LGC's January 2023 Newsletter

Welcome to 2023! The new year is here, and it is time to figure out all of our fishing trips in the next coming year!

Christmas at the Gray House was wonderful. We had both Taylor and Garrett home for the holidays and to Kirsten and I that is all we needed. All parents out there can relate to that. Fly -fishing is always a part of the gifts during Christmas with Sage and Simms leading the pack.

In the last month Kirsten and I have been busy behind the scenes at LGC. The LGC’s Online Store is being updated. We are discontinuing and adding new products and we have put together the 2023 Tour and Workshop schedule. As I told a caller this month, folks never see what happens behind the scenes at LGC. Lots of prepping work before we even get to the water.

That being said – we all need to get out there and fish!!

Rivers

The last full week of rain and snow the rivers have been re-energized with fresh runoff, giving certain sections of the rivers a little bit of color. Everyone hates this. I look at it as an opportunity to fish. I like fishing the days when the rivers start to clear up. The fish are hungry and now they can see better in the water. The fish feed heavily during this time. The Lower Sac is currently at 3250cfs, the Feather River Low Flow is 690cfs with the High Flow is at 980cfs and the Yuba is currently at 5670cfs. The river sections that are blown out and have color are the lower section of the Lower Sac below Clear Creek to Red Bluff. The upper section from Keswick Dam to Clear Creek has a slight tint to the water, which is perfect. The Yuba is totally blown with color coming from Deer Creek drainage and will stay high for weeks with the coming storms forecasted for this week. The Feather didn’t get any color on it until yesterday 01/01/2023. The incoming flows coming into Lake Oroville are above 10,000cfs which have caused the lake to get muddy. With the tint of the water now on the Feather the fishing has been okay to good. As we talked about last month the lack of salmon in the systems have hurt the protein bonanza that the trout and steelhead love. The fish are trying to pack on as much food as they can supplementing their diet with caddis, mayflies and stones. Don’t forget the sculpins, dace and the salmon fry from the salmon that did spawn. I have one day still open for a drift in March. That day is March 21, 2023.

Lakes

I am happy to report that we are getting snow, snow and more snow up in the mountains and the lakes (Manzanita and Lake Almanor) are looking good for water in 2023. The latest storms have produced rain and multiple feet of snow at the lake shores. Almanor and Manzanita Lake both have ice on them. Kirsten and I are looking forward to this coming season at both lakes. We have opened up a couple more Pond Smelt dates for the Fall on Lake Almanor. The dates are September 28 and September 30, 2023. The dates will not last long!

Tours

We have three tours currently on the 2023 calendar that have openings in them. Putah Creek 2 Day Tour is scheduled on March 11 & 12, 2023. There are two spots left in this tour. The Putah Tour is a two-day tour with touring the creek, rigging and some fishing the first day. The second day is all fishing. Having time to hone your skills on the creek while being guided is an investment in your long run fishing skills. The next tour is the Yuba River Tour slated for May 5, 2023. This tour has one spot left in it. This tour has tons of information in it. From access areas, rigging, equipment overview and much more. A busy day with tons of learning on the water. The last tour is the Hex Hatch Tour for Jul 1, 2023. I am really surprised that this tour isn’t booked yet. It only has one spot left in it. This tour teaches the west shore of Lake Almanor and the ins and outs of the Hexagenia Hatch on the lake. 

Workshops

We have multiple Dry Fly Workshops coming up in the next sixty days. There is only one that has a spot open in it. That workshop is January 28, 2023. The Dry Fly Workshop is a fantastic workshop to teach you how to fly selection, rigging, wading into position to cast and we end by fishing on the river with your newfound skills. There is 25 years of knowledge sandwiched into 4 hours of workshop time. LGC’s supplies rods, reel/line, handouts, flies and leaders for this workshop. Students are encouraged to bring their own rods and reels. 

Product of the Month

I have multiple jackets from light weight wind breakers to heavy fleece lined wading jackets and everything in-between. Being prepared is the key to having a safe and comfortable fishing experience. My go to wading jacket is the Simms G3 Guide Wading Jacket. I haven’t found anything better. This jacket breaths, keeps the sweat off of you and also keeps you warm in the worst conditions. I have worn this jacket in extreme cold to storming spring days and it always make me feel comfortable. 

Fly of the Month – Quigley’s Marabou March Brown Emerger

Bob Quigley is, and will always be, deemed a Master Fly Tyer. Bob’s patterns have influenced my tying for decades. This pattern has all of Bob’s tying genius interwoven in it. From the marabou that gives added movement and the moose body hair wing stands out for fly-fishers to see as an indicator. Everything about this fly screams come eat me to the trout and steelhead. March Browns are found on each of the valley rivers and give high protein meals to the fish. This fly is a proven winner!

Hook – Firehole 419 Size 14

Thread – Danville Flymaster 6/0 Tobacco Brown

Rib – BR Copper Wire

Tail & Body – Reddish/Brown Marabou

Wing – Moose Body Hair

Hackle – J.Fairs Saddle Hackle Brown

Events

In late February we have the Fly-Fishing Show in Pleasanton. The dates are February 24-26. 2023. Kirsten and I will be there manning the LGC’s Booth, and I will be doing presentation every day in the Fly-Fishing Theaters. We will keep you updated on presentation locations (buildings) and times. 

LGC's Online Store

As I wrote above, we have been re-adjusting the LGC’s Online Store. We only carry the flies that we use during our guiding and fishing time. These flies are the same flies that our in my fly boxes. I like flies that work, are tied well and give me the confidence to guide and fish with. We have Skwalas, March Browns, Slumpbusters and everything else in stock. Take a look.