Davis Lake Report 2006
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On Saturday April 29th Amador Flyfishers Bill DeWalt, Ron Calvert, Dennis Larson and Ken Brown and his two guests Jim and son Tim D'Martini fished Davis Lake's eastern shore. The western access road is still covered with snow and inaccessible. The morning was full of clear blue sky and the lake had more water than it has seen the past two seasons. Expectations for continued rising waters is assured with the snow pack still on the surrounding mountains and on the ground surrounding the lake.
The early morning was spent in float tubes with each of us getting "nibblers and takes" but only one fish was brought to net. About 10 a.m Ron Calvert and I decided to take our tubes and drive down to the headwaters of the lake. That would be Grizzly Creek. Looking through the pines we could see that the lake and adjoining Grizzly Creek was in better shape than it had been in recent years! The prospects for fishing outside the inlet for large rainbows was good. Ron and I both hooked up immediately and pulled in 18" plus spawning colored beauties. A hookup followed by a long release was followed by 2 more beautiful spawners. Meanwhile Ron ended up picking up four more of the same while I scouted around the other side of the lake. Crossing the inlet I could see many 20" plus rainbows making ready for their eventual spawning ceremony.
For lunch Ron & I went back to meet up with the other 4 and found them with fish on the stringer. Normally not a keeper of fish, I heard the statement "well, there going to poison the lake anyway, so we might as well take some fish." Collectively they had caught another 5-6 fish.
Leaving the lake long before sunset we returned to the motel and cleaned up for a trip to Portola and a very fine Mexican dinner, complete with wine or Mexican beers.
The next morning the group decide! d to return to the end of the lake, near Grizzly Creek. We decided to give Ron and my fishing spots to Bill and Jim's son, Tim, and the rest of us took to our float tubes. Bill spent a good deal of time acting as a fishmaster and helping young Tim learn the art of fly fishing. Fishing in the float tubes resulting in "nada" and Ron, Ken, Jim and son , Tim, decided that fishing might be better back where they had fished on Saturday. Meanwhile, before the departure and after, Bill proceeded to pick up 7 rainbow, one measuring at least 23 inches. I , too, picked up another three hogs.
Bill and I knew that the other 4 guys had planned to head home in the early afternoon, so we decided to meet up with them on the eastern side of the lake. When we returned, once again they had gotten into the fish for another 4 fish. Like Saturday, the bite had turned on about 11 a.m.
Saying our goodbyes, Bill and I fished again until a little after 4 o'clock. Bill picked up another 4 rainbows, giving him a total of 11 for the day and the fishmaster for the weekend. I did manage to pick up a couple more and had one break me off, just through sheer stupidy of trying to horse him in!
Flies for the weekend that were successful included an olive, size 10 Jay Fair Wiggly Worm, Jay fair Crystal Buggers, and a size 14 Olive Sheep Creek Special. Most fished with weight-forward floating lines with 7 1/2 feet to 9 feet leaders. Tippets varied from 5X to 2X. Others, when in their float tubes sued slime or intermediate lines.
Bill and I spent another night at the Lake Davis Motel after having hamburgers at the Portola Drive Inn. Early in the morning we were off to Pyramid Lake. But that's another story. See Bill for details.
