Fly fishing in Southern California is definitely a matter of finding the right spots. With all the urban sprawl, that isn’t necessarily the easiest thing to do.
When one thinks of Southern California, many images come to mind. You might think of the perfect weather and white sandy beaches of San Diego. The glamour and congestion of sprawling Los Angeles might be what you think of first. It is not very likely that fly fishing in Southern California will be your first thought. Unless, of course, you are a serious fly fisherman.
Fly fishing in Southern California is alive and well. The area offers a wide variety of locations that rank among the best in the country for fishing opportunities. The fly fishing community is well organized here also. Fishing clubs are growing in popularity and they offer everything from training and information to organized fishing events.
If you are planning a fishing vacation and have a family that does not share your consuming lust for the sport, Southern California is one of the best choices that you can make. What to do with the family is always at the top of the to-do list when planning such a trip. When you are thinking of a fly in fishing trip to a remote lodge in Northern Canada, this is admittedly a serious problem. In Southern California, it is a very minor concern.
Some of the best fly fishing in Southern California can be found a stone’s throw from Los Angeles and if you can not find diversion for your family while you fish there, you will not be able to find it anywhere. Unlike many other locations, weather is not a big concern and season is not quite as important in Southern California. The climate allows virtually year round fishing opportunities. The locals consider Spring to be the best fishing time especially for fly fishing for trout, but when they say best, they mean best and not only time.
This is one of the beautiful things about the sport of fly fishing. It has spread across the world and there is no one place where you must go to find the thrill of it. You can really take just the opposite approach to your trip planning. First, think of the part of the world that you want to visit. Think of that place that fires your own imagination and then investigate the fly fishing potential there. In the case of fly fishing in Southern California, a bit of a look below the surface past the many other sights and attractions will reveal opportunities that will stack up with fishing anywhere.
By: Richard Chapo
Posts Tagged ‘Fly Fishing’
Fly Fishing in Southern California
April 29th, 2010Trout Fishing Strategy – Best Lures and Baits For Stream Fishing
March 24th, 2010
This article will focus on the best trout fishing lures and baits. I have fished for trout nearly all my life and got started by fishing in small streams and creeks in Pennsylvania. The water was clear and cold. The woods were strikingly beautiful. But you want to hear about the best lures and baits, don’t you?
First off, there are nightcrawlers and red worms, which are a smaller worm that are better for smaller trout. It is vital to hook these worms correctly, looping the hook through the body multiple times, or using a rig with two hooks. Worms don’t keep very well, so they may die somewhere throughout your fishing expedition. However, they are very reliable and steadfast, and you will pretty much always be able to catch trout on worms as long as the trout are there.
There are also other live or semi-live baits, such as salmon eggs. Salmon eggs are by far my favorite trout bait for smaller sized trout. You must use a very small hook, tie on a salmon egg and let it drift downstream. Hopefully a trout gobbles it up, you reel him in, and then later that night you gobble him up. Minnows are like salmon eggs for larger trout. It can be difficult to catch trout who have survived in the wild for several years using artificial baits – they are very suspicious. For these larger trout smaller minnows, preferably of a species that live in the creek you’re fishing in, are the best.
Small spinning lures and jigs can work well, depending on the conditions. Small spinning lures are by far the best lure for catching trout (well, besides flies, but we’ll get to that in a bit). These in-line spinning lures work best when the trout aren’t hungry or are lazy, in this way you can agitate a fish into biting the lure when they aren’t attacking natural baits. Jigs tend to work best with a slow presentation, and in the colder months.
Fly fishing is another method of trout fishing entirely. The line is weighted to allow you to cast, because you have to use a very small lure. The lure itself is called a fly, which is essentially a hook with small feathers, colored strings, and other things tied onto it in order to make it emulate a natural insect. When you cast out the fly, it drifts across the surface as it is carried downstream, looking a lot like an insect to trout beneath the surface. This is a very effective method of trout fishing, and the one preferred by many. You can even make your own flies, a delicate process known as fly tying!
There are also some artificially created pastes, nuggets and gobs that are sold for the purpose of trout fishing. Some of these work and some of them don’t, however I wouldn’t recommend using them unless you plan on eating the trout, as they often get swallowed immediately. Releasing the fish with a swallowed hook is a bad thing to do, as the fish will die within days. The trout seem to like the taste of this powerful bait, and I have used it from time to time, however the cost can be a bit prohibitive. That being said, they do work well, so I won’t speak ill of them.
That’s about it, for all of the best trout fishing lures. Of course we’re talking about small to medium sized freshwater trout – not huge lunker lake trout or ocean species of trout. You’ll have to check out some future article to find out what I use for those.
By: Adam Fox
Fly Fishing Information – Tips and Instruction at a Fly Fishing Show
March 12th, 2010
Most of the consumer fly fishing shows across the country combine fly fishing, guides, lodges and fishing boats in one big show so they can draw as many people as possible. In most cases, these special interests are usually separated into different areas of the show building or buildings. This is a big help if you’re just looking for fly fishing items.
There are two ways you can attend a consumer fly fishing show. First, you can buy your ticket, walk in the main door, and go around the show, looking here and there and then exit. The second, and the method I suggest, is to go to a fly fishing show with a goal in mind, and have a plan to accomplish that goal. So let’s get started!
Here are a few tips about how to get the most from a trade show that I have learned from being an exhibitor in fishing tackle shows for over 20 years.
When you first hear about a fly fishing show in your area that you may want to attend, go online, get the website of the show, and print out the list of show exhibitors plus the times and dates of featured speakers and programs you also may want to see. Review the listing, and highlight the manufactures and show booths, including the time and dates of the speakers, and programs you want to visit. Be sure to take this list with you when you attend the show.
Plan to attend the show early the first day or so to avoid big weekend crowds that will slow you down as you move around the show. If you only have one day to attend, expect to spend 6 to 8 hours on your feet working the show. Your shoes are important, so wear a pair that will give your feet good support on hard concrete floors. Wear a lightweight casual jacket because crowded show buildings tend to get very warm and muggy later in the day. Purchase show tickets in advance at a ticket outlet, or a show sponsor. This will save you time and money, not having to wait in long ticket lines, and not having to pay higher show day ticket prices. Plan in advance where you will need to park your car. You may be able to take a park-and-ride shuttle bus right to the front door of the show. I like shuttle buses, they save you time, drop you off and pick you up and keep you out of inclement weather. Be sure to take a small backpack or tote bag with some bottled water and a few trail mix bars or snacks, it beats the old steamed out soggy $6.00 hot dog and a $4.00 drink you usually get from the concessions at these shows. You can also use the backpack and or tote bag to put all the sales brochures you will collect during the show. Don’t forget your cell phone, reading glasses, note pad, mad money and a couple of pencils and pens.
When you first enter the show building lobby, pickup a show brochure and refer to the show booth number/location layout page. Take a few minutes to locate and circle the booths you want to visit, refer to your on line web site exhibitors listing page so you don’t miss anyone. Also circle the locations of the speaker rooms, theaters, restrooms and fire exits. This is your show map and guide for the day. A few minutes doing these simple things will save you precious time and help you to effectively navigate the show to accomplish your goals
If one of your priorities is to get information about a specific product, first go to the manufacture booths and talk with the factory sales representatives. These guys are factory trained, very knowledgeable and they know all the ins and outs of their product line. They have the latest insight and up to date information on the products you are looking for, and they can tell you where you can make your purchases. Be sure to take good notes, because you may see 10-20 different sales people during the day and it is easy to forget who said what about a specific product. After you have talked with the factory representatives go to the booths of the local fly shops in your area, talk with them, and get their thoughts on the products you are looking for. Support your local fly shops, as they are a valuable source of fly fishing information and products that relate to your area.
Remember, visit and work the show booths around the presentation times of the guest speakers and programs. The speakers and programs may only be on once or twice during the day, but the show booths will be there all day long. For example, attending a guest speaker presentation or program will give you the opportunity to sit down and rest for a while and at the same time, learn a lot of valuable fly fishing tips and fishing information.
You also need to set some time aside for having fun. Plan a couple of hours of just going up and down the aisles just looking for interesting booths and vendors. Just about all the fly fishing related booths and exhibitors will be located around or near the casting ponds. Don’t forget to make a note of the times when celebrity casters may be putting on fly-casting demonstrations; you can pick up a lot good fly casting tips and techniques.
If you happen to make a purchase of any item, guide deposit or lodge deposit during the show, make sure you get a vendors receipt for exactly what you purchased, including the days date. Some shows require you to have a receipt for merchandise you have in your position when you exit the show. Good luck and enjoy the show.
For a Calendar of Fly fishing shows in the U.S. please refer to my web site.
By: Stanley Stanton
