Smith-Continued

[Al]

On Thursday, December 4, Smith River TU will have our last meeting of the year.  It will once again be held at Hugo's restaurant in Martinsville starting at 6:30.  Our special guest will be George Palmer with DWR.  George will provide an update on the health of the brown trout population in the Smith River.  This is always a great update from George so please join us. Come early and grab a bite to eat.

[creakycane]

River in Bassett town a bit discolored/greenish, but low.  Clearer downriver.  Air Felt colder than the 51F on the bank thermometer.  Usual small browns scattered about. I noticed they would chase a lifted nymph fished off a dry and pulled up.  Feet got cold quickly, and with no sun, stayed chilly. This year electric socks are on my list.   Worth the trip, but if you have a better offer, wait till 26! 

[OldKent]

I would love to hear what Mr. Palmer's thoughts were on the health of the Smith if anyone could share. As an aside, I was able to fish it a couple of weeks ago, and like mentioned above, I was surprised at how "green-murky" it still is; usually by this time of year it is fishing relatively clear. I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the Holiday season!

[shackfishes]

Was wondering if anybody knows when they're gonna bump the flows back up or how much rain it's gonna take- had some surprisingly good fishing on the warmer days in december even with the low water, but I'm ready for "the real smith"!! A few of my favorite holes are unfishable or extremely difficult to fish at the moment...

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[Onslow]

A lot of rain.  Minus the Sierra Nevada and the lake effect snow areas, the whole damn country is in a drought.

[Woolly Bugger]

Was wondering if anybody knows when they're gonna bump the flows back up or how much rain it's gonna take- had some surprisingly good fishing on the warmer days in december even with the low water, but I'm ready for "the real smith"!!

This is the current lake level, below guide line and only rising very slowly with the prediction of not exceeding that line anytime soon.

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So it would require a major rain event for them to increase flows to the 300 level that we have enjoued for the past several years since the mudslide event that shutdown the powerhouse.

Current schedule for resumption of generations was scheduled for this coming June, but I've heard that there was another event that put that date into question and may add another year to the scheduled resumption of generating power at the dam.

Keep in mind that when they do start operaing for power at the dam flows will return to their historic fluctuations; 55 cfc minimum flow to 1300 cfs or higher during generation.


PS; nice brownie!

[streamereater_101691]

Was wondering if anybody knows when they're gonna bump the flows back up or how much rain it's gonna take- had some surprisingly good fishing on the warmer days in december even with the low water, but I'm ready for "the real smith"!! A few of my favorite holes are unfishable or extremely difficult to fish at the moment...

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See that lake level get to 971-972 and it'll happen. I predict late February or early March if we stay in this current weather pattern. Nice to see people actually realizing trout feed via bio mass and elevated flows(to a certain extent) preset the fish with more feeding opportunity.

[Woolly Bugger]

#25 -- 3

55 and windy with scattered clouds.

Took the spey pole up to Bassett and swung an intruder through some runs for a couple of hours in the afternoon. All I got for my efforst was a couple of rainbows and cold feet.

As I was finining up a run, a surveyor hollered down and said he had some queations when I got out.

He was surveying the powerlines for a fiberoptic cabel and he had a lot of questions about the spey pole. How long? Great roll casts, how do you do that? etc. I told him what all about spey casting/fisshing and learned that he had just started fly fishing this past summer, was from Damascus and was thrilled at the progress on the Creeper Trail, stating that without that attraction the town would become nothing but section 8 housing.


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[shackfishes]

Can anyone let me know if the water is still stained today or tomorrow before I make the drive up? Little worried about the rain from Sunday and don't want to waste my gas money.

[Woolly Bugger]

Can anyone let me know if the water is still stained today or tomorrow before I make the drive up? Little worried about the rain from Sunday and don't want to waste my gas money.

I fished in Bassett yesterday and it was running clear.

I ran up in the afternoon to see what was going on. I was heavily overcaast with a little breeze. No bug, not one fish rose. I swung a beaded wet fly with limited success. I nymphed for a while but my heart wasn't in it. So I pulled the plug and headed home, listening to The Are Thief as reccommended by dougfish.

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Sure missed the pristine waters of the Patagonia, but the rock snot on the smiff pails in slipery factor to that of the Malleo River.

[creakycane]

Can anyone let me know if the water is still stained today or tomorrow before I make the drive up? Little worried about the rain from Sunday and don't want to waste my gas money.

I fished in Bassett yesterday and it was running clear.

Agreed, but today ( Thurs) it is super low flow

[Woolly Bugger]

Agreed, but today ( Thurs) it is super low flow

Yowza! 
 

[Woolly Bugger]

as you can see in the chart a few post back, the lake level is down about 3 feet below the guide curve. That curve begins to go up in the next week to the full summer pond level. They are holding  back water in hopes of raising the level. There won't be any increase in discharge until a major rain event or the lake gets above full pond.

We need rain, a lot of rain.

[Woolly Bugger]

sunny and mid 70s, gas $3.29 (10 cents off)

There was a hatch of fishermen on the river. I saw a raft down low on the great road 

There were a dozen fisherpersons on the road up to the damn dam. Which is still under construction. There is more work to be done on the hill stabilzition project and then once that is completed, GE will continue their work on the generators. Extimated completions has been pushed into next year as they are alson planning to do more work on the dam. Earliest return to generation is January 2027, but may be later than that.

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There wasnt' much bug activity and I only caught a few fish in the couple of hours that I fished.

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[Woolly Bugger]

They dropped the water down to a measley 45.5 csf for a couple of days. I went up to take a look, thougth about hitting a spot or two but there were anglers flailing away. I was surprised to see rafts on the water. I guess when you have clients you bump and grind it out.

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This guy thougth it would be productive to bobber fish the frog water.

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I saw EJ with his dude down on the Great Road, I hollered, "Yon ain't got no water!"

He was floating on down to Jordan Creek. I wished them good luck!

They opened up the damn dam now and it's back to 83 cfs...

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