Gotta applaud the making lemonade effort in that high fast water. Ten foot 2wt certainly wasn't overpowering, especially dealing with the CFM. I lived in Redding for a while, and spent a lot of time on the Upper Sac, McCloud, Hat Creek, etc., I have fished most of the Blue Ribbon American rivers, but the Dunsmuir reach of the Sac was my go to. There's a spot about a half mile downstream from the bridge that caused all those problems, that has trees overhanging the whole river for about a quarter mile. One day,while having a pretty good day fishing October Caddis nymphs, the hatch came off, and it was like being inside a shaken snow globe. Immediately switched to those huge orange dries, and got a lot of refusals, because there were so many wiggling live ones on the water. Eventually landed a nice fourteen incher, that was a day I'll never forget. Tight lines Bro!'
The Pulse 3100 is not as sensitive (as expected) but is not that far off from the ESN. Most of the rivers I fish in the rough/fast waters of the West you can't really take advantage of the ESN's sensitivity. The ESN shines on less rough water like what you would come across on eastern streams and also with smaller nymphs.
It didn't seem too bad from the railroad tracks but once you got down there it was water up to the waist right off the bank in most spots. I see your video in my reccomended and am going to watch it. I have always wanted to do that hike to the falls!
@@purpledrakefishing Fisherman with waders don't really need to do the whole hike. Just take the walk on the short trail to Hedge Creek Falls and keep going. The trail continues to the water where it's easy to wade across.
Wow the flows jumped up quite a bit. I've been wanting to get up there but the recent rains kept me from making that drive. Good to see you still catching. Nice video PD
Thanks for the video Purp. That looks like some tough sledding there. Hard to pick out pockets or seams with the river running so high. Any October Caddis around that you could see? Thanks again!!
Saw a few little BWOs but no Oct Caddis shucks on the rocks. However, most of the Oct Caddis activity is above Dunsmuir so there might still be some emerging up there.
@@purpledrakefishing . Thank you. A few years back a fly fishermen sued Burlington Northern for throwing their used creosote soaked railroad ties over the bank and into the river . The fishermen won, and clean up wasn't cheap. Enjoy your channel, keep at it. 😆👍.
Not sure, but I think last year I might have caught a few good sized fish that I think might have come from the lake (17-18"). They probably weren't on a spawning run, but were just nomadic rainbows.
Gotta applaud the making lemonade effort in that high fast water. Ten foot 2wt certainly wasn't overpowering, especially dealing with the CFM. I lived in Redding for a while, and spent a lot of time on the Upper Sac, McCloud, Hat Creek, etc., I have fished most of the Blue Ribbon American rivers, but the Dunsmuir reach of the Sac was my go to. There's a spot about a half mile downstream from the bridge that caused all those problems, that has trees overhanging the whole river for about a quarter mile. One day,while having a pretty good day fishing October Caddis nymphs, the hatch came off, and it was like being inside a shaken snow globe. Immediately switched to those huge orange dries, and got a lot of refusals, because there were so many wiggling live ones on the water. Eventually landed a nice fourteen incher, that was a day I'll never forget. Tight lines Bro!'
Enjoyed your story, thanks 🍻 So many good memories on those rivers. Did the Oct Caddis hatch during the day or dusk/night?
It came off in the morning, around 9 or 10. We had hot to the spot around 7AM. We immediately saw mergers and nymphs and it was yee-haw!
Looks like the river is in great shape. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Flow! 🍻
I'd be interested to hear any comparisons you had between your Sage ESN rod and your Sage Pulse 3100.
The Pulse 3100 is not as sensitive (as expected) but is not that far off from the ESN. Most of the rivers I fish in the rough/fast waters of the West you can't really take advantage of the ESN's sensitivity. The ESN shines on less rough water like what you would come across on eastern streams and also with smaller nymphs.
1500 is ripping! Looks like there still plenty of softer holding water. Funny we both published a video at the same time from the same river.
It didn't seem too bad from the railroad tracks but once you got down there it was water up to the waist right off the bank in most spots. I see your video in my reccomended and am going to watch it. I have always wanted to do that hike to the falls!
We should all do a meet up sometime.
@@purpledrakefishing Fisherman with waders don't really need to do the whole hike. Just take the walk on the short trail to Hedge Creek Falls and keep going. The trail continues to the water where it's easy to wade across.
Wow the flows jumped up quite a bit. I've been wanting to get up there but the recent rains kept me from making that drive. Good to see you still catching. Nice video PD
Thanks 🍻 I would definetly wait until the flows come down. The fishing was very slow. I ran into a few others who caught nothing that day.
@@purpledrakefishing right on. I'll definitely take that into consideration. There is some good fishing on the east side right now
Thanks for the video Purp. That looks like some tough sledding there. Hard to pick out pockets or seams with the river running so high. Any October Caddis around that you could see?
Thanks again!!
Saw a few little BWOs but no Oct Caddis shucks on the rocks. However, most of the Oct Caddis activity is above Dunsmuir so there might still be some emerging up there.
I've fished that same area, PD.... but never at that flow! There is a nice honeyhole there on the opposite bank near the homes/park there. Good stuff!
Thanks Jon 🍻 Was my first time trying to fish the Upper Sac with high flows--won't do it again! Way too hard to move around.
Nice water. I was right there last week. Seems like I caught the same 8” fish over and over.
That's good news...smolts...on the Feather we have those days too ..then outta nowhere...zzzzzzzz 7 pounders.... couple days later! Same water!
As a kid i used to walk the railroad tracks on the Middle Deschutes, now they threaten you with trespassing and a fine if they catch you.
Sad to hear about the Deschutes tracks. I have heard in the past how it is very convenient to use them to access the river and move about there.
@@purpledrakefishing . Thank you.
A few years back a fly fishermen sued Burlington Northern for throwing their used creosote soaked railroad ties over the bank and into the river . The fishermen won, and clean up wasn't cheap.
Enjoy your channel, keep at it. 😆👍.
Do you ever catch any trout that have come out of the lake?
Not sure, but I think last year I might have caught a few good sized fish that I think might have come from the lake (17-18"). They probably weren't on a spawning run, but were just nomadic rainbows.
This is Purple Drake. I have moved my channel to "Fishing With Drake" Hope to see you there soon!
Got the old channel back--will be posting videos here again!