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By Sean Fenner, June 30, 2010 11:55 pm

Sometimes all the mind needs to “find a little bit of clarity”, is Fly Fishing for Trout. Just You vs. the Trout. You armed with a pattern matching every bug ever seen on the West Coast and the Trout with an amazing set of eyes. Your disadvantages are the snag lined banks and being a lefty (if you’re me). The trout, it’s hunger and the split second it has to filter your fly.

Last Saturday I woke up excited to get in the car and head up to Mount Baldy for a little Trout fishing on San Antonio Creek. It was my first time fishing there (believe it or not), and I’m always excited about what new water might have to offer. I arrived energized and ready to tackle each hole from the falls all the way to the town. Bluejays were singing and I had a good feeling!

After casting into 5 holes on different sections (and not one fish), my enthusiasm turned to frustration. I was just about ready to leave for my favorite spot on the San Gabriel River. I made up my mind however, that I would try a little tributary I had heard good things about, before I called it a day. That was one of the best decisions I have ever made. First hole, first cast, and I was into a nice little Brown Trout. Then two more casts and two more fish from the same hole. I hiked a total of about 1 mile up the tributary and landed about 30 brownies along the way.

After stepping into what I thought was Poison Oak (and it turned out it was), I decided to call it a morning and head back home to my beautiful wife. As I was packing everything up, two guys stopped me and asked if I was fishing. I with Fly Rod in hand replied yes (with a little sarcasm in my voice)! Then one of the guys ignoring my tone, proceeded to tell me about a spot that they had seen with 4 or 5 pools holding a ton of fish. I replied “Thanks for the info” and proceeded to pack up my gear, and I was sceptical due to my earlier encounter on the main stream.

Down the road a ways I viewed the spot the two hikers told me about, and talked myself into taking a look. Pulled the rod and reel out, and hit the pools. Each of the pools provided about 5 Rainbow Trout,  and again I was glad that I went with my instinct and gave it a shot.

After all my motto is “If there’s water, there must be fish in it!”

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By Sean Fenner, June 29, 2010 6:01 am

How about entering a big water conventional fishing tournament, and winning the grand prize of $1 Million big ones with a 883 pound tournament record marlin. Only to have it stripped away, because you were dumb enough to enter without getting a fishing license. Don’t believe it? Well it really happened at the 52nd annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament! Click the link below for the full story

For this fishing team, $1-million prize is the one that got away.

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By Sean Fenner, June 28, 2010 9:36 pm

The California Department of Fish and Game has posted the list of the fishing spots that they will be stocking this week for Region 5-South Coast Region. Remember to practice catch and release as much as possible, pick up trash when you see it, and respect this resource so that everyone can enjoy it!!!

(Rainbow Trout)

Comments (1)

By Sean Fenner, June 27, 2010 11:47 pm

The other day my phone rang at 4:00p.m. and on the other line was a fellow “UrbanFlyVenturer” letting me know that his brother is in town from the south, and he wanted to fish with me at a local park lake for an hour or two. Work was slowing down and I figured I would make it out of the office by 5:30p.m., so I asked where they wanted to meet. Ralph Clark Regional Park Lake was close, so that’s where we headed.

I arrived not really knowing what to expect. I had not fished with either of them before, and was not really sure what they were hoping to gain from the trip. Did they just want to talk to me? Did they want some fishing advise? Or was there some other motive?

Always excited to meet someone new and gain some fishing insight. I pulled up and they were waiting for me anxiously. I said “hi”, and they quickly asked “you bring any Poppers”. “I advised as a matter of fact, I brought just about every fly I own,  I wasn’t sure what species or tactic you guys were after”. The brother advised that he wanted to show me some cool tactics he had learned for all flies in the popper category: poppers, chuggers, sliders, etc. All in exchange for a little info on a few tactics for Carp in streams.

A fair deal I thought and we got right down to it. We fished a total of about two and a half hours, and I was amazed at how many fish we caught in that time span. Usually when I’m getting a lesson catching fish isn’t really involved. But wow! Did I ever walk away with a new sense of confidence on how to fish these flies.

I was asked to keep the names anonymous for reasons I am really not sure, but a big “THANK YOU” to John Doe non the less!

So talk to people, get involved in a forum, and you never know what valuable information you might gain!

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By Sean Fenner, June 26, 2010 11:07 pm

It’s been a while since I’ve gotten the chance to catch a Tilapia. I was going through my pictures the other day, and found this one from a trip up to the San Gabriel River Bed last year. The last time that we were up there it looked really dead, just one cruising Carp. I heard a rumor from someone that DFG only stocks male Tilapia in California waterways, so as not to overpopulate them. Now I don’t know if this is just in the recent years or if this is true at all. I guess we will just have to make a trip down there to find out ourselves. Please if you fish there practice catch and release. If this is true there are only so many fish to be caught, and if not I don’t think that they would be safe to eat anyway. 

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By Sean Fenner, June 24, 2010 10:19 pm

A 3 foot long 20 Pound Asian Carp was caught today slipping past the electric barriers that are meant to keep this out of the Great Lakes. It is reported to have been caught by a commercial fishing boat on Lake Calument in Chicago’s South Side. Click on the link below to read the article.

Asian carp found beyond Lake Michigan electric barrier

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By Sean Fenner, June 23, 2010 9:46 pm

Bob’s Surf Fly is considered the go to Surf Perch fly for many So Cal Saltwater Fly Fishermen. This fly will definitely serve it’s purpose of catching Surf Perch, but will also probably get you hooked up on any number of other species. I have seen guys catch many a fish on this fly and for Southern California it’s right there next to the Clouser Deep Minnow on my box. The action is starting to heat up this time of year, so get them while it’s hot!

“The Trout Spot“has been generous enough to give our readers a 10% discount on any purchases made on their site. Just reference the promotion code UFV at checkout”