[Fishstick]

Greetings. Always love finding a new fly fishing board. I cut my teeth on fly fishing in the late 80's while living in Ketchikan Alaska. Transfer forced me to move to central California where I have been stuck for the last 19 odd years. Local law enforcement has forbid me to fish with anything heavier than an 8wt. Too many complaints from fly ridden spectators who dared to venture too close while I was casting. My sights are set on retirement and a pending move to Idaho where I'll spend the rest of my days flinging the fly on rivers with legendary status. Just happy to be here.....

[fshfanatic]

Where in Central Ca? I grew up in the Bay Area.

Oh and welcome.

[Fishstick]

Currently in Santa Ynez, near Santa Barbara.

[fshfanatic]

If you dont mind catching dinks, there are tons of small coastal streams along the coast from San Gregorio all the way down to L.A. that dump into the ocean. My dad has 400 acres in SanGregorio and he gets Steelies running through his property every year. Or so he says..

[BigCliff]

Welcome to the group! I, for one, enjoyed the preemptive retort to any groans from our group. Sounds like you'll be fun to have as a contributor.

My dad has 400 acres in SanGregorio and he gets Steelies running through his property every year. Or so he says.

Mike that sounds like the kind of statement you'd be foolish not to verify for yourself. If you're that opposed to fishing moving water, I'm sure one of us would be willing to help with this verification.

[freeze69]

Originally Posted by BigCliff

Mike that sounds like the kind of statement you'd be foolish not to verify for yourself. If you're that opposed to fishing moving water, I'm sure one of us would be willing to help with this verification.

All expenses paid on Mike's behalf correct.

All kidding aside welcome aboard Fishstick. Reminds me of the old saying if you don't like my driving stay off the side walks. Guess it goes hand in hand with fishing.

[Salmo Nella]

Fishstick
Welcome to a fellow local.
I am in Goleta.
I understand (having lived in coastal Cal all my life) why you long for retirement and moving to Idaho for the fishing.
While you are here though, keep the faith with some creeks in the winter time, the bass in the fall and , if you dare, try for some salt water demons like bonito, mackerel or halibut in the high summer months.

Despite what fshfanatic says though, make sure if you go after the steelhead here you read the regulations VERY closely. Most of them are off limits because the coastal steelhead is a protected species. Too bad too because the Santa Ynez river was one of the top steelhead breeding rivers in the state before they put in Bradbury dam in the 50s. The runs were in the tens of thousands per year and people would use pitch forks to harvest the trout.
Now all fishing below the dam is forbidden to try and save the last remnants of the population.

On a brighter note Jalama beach has some of the best Surf Perch fishing anywhere in the state. Short casts and hard fighting fish. It's a hoot.

[BigCliff]

I meant to imply NO INTENTION WHATSOEVER to pay for an exploratory fishing vacation to verify that claim. Wish I had that kind of cash to fling around though.

[fshfanatic]

I said what I said because I havent checked it out. I only get to Cali a couple times a yr and usually dont have time to fish.

On my Dads behalf, I have fished his property and have caught some nice trout.

I wasnt trying to put anything down. It was actually a positive statement.

For the record. I am not against fishing moving water. It just seems like when I do I spend more time swimming that fishing. Curtis will verify this I am sure.

[Fishstick]

Originally Posted by Salmo Nella

FishstickWelcome to a fellow local.I am in Goleta.I understand (having lived in coastal Cal all my life) why you long for retirement and moving to Idaho for the fishing.While you are here though, keep the faith with some creeks in the winter time, the bass in the fall and , if you dare, try for some salt water demons like bonito, mackerel or halibut in the high summer months.Despite what fshfanatic says though, make sure if you go after the steelhead here you read the regulations VERY closely. Most of them are off limits because the coastal steelhead is a protected species. Too bad too because the Santa Ynez river was one of the top steelhead breeding rivers in the state before they put in Bradbury dam in the 50s. The runs were in the tens of thousands per year and people would use pitch forks to harvest the trout.Now all fishing below the dam is forbidden to try and save the last remnants of the population.On a brighter note Jalama beach has some of the best Surf Perch fishing anywhere in the state. Short casts and hard fighting fish. It's a hoot.

Much appreciated. With my recent return to fly fishing, I've spent a fair amount of days on the upper Santa Ynez with good success, which somewhat surprised me. I've read stories about the steelhead back in the days, so sad that those days are over. I've hammered the bass with Clousers on Cachuma for a couple of hot action days and have tried the surf-n-fly on Goleta beach with no takers. I'm sure the tide and raging surf played into the factor to a degree. Nice to have a local on the board to swap reports etc. thank you