North Fork Yuba River Fishing Report 5/19/15

The weather of late has vastly affected the North Yuba, last Friday water temps plummeted down to 42-46 just a few miles up from Downieville with a good amount of rain. As expected, fishing was slow. My guests did not really care because this was their first time exploring the most beautiful watershed in California, and they were so blown away! There are some aquatics out like Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, and a few caddis but these fish will not be looking up until the water temperatures climb to around 54. The optimum water temps for the NFYR is 58 to 60.

It’s best to focus on the lower river from the highway 49 bridge to Goodyear’s bar and fish during the warmest time of the day. In this section you can also find brown trout up to 5 pounds in the bigger plunge pools, and catching them is not easy. Today (Monday) was totally different, a nice sunny morning and the water temps came up quickly. My guest and I had rising fish throughout the day and they were very selective, something I’m not accustomed to seeing on the NFYR. Lots of bugs out like many different kinds of caddis, Little Yellow Sallies (alloperla), PMDs, Golden Stones, Little BWOs (pseudocloeon), and the one those selective trout wanted, the creamy yellow crane fly in a size 18. Effective flies include E/C caddis, yellow humpy, bwo loop wing, Mangy Prince nymph, Copper John, and the Red Headed Step Child. 

The most impressive aspect of the river right now is the wild flowers like Indian Rhubarb, and the Live Forever succulents, mixed with the glowing greenery of our recent precipitation. With more trips coming up in the next week I’ll let you know about the water temperatures – It all revolves around the temps. I have over 2 dozen beats I know like the back of my hand from the many years on the river; very few know where the important feeder creeks, springs, and plunge pools are located. My July dates are starting to fill up for the NFYR. Allow me to guide you where the wild things are, you will surely be stoked! 

Live Forever Succulents Dudleya cymosa

Bush Monkey Flower Mimulus Aurantiacus

On the banks of the North Fork Yuba River

Lake Davis Fishing Report 5/19/15

Cloudy, cold and unsettled weather haunted my guests and me last week, while dropping the water temps back down to 50 to 52 degrees. Fish are starting to rise, especially in the deeper water around the island. I have only seen a few surface next to shore which is a bit disappointing. Blood midges are out and they are big, a #10 pupa pattern is about right. Callibaetis mayflies are becoming more prevalent as well. The cold weather does not help with the Damsel hatch though, a few have been sighted swimming in the upper water column but in no way is it “game on” yet. Brown damsel patterns are very important during the early part of the hatch. Weeds are slowly starting to grow but we are a long way off from having those fertile underwater forests that grow to the surface. As far as fish behavior is concerned they are still scattered and not roaming in pods, one theory of mine is the rainbows are bigger these days, and tend to be loners while cruising for food. Stripping is starting to produce and keeping your fly about 3 to 4 feet down is best. Brown and olive wiggle tails, leeches, damsels, and Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ears have proved effective. Bobbicating is receiving the better numbers and hanging your bugs 3 to 8 feet down in 8 to 14 feet of water is sure to catch a few. Pheasant Tail flashbacks, Albino Winos, and balanced damsels are best. Overall fishing is fair. Warmer air and water temps will dictate favorable conditions. Stay tuned.

RIO Outbound Short Fly Line

RIO's Outbound Short freshwater specialty fly line covers a wide variety of applications, there is some serious science involved with the construction. A quality fly line is your most important part of the equation in your rod set up, and dictates success. With a short aggressive front taper design it is designed to cast large heavy flies at a long distance with great accuracy. This powerful front section also loads rods quickly and efficiently for effortless casts. Each line features RIO's XS technology for super slick high performance, and is built with a supple, coldwater coating that ensures the line remains tangle free. This awesome line is available in five different densities, you can check out all of the specs here: RIO Outbound Short specs

Photo courtesy of Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing

This line was made for Pyramid Lake in northern Nevada where a fast sinking line is required to get down to the strike zone for extremely large cutthroat trout while stripping flies along the sandy bottom. With minimal false casting a fly angler can punch it out to the desired distance required in a blink of an eye. In a full day of fishing this can eliminate a sore arm from repetitive casting. The I/S6 with a sink rate of 6 inches per second is the "must have" line for the famous desert lake. I've used it several times out there and I'm quite impressed, it made the difference in hook ups, and brutes in the net.

The RIO Outbound Short is also great for chucking streamers in a wide spectrum of water types, from high roily water, to skinny and clear. It's been my secret for such conditions in Northern California's famous trout waters that hold large trout on the prowl in spring and fall. 

I encourage you to check the Outbound Short and demo one at your local fly shop that features RIO Products. You will be so impressed you may want to buy the whole series of them and add them to your specialty line quiver. Technology, function, and quality - That's RIO. 

http://www.rioproducts.com/

Lake Davis Fishing Report 5/3/2015

I finally got back on the water at Lake Davis with my first two trips of the season, and how I have missed being out there with my sweetheart. Current conditions are quite strange, in some aspects conditions are way ahead and other factors about the same for this time of year. Water temps are ranging from 53-55 degrees, there is going to be some colder overnight temperatures next week which will help keep the temps stable. Water is a tad off color but not too bad. Water levels are at 56%, not scary low by any means and it only creates more habitat for the trout stalker fishing off the bank. Boat ramps; Lightning Tree is way above the water line, Camp 5 is ok only for very small boats, and Honker cove is in good shape for now.

Fish behavior is about normal for this time of year with a few exceptions. Right now fish are scattered throughout the lake, and they are roaming around looking for a good neighborhood to live in for the next few months. Most of the rainbows are in the upper water column, and a few are down on the bottom as well. I did see some rising fish in certain coves for a few hours, and then they were gone. Where to is a mystery.  I even saw a few fish still in the coves of the east side in full spawn mode. Rainbows are ranging in size of 17 to 22”.

Blood midges are out in two different sizes, 10, and 14. There is also a small gray midge hatching in a size 18. Blow in feed of Carpenter ants and the black and red burying beetles were on the surface with a few fish eating them. Fish will be keying in on these terrestrials in the next few weeks so make sure you have some Loco ants in your box. I saw my first damsel swimming towards shore, and a few early Callibaetis mayflies. Vertical presentations under the bobber have been best using Albino Wino midge pupa #10-14, and Pheasant Tail flashbacks #14-16. Mornings to noon time have been the most productive.

Overall fishing is fair. I expect big changes in the next three weeks in both aquatic insect and fish behavior. If you're interested in a guided trip I only have a few days available between now and the end of June. See you on the water… 

Lance Gray & Co Fly Fishing Tours

Lance and I are back at it again with our very popular Lake Davis Tours, and a new Tour of the North Fork Yuba River. These Tours are an excellent opportunity for fly anglers to familiarize themselves with the intricate details of these two legendary waters.

Lake Davis was made for fly-fishing. The lake is located in Plumas National Forest just outside the small mountain town of Portola, CA. The lake sits at 5,700 feet in elevation and contains huge rainbows. The lake provides abundant nutrients and fertile shallow water flats offer the best trout stalking water around.  Rainbows average 3-5 pounds with fish pushing the 6 pound range.

The Lake Davis Tour is a one of a kind. From our man on the ground, Jon Baiocchi to the way we conduct this tour, it’s unmatched.  The first step was to get Jon on our LGC staff.  Jon spends more time at Davis than any other guide. With years of fishing time on Davis along with mentors like his father and Jay Fair, Jon is a master still water specialist. Second, we looked at the tour from a different perspective. We will utilize Jon’s Tracker Pro Deep V-16 modified gullwing designed boat to conduct the tour from the water. This view of the lake will provide more insights with an enhanced comprehension of the water. With just two guests Jon will be able to focus on providing great information from access areas, to fly-fishing techniques to equipment needed to be successful at Lake Davis.

The tour is set in June, which is a perfect time for the damsel fly hatch and the uncommon but, spectacular Hexagenia hatch that appears at the lake. This is a two day tour with two guests per tour. Handouts, lunch, equipment clinic and fishing are all provided during the tour. Dates; June 15th & 16th (both spots open), and June 17th & 18th (1 spot open).

This freestone pocket water is a awesome little fishery that located just North of Nevada City. The river travels along Highway 49 with great access areas and historical communities such as Downieville and Sierra City. Jon Baiocchi and Lance Gray will be your host at this great wild treasure. The wild pocket water with built in stepping stones (boulders) make this a fun a fishery for everyone to experience. Access areas, flies, techniques, rigging and safety concerns while wading will be addressed. Anglers wishing to dry fly fish – this is the tour for you folks. Space will limited and as always a great creek side lunch will be provided. Handouts, equipments clinic, and entomology will be thoroughly covered. Limited to 6 anglers. All spots open, sign up now!

For more information and to reserve your spot contact Lance at 530-517-2204 / lancegrayandcompany@yahoo.com

The Truckee Experience ~ Fishmas Dreams

Friday's energy was building throughout the day for the Trout Unlimited Truckee Chapter #103 10th annual fund raiser, Fishmas Eve. I waivered through the hours of the day pinned in my mobile office, catching up on emails, files, and docs, trying to get my ducks in a row. I then had to prepare for a guide trip the next day. After the work was done I just sat and waited with great anticipation for the evening’s events. Fishmas is a real treat for me as I get to see my friends in the fly fishing industry, many are guides like myself, who are pressed when it comes to leisure time. Its functions like these that allow us to just hang out, share a laugh, and raise funds for the Truckee River watershed. As always, a great time was had by all, and so well done. I honestly can’t wait for next year. Special thanks to Stefan McLeod, TU #103 board members, and all of the volunteers who make this special event so successful and fun.

Finally a small decent size storm was moving in that evening with lake levels forecasted for 7”of snow, and 14” on the crest. A pretty major deal after what we have witnessed in Northern California the past 6 months. Knowing I had to perform in the morning no matter the conditions, I slept like crap. I’m bad that way, I worry about the intricate details that affect my guest’s experience, not just the numbers that end up in the net. When I woke up to 5-7 inches of snow, I knew it was going to be a long yet adventurous day. More coffee.

As the F-250 backed down onto the road from the driveway, its tires treading virgin snow, my attitude bumped up a bit and away we went. I thought to myself “Whatever it takes” and smiled. The drive was slow, it was early and most the snowplow trucks had not been out yet to clear the road. Once traveling down Hwy. 89 it got better, and by I-80 it was cake. Arriving at our meeting point, there were just traces of snow, and the storm was clearing on the lower plains of the east slope. I was 45 minutes early, a trait of mine passed down from my father to really prepare for the day. Paperwork endured in the cab of my truck. My guests showed up early too, and after meeting them and going over the game plan, we were off.

First tracks. It’s everything. By board, or by rod, getting freshies has some major valor to it; it’s the feather in your cap. I love the quietness in the Sierra after a snow storm, it’s so still that it seems time stops. The surrounding land was so glorious out, and so surreal that it took my breath away. My guests, who were from Las Vegas, have only been fly fishing for a year, but they have the sickness badly. They are walking sponges, looking for any information while climbing the staircase of progression. When they shared with me that they could care less about catching, and wanted nothing other than learning technical nymphing presentations, it made me smile. I love nothing more to see new fly anglers with such ambition for the sport. The bonus for them was each hooking into a few nice wild trout, and admiring the beauty that they glow. The meadow was alive with songbirds, providing an orchestra of majestic melodies that is so enlightening for your soul. We could all feel her love, as Mother Nature danced around us.

It’s so rewarding to see beginner fly anglers reach the next level and more in just a matter of hours. I’m so fortunate to be able to share and teach my passion, and the knowledge I have experienced over the decades. It’s very clear now why I was put on this earth, what my role is, and why it’s important for me to continue my quest of educating the masses about fly fishing, trout, the flora, the fauna, and the Zen of it all.

The fresh snow had melted leaving only fond memories of the morning while omitting a fresh smell across the mountain valley. Though our day was done, both of my guests were so stoked that you could see and feel the sparkle in their eyes. They both knew just how lucky they were to be able to share a day with their host in the Sierra, and live “The Truckee Experience”.

Reno Fly Shop ~ Lower Yuba River Presentation 4/23/2015

High in the Sierra Nevada mountains three watersheds and the rivers that drain from there come together to make one vast river; The Lower Yuba. Snow melt and springs are the beginnings of the North, Middle, and South Forks of the Yuba, as gravity pulls the precious flows down to the Sacramento Valley. As the forks of Yuba come together they rest in Englebright reservoir, it’s below this flood control dam where the Lower Yuba River is born. A tail water fishery that is both complex and very moody. The river has an extremely rich aquatic insect population, strong wild rainbow trout, and Chinook salmon and steelhead. The lay of the land is the start of the Sierra foothills, with its rolling landscape, native grasses, valley oaks, and cobble stones for miles.

The Lower Yuba River is a must fly fishing experience. It’s a river that has all the essential qualities that makes it a top destination spot, and offers fly anglers many different opportunities to choose from. The highlight here is the winter dry fly fishing, where hunting heads and technical presentations reward the angler. Whether it is stalking the banks, or drifting by boat, It's alway a serious challenge. The Lower Yuba can be fished year round, and becomes an important venue for anglers from the Tahoe-Truckee and Reno area during the winter time. Only 1.5 hours to 2 hours away, it can provide a warmer climate, and an escape from the cold east wind that can haunt the Tahoe-Truckee and Reno area..

I'll be speaking on Thursday the 23rd of April, at the Reno Fly Shop. Through my guidance, I will take the audience on a virtual tour of the river describing the history, access points with maps, techniques, tactics, flies, and entomology. This is a program you do not want to miss as my Power Point presentations are extremely informative, and entertaining. If you would like to attend the free April 23rd presentation, and learn more about the Lower Yuba River, come down to the RenoFly Shop. Doors open at 6 pm, followed by my program at 7 pm. Learning this fishery is a golden ticket in your back pocket, and money well spent.

Native Sons Truckee Tour 6/28/15

The CONCEPT---Through many years of guiding fly anglers in the Tahoe-Truckee and Plumas County areas; both Jon Baiocchi and Frank R. Pisciotta have noticed a trend. Many of their experienced fly angling clients visiting for the first time or having previously fished the area expressed an interest in becoming more familiar with the idiosyncrasies of the local “wild trout” fisheries; hoping to minimize their “prospecting” time. They engaged Jon or Frank’s services with their prime focus being an orientation to local waters; being guided and catching trout being secondary.These fly anglers want to be briefed about:

1---Most productive techniques

2---Local bugs and respective fly patterns

3---Seasonally ideal angling times

4---Key access points of selected waters

Jon and Frank are “born & raised” northern Californians with a combined 50 years of guiding fly anglers exclusively on their “home waters” and 90 years of fly fishing. The tour information dispensed is reliable, timely and ingrained from Jon and Frank’s vast experience. Simply, experience does count. They have always tailored guide trips to the specific desires and skills of the individual client and have planned guest’s time accordingly. Hence the genesis of Native Sons Tours; to provide a group of experienced fly rodders a short learning curve and cost-effective investment in their angling time.

The SPECIFICS---The Tour is designed to give fly anglers what they need to know to be successful when venturing onto special regulation sectors of the Big Truckee, from the town of Truckee to Hirschdale, and the Little Truckee below Stampede dam. Tours are limited to six (6). Jon and Frank know they can easily enroll more tour guests, but they want to assure a high quality experience. Fly fishers will learn of access points, equipment, tactics, techniques, flies, entomology, and local inside knowledge. The Tour Packet consists of maps, essays on both waters, and a hatch chart. A bonus is a print-out of the original Truckee & Little Truckee Tips. During the auto tour anglers provide their own transportation. Lunch and drinks are included. After lunch we wader up and split into two fishing groups; similar to a guide trip.

DATES: June 28     

FEE: $200 per Angler

.Contact and Inquiries:

Jon Baiocchi---530.228.0487 | baiocchistroutfitters@yahoo.com

Frank R. Pisciotta---530.587.7333 | cyberfly@cyberfly.com

Middle Fork Feather River Opener Report 4/7/2015

What I thought was going to be an epic opener on the MFFR turned out to be a bust. Water temperatures will always dictate whether the fishing the first weekend of April will be successful, or not here. When the thermometer barked out 45 degrees in the water, I knew it would be fruitless. I still probed the many runs and pools with a hope for a bent rod. I could have cared less really. A light snow fell from the sky, while solitude cloaked me with only the sound of the river reverberating in my ears. It was glorious. It's times like these I feel the great creator's presence, a humbling state of mind that sets a rhythm of peace and calmness.

The Middle Fork Feather River is extremely low, like the flows of the fall season. I was not shocked by any means, but it does put everything into perspective; how the ecosystem relies on a snowpack that gives life to the land. I expect the river to become fishable by May 1st, or when the water temps bump up above 50 degrees. Nymph rigs will dominate early with San Juan worms, and small mayfly nymphs like Copper Johns, and bead head Pheasant Tail flashbacks. Forget about dry fly fishing until the water warms up near the upper 50's. A good strategy during the early season on the MFFR is to fish above where feeder creeks come in, these inflows will be carrying the colder water from the upper elevations cooling down the river below it. Side sloughs are another venue to seek out, and if they are deep enough stripping streamers is an option to hook into the bigger trout in the system.

It will be a short lived season on the MFFR, and it could be done by the middle of June. Sure, there will be some evening opportunities with dry flies, but that will wane as well. The only good thing I see from the river being low is that the carp and bass fishing in the upper watershed will be good. The warm water species will be more concentrated, and sight fishing will be easier. Let's pray we get a few more pulses of precipitation in the months to come before the faucet is turned off. It's really all we can do at this point.

RIO Suppleflex Leaders

Last year I was introduced to the RIO Suppleflex leader by my good friend Tom Page of Reel Anglers fly shop in Grass Valley. immediately we concurred that this leader would make a great addition to swinging soft hackles on the Lower Yuba River. The Suppleflex offered more, and after a full year of using it, I can say it has opened up many more doors of presentations. 

The leader itself is soft and supple, just as the name implies. It comes in 2 different lengths, 9 foot, and 13.5 feet. I prefer the 13.5, it turns over well, and for technical fly first dry fly presentations to wary educated trout, it can't be beat. The leader is so soft that it tames the many micro currents that can affect your fly in having too much drag. The RIO Suppleflex leader has proven without a doubt to me as a key component for successful dry fly fishing.

The other door that this leader opened for me, was bringing it into the still water arena. The RIO Suppleflex 13.5 performed magnificently with the damsel hatch at Lake Davis last spring. The top green section of the leader blended in nicely with the surrounding weed beds, and the softness of the leader gave my damsel imitations a little more life, especially using a closed loop knot. The long length also helped in keeping the fly line well away from those spooky trout in shallow water. 

The Suppleflex leader provides so many different oppertunities when it comes to delivering your fly, check one out on your next trip, you won't be disappointed. 

http://www.rioproducts.com/

Lower Yuba River Fishing Report 3/25/15

The Lower Yuba River is on fire right now with abundant hatches of March Browns, and Pink Alberts! This is it, exceptional dry fly fishing but as usual on the Lower Yuba bring you’re A game, you're going to need it. It was so intense at one point today we just stopped fishing, and watched the show. Observations can be the best teacher if you’re willing to take a break, and learn. Fishing pressure was light today, flows are at 576 cubes with a minimal Deer Creek factored in, and water temps have bumped up a bit to 53 degrees.

My guests and I started out nymphing today with very little action, then at 10 am all hell broke loose. Wild rainbows started to rise everywhere, and many in very skinny water. We hooked several nice fat rainbows 17-20”, landing them was an issue though. When hooked these superior athletes of a trout turn on the afterburners and rocket downstream. Sometimes you just can’t stop them.

The Skwala hatch is waning, but keep in mind these fish will still look for them in the afternoons in the side water foam lines. Right now it’s all about the March Browns and the Pinkies, whether on top or a drowned emerger just below the film. Effective dries; March Brown Sparkle Comparaduns #14, Parachute Pink Alberts #14, and Quigley’s Pink Albert Hackle Stackers #16. 5x tippet will get more grabs but be easy on the fight, or you’ll pop the knot in an instant. One tip I will share is your dry fly presentation must be fly first, downstream, without any drag, while bump mending and paying out line for long drifts. It’s a hard presentation to master, but a learned skill that will decide success or failure. Yeah, this is it, now is the time on the Lower Yuba. Seek your quest.

Lupine reaching for the sky on the banks of the Lower Yuba.

Lost Coast Outfitters Middle Fork Feather River Clinic

Middle Fork of the Feather River Clinic presented by Jon Baiocchi

Fly fishing guide Jon Baiocchi will take you on a journey of the Middle Fork of the Feather River explaining different reaches of the river, techniques, and showing the varied flies that will make your next outing a success.

Clinic date: June 6^th, 2015

Where to meet: Graeagle Outpost, 8am

Jon will be instructing 4 anglers total on the finer points of:

-Setting up common rigs.
-Entomology & Fly choice.
-Multiple public access points.
-Casting.
-Fishing etiquette.
-How to identify trout holding water.
-How to consistently catch trout on the Middle Fork of the Feather.
-Tips and tricks from a professional.

1 spot available as of 3/26/15

Bring your own lunch, rods and reels, flies and everything you need to fish. A gear list will be provided for you upon sign up.

$200.00 per non-member

$150.00 per member of Lost Coat Outfitters

Email Jon at baiocchistroutfitters@yahoo.com or adventures@lostcoastoutfitters to sign up and reserve your spot today!

Contact Lost Coast Outfitters at (415).483.2278 for more info.

Truckee Guide Network Annual Board Meeting

Every spring The Truckee Guide Network gets together for a fish out, and discusses the upcoming season. Ideas are thrown around, and the details of such are refined. Most importantly we do what we do best, making perfect presentations with a hope of hooking the snag that moves...

Thy Rod & Staff

Maher's Guide Service

Baiocchi's Troutfitters

TTFF Presentation 3/19/2015 ~ Lower Yuba / North Fork Yuba River

This coming Thursday on March 19th I will be presenting my Lower Yuba / North Fork Yuba River PowerPoint at the Tahoe Truckee Fly Fisher's monthly meeting. I will be showcasing over 200 slides of beautiful photography, maps showing access points, and diagrams. You'll learn about the history of the watershed, techniques & tactics, entomology, and the go to flies that match each hatch.

The meeting will be held at the Truckee Rec Center, doors open at 6 pm, followed by the general meeting. After business has been taken care, my stellar program will be center stage that is sure to unlock a few mysteries, and answer the tough questions on the Lower Yuba River, a legendary tail water, and the awesome canyon water of the NFYR. Admission is free, so there is no reason not to be there. I hope to see you all!