority were on FBPT's, and Fox Poopahs. It's pretty wild out there since there are relatively few salmon to be caught, and the salmon guides are putting a lot of pressure on the trout & steelhead just to get their clients into fish.

We'll be on the river again tomorrow, though the wind conditions may force us into an alternate plan. Sounds like your pals had a good day at Mudball?

I think when I Fish It again I'll do a shorter drift Than the bonnieview to balls ferrie drift.I knew the drift was long so I never really worked the areas where we got bit.We made a pass or two then pushed on through.I think a good drift would be from barge hole to jellys ferry.My buddies said the riffle below them was good also.Every drift boat they saw that went through it stuck a few fish then moved on.I know there is some good water through there.