California Fishing Reports ยท Central Valley Region
Below Monticello Dam near Winters, Putah Creek is a small, cold tailwater with wild rainbows close to the Bay Area and Sacramento.
Looking for the latest Putah Creek river report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Putah Creek โ Below Monticello Dam.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Putah Creek fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge near Winters reads around 100 cfs and clear.
Small nymphs and midges in the runs, and BWOs on cloudy days.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Below Monticello Dam, bring: Zebra Midge #18-20, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18, JuJu Baetis #18-20, Parachute Adams #18-20, RS2 Emerger #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Putah Creek details
| Access | Pullouts along State Highway 128 below Monticello Dam. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 200 ft |
| Nearest town | Winters, California |
| Best season | Year-round |
| Fish | Wild rainbow trout |
| Regulations | Special catch-and-release rules apply. Check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations for the current rules. A California sport fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 5X to 6X tippet |
| Camping | Lake Berryessa campgrounds |
| Kids | Partly. |
| Good to know | Busy highway. Park carefully. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Steady and fishable.
Spring
BWOs.
Summer
Warm days. Fish early.
Fall
BWOs.
How to get there
From Winters, take State Highway 128 west toward Monticello Dam.