Not much change from my last report, still great fishing, and plenty of solitude. I'm starting my guide trips a little later with the days getting shorter, and for whatever reason those North Fork Yuba wild rainbows prefer sunshine on the water. Water temps are ranging from 57 in the morning to 63 in the afternoon in the upper watershed. One thing I notice on this river after a big runoff year is that you'll find more concentrations of fish in certain pockets and pools, while other areas on the river are mostly devoid of fish. I'm guessing when huge hydraulics are in effect, the smaller rainbows go with the flow and end up where they can survive.
Caddis remain the preferred food item and larger elk hair caddis patterns in gray, amber, and olive are producing. The Jonny B. UV Ant Bomb has been crushing them and all of the bigger fish are suckers for this pattern. I may have to have this pattern contracted out and tied as there is nothing like it on the market. Simple too. New shucks of Stub Wing stoneflies (Claassenia sabulosa) have been appearing for quite a while now. They are often referred to as "Nocturnal Stones", but most stoneflies hatch in the dark no matter the species. Go look under the bridge supports at the Rosaschi Ranch bridge in the middle of the night in February and you'll see quite the show of emerging Goldens and Skwalas.
Fall is just around the corner, and if one slows down and observes you can see the many clues Mother Nature provides. We'll really see a difference in a few weeks with a reduced amount of traffic on the roads and in the forests. I've said this many times and I'll say it again - Get out there and enjoy your public lands! See you on the water...
Blazing Star ~ Mentzelia leavicaulis
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