Author Topic: passing the long winter, what to do? (Read 1019 times)

matt d · « **on:** November 05, 2003, 12:03:47 PM »

What is there to do during the winter. The fishing is basically non-existant where I live during the winter. Last year I built a fly rod and organized tackle but mostly focussed on non-fishing things like hunting. What do you guys do to pass the time?

williamlayton · « **Reply #1 on:** November 05, 2003, 02:47:10 PM »

matt-
we doan hve too much of tha same problems you do as we can do it pretty much year roud--but ya could play golf--that will drive crazy fer awhile. shootins fun. scoutin for new territory is fun. jest doan stay home--thats not fun.
blessings

Siskiyou · « **Reply #2 on:** November 05, 2003, 06:01:25 PM »

Try going fishing. I have hit the Delta in the winter. I take my boat out on the low elevation lakes. The F&G does a little planting during the winter. I must admit that I did not do much good this weekend when the air tempature dropped 45 degrees. And the water tempature dropped 10 degrees in 24 hours. Sunshine on Sunday, but the Cold Front arrived a little early. The wind was a little nasty, and a few drops of rain caused a some concern. Two other boats were out. And one of those was the Sheriff. But I enjoyed watching the deer and the birds.

Lots of fish on the fishfinder but I could not catch them. I believe the Cold Front shut everything down. A shore fisherman had three bass.

Siskiyou

matt d · « **Reply #3 on:** November 06, 2003, 05:42:58 AM »

I should go to the delta. I have never fished it but have wanted to. Its about 5 hours from where I live. I don't know anything about it, it sounds more like an area than a delta. What is it like? any destination recomendations?

Siskiyou · « **Reply #4 on:** November 06, 2003, 07:58:53 AM »

I am not an expert on the Delta.(It is a true Delta) It is a very large fishery. You see as many bank fishermen(women) as you do boats. It can be busy on weekends. If you cannot find a striper or salmon to catch try the Cat Fish. It is not uncommon for people to get lost in the maze of waterways in the Delta. Get a map(s). Years ago I bought a fishermen's map book for the Delta.

At a minimum have a compass on board your boat if using a boat. Now days I use my gps, but I still have a compass on board. There are alot of bait shops were you can get local information. A cellphone, CB, or marine radio are good items to have. I lack the Marine radio. Do not tie-up in the ship channel they will run over you. There are hundreds of miles of water that does not have ship traffic.

Caution: The wind is a major factor when boating in the Delta. That is why there are large wind farms for electrical generation on the Northside of the Delta. Check the weather and if winds over 15 MPH are predicted pick another day, or fish from shore. Safety has to be a major consideration. They are recovering bodies all the time. Drivers going in, fishermen falling over board and other causes. My wife's Uncle died from a heart attack after catching a big sturgeon in the Delta. By the time they got him to shore it was to late. Not a bad way of going. Much better then spending ten years in an old folks home pissing in a plastic bag.

Try the following link for Delta Information http://www.californiadelta.org/

I practice catch and release in the Delta. There is an adversory against eating the fish because of mercury. I need all the brain cells I have left. :-D

Siskiyou

matt d · « **Reply #5 on:** November 06, 2003, 11:34:59 AM »

good info, thanks. I just remembered I have a buddy from college that lives near there. I'll give him a call and see if he is up for an exploratory trip.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2003, 04:08:07 PM »

Well Matt,

The weather should have kept the wise at home today or up at a ski area. The thunderstorm and the funnel cloud over the Upper Delta had to be an attention getter.

Siskiyou

eroyd · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2003, 08:13:16 AM »

From December on thru February I'm hopefully standing up to my chest in a near freezing river, which may be the warmest place to be outside that time of year. Don't really notice though, to busy concentrating on that float or flyline for the slightest hesitation. Could be just a rock, a sunken root or maybe, 20lb's of explosive winter run chrome.

flatlander · « **Reply #8 on:** November 23, 2003, 02:27:20 AM »

Pick up a kit and build yourself a fishing pole! It is fun and can get you through the time between hunting and fishing seasons. You can get as simple or crazy as you want with it.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #9 on:** November 23, 2003, 07:27:36 AM »

Darn it!

Earlier in the week the forcast for this weekend was rain. Saturday it was foggy in the morning, with it clearing and a cold North wind in the afternoon. Still thinking it was going to be rainey today I left the boat buttoned-up.

So what kind of weather did I wake-up to! Cold and clear at this elevation. And the wind had stop blowing. Now I have to pickup all the leaves that came down in yesterdays wind. I need to do this before the next rain. Maybe put a new handle in a splitting maul.

Put some fresh 14 pound line on a couple of reels for steelhead fishing. *Priority

Do some cleaning in the garage so that I can do a bunch of reloading on nasty days.

Start thinking about a fishing trip to the Delta. Suspect the big drop in tempature may have shut the bite down for a few days.

Siskiyou

matt d · « **Reply #10 on:** November 25, 2003, 08:56:45 AM »

Flatlander,
great idea. I have made a few fly rods in the past. I gave up because I didn't feel like I was making a quality product. Almost like it was more expensive to buy the kit than it is to just buy that quality of rod. It is a different winter and I have little more money so maybe I'll try it again. WOW, great idea.

The weather has been cold here too. Not nearly as cold as other places in this great nation but It was uncomfortable. For all you true survivors, I'm talking 25 at night and 50 during the day. I had to use an old cassete to scrape the ice of my windshield this morning! :cry: :grin: