I'm not one that normally fishes on Sunday. It's not a religious thing but more of a personal thing. I'll explain as I wander through this post.
The first reason I went fishing today is the wife went to Sacramento to have a "Girls only" lunch and shopping day with her daughter and granddaughter who turned 14 on May 30th. What better reason to go fishing? The second reason is that we are expecting a storm (I thought summer was here), with rain and possibly snow in the mountains, starting tomorrow and going through Tuesday. So I thought I'd get in a day of fishing in before it got here.
Plan of attack: hit the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River at PIPI Valley campground. This is the same stream I fished last Wednesday just further downstream. Got started a little late and arrived at the river at 0830. Wadered up, got my vest on, and tied an orange stimulator (that's the only fly I used today) on my Tenkara rod. I had enough confidence, after not breaking it on Wednesday, that I only took that rod. I walked down stream from the bridge somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 mile. When I was stuffing my vest with fly boxes I noticed that my camera was not in my "holds everything" backpack so I apologize for no pictures.
The one thing I've found about this creek is that it fishes best in moving water rather than those slow pools and it also fishes best when the creek is in shadows before the sun gets on it.
OK, so I won't drag this out. I fished back toward the bridge and probably and equal distance on the other side. I brought 9 to hand (all Rainbows) and missed 15 to 20. They are still faster than I am, but I'm working on that. All in the 6 to 8 inch range. By 11:30 the creek was pretty much in full sun and the horde of creek swimmers arrived. People swimming in the creek is the main reason I don't fish on weekends.
I've known of this creek for years. I've fished this creek for years and caught very little. I had no idea there were that many fish in this creek since it isn't a creek that is stocked, making everyone of those little guys a native. So let me make this statement (and Mike [Troutrageous] doesn't have my arm twisted behind my back) that if you haven't tried Tenkara and you have small streams around your place, you are missing one hell of a good time.
Stay tuned, my son and I are going in three weeks just for him to try the Tenkara rod and we will be fishing this same creek in another location. I also have a couple of other spots on this creek picked out to try and I have to get back to the Silver Fork of the American and give that a shot.
Till next time.
Mark
Still not ready to jump in to Tenkara, Mark, however, your success is beginning to cause me to investigate some. Here is to continued success, and hopefully, you will have a convert after fishing with your son.
ReplyDeleteNice to think of you discovering a world those weekend swimmers don't even know is there. I too am giving this tenkara thing some thought.
ReplyDeleteNice. That's the same way my local water fishes. Fish the riffles, especially the edges & bottom where there's a little bit of slower water (but still moving) and you'll get into them.
ReplyDeleteMark
ReplyDeleteYou are moving me closer to the Tenkara, got a question--are you tight lining a nymph pattern or watching a tiny dry drift using the Tenkara. I would think an indicator would be in the way with this rod??
Hi Bill. I'm using a dry with a dead drift and just the fly touching the water, but It's not tiny. The one that's been working the best is size 10 stimulator in yellow, green, and orange. No indicator. With the line only as long as the rod (12 ft) you're not fishing very far away and the simpler the better.
DeleteMark
Mark, with reports like this you may become a spokesman for Tenkara USA.
ReplyDeleteSend me da money.
DeleteMark
I'm not tranding in my 3 wt for the tenkara yet but am excited at a chance to see some of those northern California streams. What's the size potential for some of the stream trout in your neighborhood?
ReplyDeleteI think most of them will produce mostly 6 to 8 inchers. If you get further out like the Truckee or the Feather River, 16 to 20 is not out of the question.
DeleteMark