We were so grateful we rescued the trout before the first storm hit on Jan. 26, which filled all the pools with mud.
Think that any fish we left in the creek were killed by that and additional storm events that have made it possible to walk across formerly deep pools.
Thanks to the coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries Service, we released the trout back into the wild last Monday, Feb. 10, in a beautiful watershed along the Central Coast in Santa Barbara County.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they were able to find shelter from the most recent storm. However, I won’t be able to go back and check on them for a bit.
We really hope this sets the stage for CDFW and NMFS to be more proactive in translocating trout so that we have more watersheds holding more fish, creating population redundancy and resilience.
We are putting together a video that will be on the RCD website next week but attached below are a few photos.
Thanks to all who care about our southern steelies!
Rosi Dagit is the Principal Conservation Biologist for Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains
Free webinar – Learn how to safely backup and protect your photo collection
The Los Angeles Center of Photography and I will be partnering up to offer a free webinar titled Preserving your legacy: how to safeguard and begin archiving your photo collection.
It will be held on Wednesday Feb. 5, 5 p.m. PST
In light of the recent wildfires that have ravaged our city, we thought of offering this webinar as a public service to the photographic community and anybody else looking to preserve and protect their photo and visual assets.
The webinar is free, but donations are encouraged for LACP‘s gear drive to support affected victims of the southern California fires.
I hope you can attend. I will be offering some very specific steps you can take immediately to protect your photos as well as outlining a long-term plan for archiving and safeguarding them for the future.
(Forest Service News Release) The entire Angeles National Forest is temporarily closed for public safety and the protection of natural resources from today, January 8, at 5 p.m. through Wednesday, January 15, at midnight. During this time, the following acts are prohibited within the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument:
1. Going into or being upon the Angeles National Forest. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(e). 2. Being on any National Forest System Road within the Angeles National Forest. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e). 3. Being on any National Forest System Trail within the Angeles National Forest. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a).
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:
1. Any Federal, State or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an official duty. 2. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.
Persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above.
These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.
A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months or both 16 U.S.C. § 551, and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
THE BOBCAT FIRE hit the West Fork San Gabriel hard in 2020, but the land is recovering. Fall hillsides are red with native deerweed and riparian woodlands are regenerating. Dead trees are falling in the river making log jams and good fish habitat. Credit: Blake Karhu.
By Blake Karhu
Greetings SoCal fly fishers. Our good friend and messenger of the local streams, Jim Burns, has relocated to fishier waters up north and he asked if I would share an update with you all.
We have been dealt a late arrival to cool winter temps this year and our local trout are still active. So, if you like solitude and the contrasting late fall colors of our natural landscapes, then this is your last chance to get out there before real winter sets in and trout fishing is largely on hold until spring.
After some of the highest flows in years, flows are now low and the early fall extreme heat wave was stressful for fish and aquatic insect populations. The trout are cautious and your A-game is required for the bigger fish (“bigger” = larger than 9 inches in in most local streams).
The good news is that after years of drought and fires, most of our watersheds are largely bouncing back as they naturally do following good rain years, so there are a lot of young trout in the streams too.
Not to say that the fires are not destructive, especially if they are too frequent, and the Bridge Fire on the East Fork San Gabriel represents a once in a generation reset of that watershed. Fishing may be on hold there for two or more years as the trout population recovers.
Nymping is generally the way to go this time of year but dry flies can still get them, especially during the warmest part of the day. Also, be gentle when catching and releasing fish as they prepare to spawn and don’t fish for spawning fish–we need all the spawning success we can get as local streams are no longer stocked. Barbless/pinched barb hooks, wet your hands before handling fish, and keeping fish in the water as much as possible is key.
Some good catch and release etiquette from CDFW >>HERE.
I was just out at the West Fork today, after not fishing it for about 6 years. I’m happy to report that there was the least amount of trash and graffiti I have seen, probably since the late 90s, when I first learned to fly fish up there. The water was low, though not the lowest I have ever seen. Many of my old spots were gone. For example, the straight that runs from the West mountainside under the first bridge to join up at Bear Creek. That entire section, probably 75 yards, used to be fabulous. Caught many fish there.
On the West side of the bridge, the water split in two for about 20 feet and came together again to create a deep and productive pool. Not there anymore. I saw another young guy fly fishing there and he claimed he caught something, but I didn’t see any fish or any rises. It was ok enough for me to return soon.
I live in Riverside County now, so its about an hour drive for me. I have to compare that to the drive to Bishop and the Owens, which is three hours and much better fishing. I sincerely hope the river continues to recover and we see a return to the glory days, which to me ended with the drought in SoCal in the late aughts.
You can check out American Fly Fishing mag>>HERE. My short story is in the current issue.
You never know what you actually miss about a place until you’re no longer living there. I spent about 40 years in SoCali, I think. And while I can tell you a lot of things I don’t miss about living there–the traffic being No. 1–I do miss the land, especially the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. I spent years exploring its creeks, rivers and have so many special memories of the place. Many of those spots I chronicled on this blog.
Caught with a tenkara rod and reverse dry fly, this wild trout is a winter beauty. (Permission France Mer)
It’s super gratifying to get emails from readers who are looking for the same kinds of excitement I always found in those bone-dry hills. This week’s was from a young woman who just relocated from Montana! She wrote ” I’m … ready to drive 2-3h for the thrill of catching even small guys :).” She gets it.
Even here in Oregon, I’ve not found a thrill so big as being able to coax a small wild trout out of hole that’s not deep. I guess I’m the guy who says, “Hey, it’s a miracle!” about a seven-inch rainbow, instead of showing you just how dang big that sucker was from my last fishing safari. Just knowing that life continues on, if we only help it along a bit, is a thrill that kept me going back again, and again.
Here in Southern Oregon, this week, I was one of a few who volunteered to check hoop traps to see what was coming up the small streams. Our fish ID chart included Coho, Chinook, Steelhead and Cutthroat. This tiny creek ran next to a local high school, and the biology teacher there has lead a fish in the classroom project for something like the last dozen years. While in So Cal we call it “Trout in the Classroom,” here it’s called “Salmon in the Classroom.” Different name, same spirit. Those lucky students just need to walk out of their classroom to watch citizen science in action.
I also had to leave the Fisheries Resouces Volunteer Corps and miss the friends I made in that terrific organization. If you ever thought about volunteering, FRVC could use your help. Get more information >>HERE.
Check out what they did this year:
13,646 lbs of trash removed
195 recreational dams removed
431 tags removed
51 angler surveys recorded
57 events and projects attended, plus countless patrols.
Can you believe that trash number? I can tell you that all the garbage is removed by people who care about the land. It’s all done by hand and takes a lot of work. A day of garbage collection in the San Gabes leaves you tired, possibly angry at the lack federal solution to stem the tide, but overall happy. While you’re toiling away wondering why some of your fellow Angelinos just toss away their pizza box and El Pacificos, instead of getting jaded, you can find hope in kindred spirits.
The fact FRVC only logged 51 angler surveys is a bit disturbing. If you go out to the West Fork, don’t forget the angler box is just above the first bridge. Take a few minutes to log your catch.
South Coast Trout Unlimited is excited to invite you to the Hacia el Río (Toward the River) Community Exhibition, a special event celebrating our connection to the Los Angeles River through stories, photos and shared experiences.
Date: Saturday, Dec.14
Location: Horchatería Río Luna – 15950 Paramount Blvd.
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Enjoy free food and drinks while connecting with neighbors, sharing memories and exploring the river’s story. All are welcome—bring your family and friends!
Let’s come together to celebrate our community and the LA River that connects us. We hope to see you there!
lariverflyfishing 