Alex Argyros
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That makes sense. Thanks, Bruce.
Alex
Jimbo,
Could you explain to me why Canyon Lake needs to be at or near pool. My naive sense is that the lake is like a savings account and, and a result, it’s good to have reserve water for drought emergencies. So, why don’t they let the high levels remain until there is a need to release water? Is it because the dam can’t take the pressure of high lake levels, or because structures around the lake are threatened by high lake levels? Or is there another reason for these releases?
Alex
I know what it feels like to see a beloved rod descend into the depths. Your friend has my sympathies. I went to look for my rod when flows were in the 300s, but no dice. I’ll try again when they get even lower.
Alex
Terrific report, Jimbo. It’s hard to express how grateful I am to you and to everyone else involved for the wonderful trout fishing we have deep in the heart.
I also got out on MLK Day. I fished from early in the morning to around 1:00 pm. I went to #5 first and fished below the weir and down to Barking Dog Pool, catching around 10 trout. I then went to Maricopa, where I caught about the same number (perhaps a few fewer). No bruisers that day, but a few went 18 to 19″.
I caught all my fish on small nymphs and eggs. It was a beautiful day, one that shared with plenty of other anglers. It was also the day I lost my sunglasses, an exceedingly small price to pay for so much pleasure.
Alex
Thanks, Jerry. But, I lost them yesterday, after the fish truck had done its work.
You are a bearer of great news, Jimbo. First, that the stocking went well, and, second, about the flows. A summer of fly fishing for our trout would be superb gift. As always, we are very grateful for all that you do.
I visited the nursery yesterday. The idea is really fantastic. Now, let’s just hope it works!
Alex
Yes, the fishing is challenging with flows this high. I fished today and got about six, which was great but not what the Guad normally offers.
My only hint is to make sure that you’re on the bottom for most of your drift. Using a strike indicator can be counterproductive with flows this high since the bobber tends to pull your flies at the water’s surface speed, which is considerable faster than the water velocity at the bottom. As a result, flies may only reach the bottom of the stream for a short while. If you’re using an indicator, add enough weight (split shot or nymph with heavy beads, say tungsten 3.3mm or heavier) so that the indicator tick tick ticks on the surface, indicating that your flies are touching the bottom.
Alex
Another alternative: https://www.ginkandgasoline.com/gear_reviews/rock-treads/
Alex
I know that you didn’t mean to sound presumptuous, but I suspect that your problem is the following: ” I think I have nymph fishing down during regular flows.” I don’t know of a single good nymph fisherman who thinks that he even remotely has nymphing down. Nymphing, like all fishing, is a constant experiment. What works one day is useless the next. The river changes, the conditions in the river change, the season changes, etc. The only way to be successful in fly fishing is to never think you’ve got it figured out.
Now, about your specific question: are you sure that you’re getting down deep enough? For example, when you’re using a drop-shot rig, are you seeing your indicator tick-tick-ticking on the surface of the stream? If so, you might consider ditching the indicator and tightlining your rig. And you might consider using flies that are different from what everyone else is using. Finally, if you’re not doing so, you might consider shortening your casts to no more than 20 ft.
Alex
I suggest that you temporarily put pattern selection on the back burner and focus on presentation. Fish for a while with something generic, a hare’s ear, or Walt’s Worm, or pheasant tail in a size 14 or so. Then concentrate on two things: getting a drag-free drift and getting your fly deep enough. Of course, a drag-free drift isn’t always what the fish want, but it is often enough to make it an extremely valuable technique. And trout do feed from the top to the bottom of the river, but they do most of their fishing about 6″ from the bottom. Get your fly there and stay there with a good drift and you will get trout to strike. Detecting the strikes is another matter altogether. Suggestion: fish mainly upstream (or no more than 45 degrees across stream) and keep your casts short.
Alex
I also landed one brown yesterday (at #5). It was, like Cassio’s, beautifully marked and healthy.
The rod was fully assembled and had a reel on it. It left my possession just above the island on the lower end of Whitewater Camp.
And the reason is totally weird. Basically, as I was wading, somehow my wading shoes got attached to each other. I suspect that the one of the little hooks on my waders that keeps the garter in place got loose and attached itself to my other boot. So, I was wading in swift water with my feet bound together. I flailed around for a while but, luckily for me, I saw the island coming my way and I porpoised to it and, again with a lot of luck, managed to grab hold of a root and pull myself up. I had more good luck because a friendly person in a boat came down to me and ferried me back to shore. But, in order to get to the island, I had to let go of my rod.
The good news is that I’m okay. Plus, I was the recipient of an act of kindness from a stranger.
Alex
The fishing has been very good. And the best months are from right now until the water starts to approach 70 degrees.
I didn’t look at the flows this morning. When I got to the river, it seemed higher and faster than the 360 cfs I was expecting, but I went fishing anyway.
Who knew I could cross the river and get back at 760 cfs? Fishing was surprisingly good given the high water.
Alex
