Before I get into the details of the Lower Yuba River I
thought I would get you up to speed on what I’ve been doing during our recent
“Time Out”. Tying lots of flies has consumed my time, and filling custom orders
for long time guests of mine. It’s been a whole lot of fun to be honest and
reacquainting myself with the moves that each special pattern requires. You can
check out my flies HERE on Instagram, or HERE on my Facebook page. I’m also
riding my bike now that the snow has melted from the Highway 20 trail system. It’s
pretty rad to be able to go door to door on some epic rides from here at the
ranch. There are so many downed trees and limbs all over the trails from
the last big low elevation snowfall we had in mid March. Mother Nature’s
pruning in full effect.
Here are some ways you can help support me and keep the
machine going. First, I have 10 different educational handouts on a variety of
subjects like “Pontoon Boats for Rivers”, Lake Davis & Frenchman Lake Fly
and Hatch Info”, and “High Water Tactics” to name a few. These are very
informative handouts that are worth every penny, and at $10 a piece you will
have the PDF file forever. Go HERE to see the entire list and purchase some
through PayPal.
Many past guests are also buying full and half day trips with
no date picked out yet, just a credit for the future. You can do that as well,
or leave a deposit HERE.
Lastly you can order Baiocchi’s Troutfitters merchandise
like t-shirts, hoodies, custom bug trucker hats, water bottles, and coffee cups HERE.
So, onto the Lower Yuba River report, the weather is back to being warm and the rattlesnakes are out! I nearly stepped on this guy, just inches away! For the past two weeks
I had been getting some excellent reports from close friends who tell it like
it is. No BS, and plenty of pictures too. I went out last Tuesday with a close
friend and it sucked. My mentor Jimmy was out there too with 2 other anglers
who are great sticks and they got blanked as well. Just one of those days I
guess – That’s the Yuba for you. Our last storm was pretty significant. Deer
Creek came up quickly with a sharp spike of flows up to 4,291. It’s currently
at 84 cubes. The Lower Yuba rose to 5,465, and is perfect right now (flow wise)
at 1,085. There is color to the water and some days there is 3 feet of
visibility and other days down to 18”. This is caused by clouds of sediment
coming into Englebright reservoir from the South, Middle, and North forks of
the Yuba and passing through the dam. I’ve seen the same conditions like this
before that last for weeks after a good flushing from a heavy spring storm.
Lots of folks out fishing too, including spin anglers with
barbed treble hooks at the bridge. Saw one fly guy standing on redds upstream
of the bridge as he was hooked up. With the water being colored up I’m sure he
did not realize he was crushing eggs. Oh well, I’m not a cop, but I do like to
nicely educate people if they are willing to listen – Most don’t want to listen
LOL! The poppies, lupine and some other varieties of wildflowers mixed in are
going off right now! So cool. I must admit it was great for the soul just
hiking around through all that magnificent color. What a game changing attitude adjuster that was.
So many aquatics out right now, it’s unbelievable to be
honest. The Yuba’s bug population is off the charts and bodes well for the
future. Caddis flies everywhere including several different sizes. Olive, tan,
ginger, and bright green bodies have been observed. Believe it or not, the
Skwalas are still out and a report from Poncho last week stated there were
hundreds in the drift on the lower river for about 3 hours. Golden stones are
out as well as the salmon flies (Pteronarcys), and in pretty good populations,
more than I have ever seen on the Yuba. Yellow Sallies are out too, the smaller
ones (aloperla). Mayflies – PMDs, March Browns (I’m seeing more spinners than
duns), a few BWOs, and am waiting to see the Gray Drakes pop which should be
any day, if not already. Also some Pink Alberts in the mix too. As always after
a big runoff period and colored up water, stones, eggs, and legs under the indo
will be best if you’re all about the catching.
Overall
the Yuba is fishing decent with some spectacular days, and some off days. I’m
starting to venture up to the Northern Sierra to scout and fish, but I cannot
guide on Forest Service land at this time as there is a state wide closure for
commercial guides. All I can say during this mess is to get out and enjoy the
great outdoors, it is our saving grace. See you on the water.
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