Scotts Flat Reservoir

Scotts Flat Smallmouth On The Fly

Scotts Flat Reservoir is a medium size lake that can be found just outside of Nevada City. It is well-known for its smallmouth bass population and is a popular place to beat the heat in the summer. I’ve been wanting to check out Scotts Flat for a while now and with a free day off during the three Memorial Day weekend I packed my tube and rod and set out for the lake.

What got me excited about fly fishing Scotts Lake was an article that I read on targeting the smallmouth there. To reiterate a saying common saying, “Smallmouth are pound for pound the most hardest fighting fish on the end of a line”. Not only do they pull hard but they also jump at least once during the fight.

After driving up from Yuba City and paying my $10 day-use fee, I rigged my rod with two different colored buggers, inflated my tube, and began searching for my target. The water was very warm and the Memorial Day crowd was naturally there. A few casts in and I get my first of the day. I was hoping that this momentum would continue but I didn’t get a single take for the next four hours.

First Scotts Flat Smallmouth

I covered a lot of water from the bushes that were sticking out to the trees that I could see. No one was home. I felt defeated and confused. Could it be that there were a bunch of people on the lake? Could it be the wind? Could it be where I was fishing? I took a break and napped on the shore for a few minutes. When I awoke most of the crowds were gone. It was time to try again.

I figured out the crowds weren’t a factor because the same areas that I fished were still fishless. I moved to another cove that was much more rocky rather than muddy and hooked a big largemouth that immediately threw the hook when it jumped. Now I knew that I was doing something right and in the right place. As I continued fishing the surface of the lake turned to glass and the sky darkened from the sunset. I finally hooked into my next smallie. The fish were closer to the shore than I expected and were only hitting the olive bugger. I doubled up on the olive and worked my way along the banks. A few more fish hooked and I was done for the day. Two landed out of five hooked. Not too shabby…

Smooth Surface On Scotts Flat

Overall my experience was decent. I’d like to return to Scotts Flat sometime and explore the different coves along the lake. The only thing keeping me away is the day-use fee. The day-use area is not very big and can get crowded really fast. There are also no bouys separating how far the boats can come to the bank; I watched as a big boat came all the way to bank while navigating through a crowded coved of swimmers and kayaks. All-in-all Scotts Flat is nice but not that nice.

Big Chico Creek, Meadow Valley Creek

Summer Visit To BCC & Meadow Valley Creek

Big Chico Creek All To Myself

This weekend the missus and I spent the weekend with her parents in Quincy. Along the way we stopped in Chico for her haircut and some smallmouth fishing. With all the water flowing throughout the state’s tributaries this summer the fishing has been on point.

If there is anything I miss about Chico it’s wading and fishing BCC in the summer. BCC is an excellent smallmouth fishery despite the heavy traffic from the locals, college students, and visitors.

Friday is a tough day to fish. I expected many of my holes to be filled with splashing children and alcohol sipping adults. I was pleasantly pleased when I found all my spots quiet and eagerly awaiting me.
I had just ordered a few bass poppers from The Feather Merchants and wanted to test them to see if they worked. The hook on the most well-known popper I purchased didn’t feel very sharp so I tested that one first. To my surprise I was catching fish left and right.

Pop….pop….SPLASH!

Smallmouth are Great Fighters
Fish of the Day

I fished for about two hours and caught over twenty bass. A nice overcast kept the fishing good all afternoon. I do miss them summer days in Chico….

Beautiful Small Stream

Meadow Valley Creek
On Saturday the missus, her parents, and I visited a small tributary of Spanish Creek called Meadow Valley Creek. Although her dad was a bit worried that I wasn’t going to find any fish, I was confident that I was going to catch something

Fish The Fishy Spots

Off the beaten path and right next to a small campground meandered Meadow Valley Creek. The creek was very small and called for small stream tactics. Laying low, minimizing casts, and throwing small flies.
Once I set up my 2WT I took a few steps and crouched myself next to a fishy spot by the creek. A few casts in and…. tada a fish flop. I quick-released a lot more fish than I landed this visit but overall a fun trip.

And Catch Tiny Trout
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