Tenkara Fly Fishing at Los Gatos Creek
Hugging highway 17 to the suburbs of Santa Clara county is Los Gatos Creek trail, a popular hiking trail for south bay dwellers. My recent venture into these serene waters, armed with nothing but my Tenkara rod, unfolded an experience worth sharing.
Gear
- Rod: Tenkara USA Iwana 12ft rod
- Line: Dragontail Tenkara Level Line (cut to 12ft)
- Tippet: Scientific Anglers 5x Trout Tippet (cut 4ft)
Fishing Los Gatos Creek
My journey began with a tip from a fellow angler on Reddit, pointing me to what I long suspected was an ideal Tenkara spot. Los Gatos Creek, with its legal year-round fishing (catch and release, of course), seemed promising.
There are several access points to this creek. The one I went to was not particularly hidden, as I had the sounds of cyclists and motor vehicles mixed into the sound of creek rushing downstream. I found a deep pool right away. I was greeted by a bustling underwater world, teeming with small fish and a few catchable-size trout. The creek, flanked by lush bay laurels, was a sight to behold. My excitement grew as I spotted several trout feeding and prepared my simple kebari fly for the task ahead.
The creek presented its own set of challenges. Navigating the tight spots and scaling cliffs for better vantage points, I was fully immersed in the Tenkara experience. The winds and underwater rocks added to the day's complexity, making each catch a rewarding effort.
Among the many attempts, a few trouts, though not particularly large, were remarkable for their fighting spirit.
Adapting my technique to the creek's depth and observing the fish's behavior was key to my success. Most trout here did not like flies on the surface. Rather, they preferred the flies a little deeper, about 3 inches from the top of the water.
After an hour or so, I walked downstream to look for more spots. It started out rough, I wasn't following a trail, just the flowing water. Eventually, the disorganized muddy shores turned dry, and I could see what looked to be dirt bike tracks. I pressed on and found footprints both from pigs (it had a distinct two-hooved pattern) and someone's sneakers. I looked around my surroundings to verify where I was.
It might just have been the section I was in- I found a tent, presumably owned by someone as it looked well maintained. I proceeded to head back home after. It was enough Bay Area Tenkara for the day!
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