Lower Yuba River Fly Fishing Report 9/26/2018

It sure is nice to be working close to home again, in another month I will be making another transition to guiding the Lower Yuba River full time until the end of March. Currently the flows are at 750 cubes and the water is clear. Flows are perfect for the ability to cross the river but know your limits and be careful. Yesterday an older fly angler was crossing upstream of Shaw’s riffle and fell. He was quickly sucked into the current and tumbled for about 150 feet. My client and I saw this happen and quickly went for the rescue, we were lucky to be able to grab his wading staff and pull him in. He panicked which made the situation worse, but thankfully he will live to fish another day, though he’ll have buy another rod as his is lost at sea. His legs were very banged up with goose eggs and blood, it was gnarly. If you do happen to fall in, go with the current on your back with your legs in front of you while back paddling with your arms to the closest side of the river. Never panic and keep your cool. 

Fishing pressure is extremely light with plenty of access areas void of other anglers. The salmon are in the system and are already on redds, one particular redd had 3 adults on it yesterday, today I counted 7. For walk and wade anglers, be sure to avoid walking through any redds and give them a wide birth. Remember this is an entirely wild population of salmon, steelhead, and trout, and they need all the help they can get to perpetuate the species.

Seine samples were light with free living caddis (Ryacophila and Hydropsyche) being the most prolific, other nymphs included PMDs, Baetis, Stub Wing Stones, and tiny scuds size 20. In the air a few summer stones and sporadic BWOs. There is some fish rising in the afternoons in known areas where fish tend to pod up. For selective eaters try an ant pattern. Hoppers are still being taken, especially on windy afternoons. Swinging Black leeches has seen some action as well, an old standard on the Lower Yuba River. Conditions will continue to get better on a weekly basis as we go deeper into fall. It’s time to start painting those beads up with your favorite recipe. See you on the water.