Piru Creek Wild Trout - Frenchman's Flat

The bite is slow on Piru Creek after the rain storm earlier this month, but I did manage to find this beauty in a deep pool with a Caddis nymph fished without a strike indicator.  It was over 14" and really had some fight in it.  Wild trout, in my opinion, are some of the hardest fighting freshwater gamefish pound-for-pound.

Surf fly-fishing Saltwater 

There might not be too many better ways to spend a Sunday than driving the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) looking for places to fish.  I tried 4 different spots; Mugu Rock, La Jolla, Leo Carrillo, and El Matador.  The Surf Perch were plentiful at most of the spots.

Saltwater Fly Fishing - Catalina and Ensenada

My wife booked us a cruise to Ensenada with Carnival through AAA and her work.  Having never been on a cruise before, and not knowing what to expect, I was reluctantly enthusiastic.

When she told me that we get off the ship and get to roam Catalina and Ensenada on our own schedule if we want – then, and only then – did I get excited.  I can smell an opportunity to fish like Hank (my Golden Retriever) can smell the cookie jar being opened.

Fly-fishing for Bass - tips for success 

Why?

For a novice fly fisher, bass are wonderfully aggressive feeders and they aren’t particular about what they strike (unlike those prima donna trout).

What do I need?

I suggest no less than a 7 weight rod/fly line combo. There really is no need for an excessively long leader – 9 ft tapered leader with 18” tippet will be plenty.

Flies

• Poppers
  These are floating (dry) flies that are tied with either cork or deer hair with eye-catching feathers and sparkle tail. If I could only fish one color for Smalls, it would be chartreuse. You will hear it said over and over that the color of your popper doesn’t matter, and I am leaning that direction too. My color list is #1, chartreuse, #2, everything else.
• Streamers
  These flies are meant to mainly represent small bait-fish. The Clouser Minnow is probably the most popular bass streamer. They can be tied to look like Shad, baby Trout or baby Bass (among other things), but these three seem to be the best. To see how Clouser himself ties his Minnow, check out this video.
• Divers
  Created to primarily imitate a frog or tadpole, they are retrieved in a quick striping motion causing the fly to dive under the water surface, float back up and dive. Being flashy is good.
• Buggers
  The most popular bugger by far is the Woolly Bugger. It can be tied to imitate leeches and crayfish. When imitating crayfish, use sinking line and bounce the fly on the bottom. Be prepared – you will lose tackle. 

Where are they?

All over the United States, in mostly warmer bodies of water.

On my way back from Cachuma Lake last weekend, I stopped by the Fillmore Hatchery.  They are raising "Mt. Whitney Strain" Rainbow Trout.  It's really very cool to see, and they even have gum-ball-type fish food dispensers.  A quarter gets you about a 20 second show of trout fighting over what look like rabbit droppings.

Mt. Whitney Strain Rainbow