The 2019 Spawn is ON! [Repost from 2016]

Posted on December 6, 2019 by

4 Comments

[This is a repost from 2016 with some updates for 2019-2020]

The 2016 Putah Creek trout spawn is ramping up. Here are some tips on helping ensure the next generation gets a healthy start…

2019 – PCT has observed changes in the stream substrate that may impact the amount of optimal spawning substrate.  Consider giving the fish a break between December to March in order to give them the best opportunity for success.  

I visited the beautiful PC yesterday with my son.  Its a rare thing to be able to fish with him and I wanted to take advantage of a mutual day off. Although the fishing was not what I had hoped, we still spent a memorable day together.  After fishing a few hours without any success, we decided to break down the rods and check out some of the spawning areas.

There were no visible trout on the newly improved spawning beds above Canyon Creek Resort.  I’m sure they are coming. Maybe they had settled in deeper water during the mid day…

Another site lower down in the system revealed four trout on two visible redds (a redd is a gravel area prepared by the fish to recieve the fertalized eggs; the cleaner gravel typically appears lighter than the surrounding untended stream bed).  We were mesmerized by their movements and frankly, their size!  Their usual camoflaged silhouettes were starkly revealed on the pale redds.  Their beautiful copper and silver sides flashed as they cut their redds.

cuttingredd
Cutting the redd

To top this off, we ended our day watching the salmon swim past the pedestrian bridge in Winters.  We met a mom and her two children.  They had counted 50 fish passing through! Here’s hoping that both the trout and salmon have a productive spawn this year!

Here are some simple tips everyone can follow to improve the fishery’s spawning success:

  1. Watch for signage that alerts anglers that they are entering a likely spawning habitat:20161106-putah_02
  2. Avoid targetting actively spawning fish. If they are on redds (see above video), paired up, or behaving in a territorial manner – LEAVE THEM ALONE! If these fish are caught, even if they survive, their change of successful spawning will dramatically decline.  Their eggs will not survive the build up of lactic acid and will be aborted or reabsorbed.  Many fisherman and guides give the Putah a break between November and February to avoid catching spawning fish – PROPS to them!
  3. Avoid walking upstream or ON the redds before and after the spawn (until ~April) as the fertalized eggs and alevins are easily smothered and crushed.  Give them a wide birth.

Putah Creek Trout thank you for following these tips… The future of the fishery depend on it!

Category: Featured, Spawning Habitat, Tips & Tricks

4 Comments on “The 2019 Spawn is ON! [Repost from 2016]”

    • Dan, I was scouting above access #3 and I’m seeing more fungal infections (I assume Saprolignia) on the spawners than I remember in previous years. My assessment of the infection rate is anecdotal to be sure, but I am wondering if there are any concerns about the health of the population at large or a possible consequence of a higher density of fish?

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      • Chris and I noticed this as well during this year’s spawning survey. Perhaps more than any other year. It is unclear to me if this is truly a concern as I believe it is relatively self limited. But I am not an expert…

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Spring has sprung on the creek. The water is quite turbid and on the rise 300+. Silt from the recent run off is really impacting some of the best runs. 128 is now open with one lane controlled by traffic lights. Goslings were keeping close to mom and learning how to navigate the riffles at FA#5. 4/4/23 ALERT: Highway 128 closure effectively shuts down access to the Putah Creek fishing access. The recent rain and runoff has undercut highway 128 near FA#3. Work crews have closed the road at Pleasant Valley road on the east side and at the dam to the west. Looks like no fishing access until the work is completed. No ETA known at this time. Don’t even bother. Now that the flows are starting to go down for Fall (currently at 204cfs), I wanted to share my thoughts on fishing Putah and discussions on the board. I think there is a balance that we should strike regarding discussing fishing success on the Putah and ensuring that we aren't contributing to the phenomena of "Hot Spotting". This is obviously subjective. Putah Creek is NOT a secret to the local fishing community and should be cherished and celebrated by ALL of the community. That being said, it is an extremely small fishery - only ~4.5 miles much of which is UNfishable due to vegetation and topography. It is the closest wild trout stream fishery to the Napa, Bay Area, and Sacramento metropolitan areas. This can lead to significant fishing pressure (duh). 2022 Putah Creek IDR Cleanup success! Thank you to all of the volunteers that helped make our little piece of water more enjoyable and safe for everyone to enjoy! We collected ~800 pounds of trash and 100 pounds of recyclables. #coastalcleanupday #putahcreektrout #pickupyourtrash 2022 Putah Creek Interdam Reach Cleanup is Saturday 9/17/22. Please consider joining us as a service to the resource that we all enjoy. Please sign up at the link below: October 23, 2021 - PCT worked with CDFW leaders to replace regulation and mud snail signage as well as 3 angler survey boxes. Hard but rewarding morning. Look for opportunities coming up to participate in our next event. Check out the new survey boxes (hopefully to report how successful you were)! #putahcreektrout #itdoesntcountuntilitssurveyed. Volunteers needed Saturday October 23, 2021 to help Putah Creek Trout and CDFW Region 3 replace angler survey boxes and signage. YOU can help this fishery improve! Sign up through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/putah-creek-special-fishing-regulation-signage-placement-volunteer-event-tickets-182066655267 or email PutahCreektrout@gmail.com #putahcreektrout #troutunlimitedca #johnmuirtu Thanks to the 25 or so volunteers, the 2021 Interdam Putah Creek Cleanup was a great success. Per Steve Karr “We collected 150 lbs of recyclables and filled the 10 yd dumpster with an impressive 1800 lbs of trash including a torn down shed and other construction materials that had been illegally dumped near Fishing Access 2 and Fishing Access 1. Special thanks go to our site team leaders Shawn, Son, Dylan, Dave, Mike, and Richard. Special thanks to Charlie Schneider and Roger Wachtler of TU for their help in volunteer recruitment. Special thanks to Tom Robinson and Fly Fishers of Davis for providing tables and 5 gallon buckets.” #putahcreek #putahcreektrout #rivercleanup #cleanupchallenge #cleanupday #troutunlimitedca #flyfishersofdavis 2021 Cleanup Day is Saturday September 18! Come join PCT and help beautify the creek we love. More info at putahcteektrout.org website including how you can make this a safe outdoor activity during the pandemic. ** NEW EVENTBRITE SIGN-UP ** https://www.eventbrite.com/e/putah-creek-trout-inter-dam-reach-cleanup-tickets-169528017865 Bring your rod and your energy!
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