Common thought is that Skagit lines are what you should use when flinging sink tips and heavy flies. Unfortunately, over a typical day, I switch back and forth between fly sizes and tips so often, that going between a skagit and scandi is too much of a headache. (Yeah, I know, you can use a skagit line with a floating tip and small flies, but I prefer a more delicate presentation.) So, for those seasons that are not Winter, I'll probably be sticking with my compact scandi now.
Reason is, I performed a little test yesterday. I took a 120 grain versileader and put it on my 420 grain compact scandi. To the end of the tippet, I attached a 3" barbell intruder. On the first cast, I was ready for the fly to go absolutely no where. To my surprise it casted very nicely. The line laid over straight and I was able to hit 70-80 feet with no problems shortly thereafter.
Now I'm wondering what the max tip grain weight is that I can put at the end of that setup. We'll have to find out the answer another day. For now, I'm happy with these results. Now I know I can put on a heavy fly and decent sized sink tip on the scandi and expect it to work.
I won't be giving up on the skagit. For those days that I know I'll be using nothing but heavy tips, I'll put the skagit on and leave it on.
Nov 20, 2009
American River
As mentioned in an earlier post, I've decided to try and make my reports more helpful. Now, when I say more helpful, I really mean more helpful for me. This blog was originally intended as a journal I could return to, so that I could remember what happened and where. Problem is, after re-reading a few previous reports, I've found they aren't very helpful at all! Woops.
Arrived late due to the car accident mentioned in a previous post. Started at Paradise Beach and worked the area most of the day. Went to William H. Pond in later afternoon. Never before at this spot, had trouble finding good water. Next time, will park closer to foot bridge and work that side.
Later in the morning, I decided to try something I hadn't done before. Put a heavy and good sized fly (3” intruder with dumb bell eyes) with 120 grain leader/tip on the end of my 420 gr compact scandi line. Had always used a skagit line for something of this weight. Guess what? It casted as well, if not better than the skagit line. Much to my surprise, 70-85 foot casts were not a problem with great turnover. Next time out, I'm going to try 10 feet of T10. At 100 grains, it will be a slightly lighter tip, but grains will be spread out differently. Want to see how smoothly it goes. If successful, I'll keep upping the grain weight to see exactly where it all falls apart.
Overall, this was a decent day on the water. I was a little frazzled from the excitement that took place in the morning. Won't be fishing next week because of Thanksgiving. Hope everyone has a good Holiday.
| Access | Paradise Beach, William H. Pond | |
| Air Temp | Low 38, High 64 | |
| Water Temp | ~56 F | |
| Flow | ~1900 cfs | |
| Time in/out | 7:30am, 5:30pm | |
| Leaders/Lines | Compact Scandi | |
| 3.9 ips sink leader | Morning | |
| 7.0 ips sink leader | Afternoon | |
| Intermediate sink leader | Evening | |
| 12 lb FC tippet | ||
| Flies | Various soft hackles | 0 fish |
| 3” black intruder w/ dumbell eyes | 2 half pounders, 15-18 inch | |
| 2" bead head black rabbit strip leech | nips/plucks | |
| Size 8 blue steelhead spider | 1 half pounder | |
| Various hairwing steelhead | nips/plucks only | |
Arrived late due to the car accident mentioned in a previous post. Started at Paradise Beach and worked the area most of the day. Went to William H. Pond in later afternoon. Never before at this spot, had trouble finding good water. Next time, will park closer to foot bridge and work that side.
Later in the morning, I decided to try something I hadn't done before. Put a heavy and good sized fly (3” intruder with dumb bell eyes) with 120 grain leader/tip on the end of my 420 gr compact scandi line. Had always used a skagit line for something of this weight. Guess what? It casted as well, if not better than the skagit line. Much to my surprise, 70-85 foot casts were not a problem with great turnover. Next time out, I'm going to try 10 feet of T10. At 100 grains, it will be a slightly lighter tip, but grains will be spread out differently. Want to see how smoothly it goes. If successful, I'll keep upping the grain weight to see exactly where it all falls apart.
Overall, this was a decent day on the water. I was a little frazzled from the excitement that took place in the morning. Won't be fishing next week because of Thanksgiving. Hope everyone has a good Holiday.
Side Swiped
Sometimes we get so excited to go fishing, we forget what can be one of the most important things. How to get to and from the river safely. So you can make it back to your family.
Yesterday, while driving down Hwy 80 to the American river. I was minding my business in the middle lane when peripherally I saw a truck approaching on my left side. He was VERY close to me. If my window was down, I could of easily touched the side of his vehicle. I naturally started moving to the right to avoid him and before I knew it, he moved right into me. Side swiping me and nearly causing a huge accident at 70 mph. Remember those action movies where a guy tries to run another guy off the road by smashing into the side of him? That is what this felt like. My only conclusion was that the guy had fallen asleep at the wheel and drifted into my lane. Then when he awoke, he jerked the wheel the wrong way- smashing into me. Luckily I was moving to the right, minimizing the impact.
I heard glass shattering and the crunching of metal. I slowed and started moving to the shoulder. Guess what? The guy wasn't about to stop. He kept going. I was furious! I floored it and followed him flashing my high beams. At the same time I was on the cell phone with 911.
The guy finally pulled over about 2 miles down the highway. I stayed on the phone with 911 in case he wanted to do something violent. It was about 4:30am and no one seemed to be getting off this exit in case something went wrong.
Long story- somewhat shorter. The guy had no insurance (does anyone have car insurance in this state? Pathetic!! Seems like the police don't care either!!) A CHP officer eventually showed up about 1/2 hour later after the guy had left (he was in a hurry to get out of there). Somehow or another, my car only suffered damage to the mirror. The breaking glass was his side window and the crunching must of been my beefy SUV mirror grinding his car as he moved into me.
I consider myself lucky that nothing worse happened. I was furious. But more importantly, I'm around to see my wife and son. Just wanted to say. Be careful out there.
BTW, I kept driving and although was late arriving to the river, I did fish the entire day. How's that for commitment?
Yesterday, while driving down Hwy 80 to the American river. I was minding my business in the middle lane when peripherally I saw a truck approaching on my left side. He was VERY close to me. If my window was down, I could of easily touched the side of his vehicle. I naturally started moving to the right to avoid him and before I knew it, he moved right into me. Side swiping me and nearly causing a huge accident at 70 mph. Remember those action movies where a guy tries to run another guy off the road by smashing into the side of him? That is what this felt like. My only conclusion was that the guy had fallen asleep at the wheel and drifted into my lane. Then when he awoke, he jerked the wheel the wrong way- smashing into me. Luckily I was moving to the right, minimizing the impact.
I heard glass shattering and the crunching of metal. I slowed and started moving to the shoulder. Guess what? The guy wasn't about to stop. He kept going. I was furious! I floored it and followed him flashing my high beams. At the same time I was on the cell phone with 911.
The guy finally pulled over about 2 miles down the highway. I stayed on the phone with 911 in case he wanted to do something violent. It was about 4:30am and no one seemed to be getting off this exit in case something went wrong.
Long story- somewhat shorter. The guy had no insurance (does anyone have car insurance in this state? Pathetic!! Seems like the police don't care either!!) A CHP officer eventually showed up about 1/2 hour later after the guy had left (he was in a hurry to get out of there). Somehow or another, my car only suffered damage to the mirror. The breaking glass was his side window and the crunching must of been my beefy SUV mirror grinding his car as he moved into me.
I consider myself lucky that nothing worse happened. I was furious. But more importantly, I'm around to see my wife and son. Just wanted to say. Be careful out there.
BTW, I kept driving and although was late arriving to the river, I did fish the entire day. How's that for commitment?
Somewhere along the line..
I forgot what the purpose of this blog was. It was originally intended to be a journal of my fishing trips so I could revert back to it in order to remember what worked and what didn't. After re-reading some previous entries, it's obvious it isn't really all that helpful for me.
So, I'm going to try a new format. Starting with the next report (hopefully later today), I'll try to put more useful information in a more organized manner. We'll see how that goes.
So, I'm going to try a new format. Starting with the next report (hopefully later today), I'll try to put more useful information in a more organized manner. We'll see how that goes.
Nov 17, 2009
Another Yuba Report
Went to the Yuba last week. Arrived much too early, so I took a short snooze in the car before walking to the water somewhere below Hwy 20.
This would mark my longest walk along this river. I'm not sure how many miles I covered throughout the day, but it felt like a million. Saw some new water that had plenty of salmon, a few half pounders, and some large trout. I did manage to catch a couple smaller bright fish in the morning that took a size 8 hair wing steelhead fly.
That was about it. It was quiet almost the entire day after the productive morning. Only a few short lived hookups here and there. Despite seeing a few bright fish leap 3 or 4 feet out of the water, it was non eventful. Still, you can't beat a day on the water.
Next up? The American.
This would mark my longest walk along this river. I'm not sure how many miles I covered throughout the day, but it felt like a million. Saw some new water that had plenty of salmon, a few half pounders, and some large trout. I did manage to catch a couple smaller bright fish in the morning that took a size 8 hair wing steelhead fly.
That was about it. It was quiet almost the entire day after the productive morning. Only a few short lived hookups here and there. Despite seeing a few bright fish leap 3 or 4 feet out of the water, it was non eventful. Still, you can't beat a day on the water.
Next up? The American.
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