Fly Fishing California. Ken Hanley
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& Baitfish
Threadfin shad, silverside smelt, game fish fry, crayfish, frogs, worms & grubs. Damselflies and dragonflies.
Equipment to Use
Rods: 5–9 weight, 8½–10 feet in length.
Reels: Palm or mechanical drag.
Lines: Intermediate, full sinking, type-4 or type-6 sinking shooting heads, or modified sink tips of 130 to 200 grains. WF floating on occasion.
Leaders: 1X to 6X, 5–10 feet in length.
Wading: Excellent bank angling around docks and tule patches. A terrific lake for inflatables, canoes, kayaks, and prams.
Flies to Use
Nymphs: Burk’s Damsel, Putnam’s Damsel #12, Kaufman’s Dragonfly #6, Prince or Hare’s Ear Aggravator #6.
Streamers: Whitlock Near Nuff Sculpin, Jansen’s Threadfin Shad, Hot Flash Minnow, Bellied Newt, Purple Eelworm #6, Poxybou Crayfish #4, Tan or White Flashtail Clouser #2, Sea Habit Bucktail (White Knight) #2–1/0, Burk’s V-Worm #10, Crystal Rubber Bugger #4.
Topwater: Swimming Frog, Andy’s Loudmouth Shad #6, Gurgler #2–1/0, Deer Hair Mouse #4, Chartreuse Diver, Gaines Bluegill Popper #12.
When to Fish
Fish for bass all year, with prime times being spring and fall. Summer is best for panfish and catfish.
Accommodations & Services
Everything is right around the lake: resorts, marinas, ramps, stores, and gas stations.
Season & Limits
You can fish for something just about every month of the year. Check current California Department of Fish & Game regulations booklet, or call a fly shop or marina for specific information.
Rating
Certainly one of the state’s top five bass locations, with the undoubted potential for a 9 during fall and spring. A 7.5 minimum throughout the year.
Cuyamaca Reservoir
by Jeff Solis
Near the remote town of Julian, find Cuyamaca Reservoir, one of Southern California’s premier fly fishing still waters. With trout, small- and largemouth bass, and panfish willing and able to eat your fly most of the year, Cuyamaca Reservoir offers the most consistent fishing in San Diego County. This area was badly burned in the fall 2003 Julian wildfire and is now recovering.
The lake is nestled in a 4,600-foot-high mountain meadow, surrounded by oak and pine. Deer and wild turkey frequent the area, and snow is not uncommon during the winter. Yes, this is in San Diego County so crowding may be a consideration. On Wednesdays, many members of the San Diego Fly Fishing Club are not at work, but fishing here. On weekends and holidays float tubes are limited to the last three hours of the fishing day.
Cuyamaca Reservoir is relatively shallow, with a maximum depth of about 15 feet. This is enough for big rainbow trout, however, and some up to 14 pounds have been taken here on a fly. The first and last hours of daylight are often the best times for great dry fly action. During the day, nymphs and Woolly Buggers fished slowly on the bottom are the best producers. Use a sink tip line for this technique.
To reach Cuyamaca Reservoir from San Diego, take Interstate 8 east to the Japatul Road turnoff, then follow Highway 79 north for 15 miles to the lake.
There are many different species here to give your line a tug. Photo by Howard Fisher.
Types of Fish
Rainbow trout, large and smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, and sturgeon.
Known Hatches & Baitfish
Midges, mayflies, dragonflies and damselflies, golden shiners, and bullfrog tadpoles.
Equipment to Use
Rods: 3–7 weight, 8–9 feet in length.
Reels: Standard click or disk.
Lines: WF or floating is usually all you need. Maybe pack a type-4 sink tip if the wind kicks up.
Leaders: For trout and panfish, 4X, 7–9 feet in length. For bass, 3X to 4X, 5–8 feet in length.
Wading: Chest-high waders and boots, or use a float tube on the entire lake.
Flies to Use
Dries: Light Cahill, Parachute Adams, Adams, Hendrickson, Callibaetis Emerger #14–20, Looping Callibaetis #16.
Nymphs: Hare’s Ear, Prince Nymph, Scud #8–16, especially with beadhead.
Streamers & Poppers: Woolly Bugger and Olive Matuka #6–12, Gurgler #2.
When to Fish
For trout, February through July and September through November. For bass and panfish, May through October.
Seasons & Limits
Open year-round. Smallmouth bass fishing is strictly catch and release. Check current California regulations for other limits and restrictions.
Nearby Fly Fishing
Poke around. Some say you can find a couple of streams with some trout. Special regulations will apply, though, so check with local anglers or a fly shop.
Accommodations & Services
There are two campgrounds at the lake, each with RV sites with hookups, a launch ramp, tackle shop, boat rentals (including paddleboats), and a very good restaurant. You can also find restaurants and lodging in Julian, although weekends are likely to be crowded.
Rating
With lots of fish and lots of action in a pretty place, Cuyamaca reservoir rates a 9, assuming full recovery from the fire.
Don Pedro Lake
If you’re afraid to lose some flies, don’t go to this lake. If not, you’ll work some of the best fish habitat in the foothills of northern California! The trout and bass you’ll catch are worth a few missing flies.
Don Pedro, one of the best fly fishing destinations in the Sierra foothills gold country, is well stocked with trout, salmon, and bass. The Department of Fish & Game keeps virtually tens of thousands of fingerlings roaming this lake. The impoundment is huge, so plan on covering lots of water to maximize your fishing adventures. Be aware of boating patterns as you explore. As with most venues, the farther you travel from the parking lots and launch ramps, the less pressure the game fish receive.
The arms, coves, and inlets of Don Pedro are numerous, and all present you with fish cover to explore. Game fish have little problem finding and feasting on the healthy food chain in these areas. There are also plenty of places for them to retreat to when danger lurks.
Fly rodders should look for rocky habitat, timber, docks, and points for the most concentrated populations of game fish. The southern coves are teeming with bass. I recommend the Willow Creek and Big Creek areas. Dark-colored patterns are classics around these areas. The Woods Creek arm and the Moccasin Bay area are top choices for trout anglers, with the