On Monday March 30th, my guest Nick hooked this athlete in a very swift run on a Redding Fly Shop March Brown parachute. It was a long and fierce battle that required light pressure while fighting it on 5X tippet. Biggest fish ever landed by a guest of mine in the 10 years I have been guiding the river.
December 29th marked the first day I saw a Skwala adult crawling about on the cobblestones. For the last 3 months this medium sized stoner has provided some incredible dry fly fishing. As of last Tuesday, they were still out in force. 2020 - The year of the Skwala Stonefly will never be forgotten.
There is nothing like being able to approach a pod of rising fish 15 feet away while being camouflaged by the blurry water of a side current meeting the main flow. The shorter your presentation is, the more likely you'll have a successful hook set.
Fellow Gold Country Fly Fishers member Dave Earl sitting side saddle on his kayak while drifting a nymph rig through the Aquarium. A new and different technique I had never seen before.
With the dry and warm spell of weather in the middle of winter, caddis flies were hatching earlier than normal. Populations of the adults have really increased in the last two weeks with many different sizes out. Bright green, tan, and ginger body colors seem to be the most prolific.
Some folks think the Yuba Gold Fields are an ugly backdrop. I disagree...Especially in Spring time.
The long battle Nick had with the taped 22" athlete. The water was so swift he had to slowly wade backwards into the shoreline for the net job. I'll be honest...We got lucky.
This colorful wild Yuba River rainbow was caught with 8 feet of line out and fell for a Unit Skwala with a fly first presentation under the overhanging willows by my guest. Pure magic.
I spotted my first of the year Golden Stone adult last week. The population is much smaller than the Skwala stones, but you got love the fact that the trout have the opportunity to eat a floating prime rib dinner.
Home of the March Brown clinger mayfly nymph...The fast riffles.
I had many private pontoon workshops this winter, and the conditions for such couldn't have been better. It's awesome to be able to share the "freedom of the drift" with my guests and show them how to set up their craft, to rowing techniques, and proper etiquette when encountering other anglers fishing from the bank, and professional guides in drift boats.
A common sight like this happened many times in the last 3 months while playing the Skwala game. We didn't always get them in the net, but the hunt alone is so addicting, and super satisfying.
The head of Shaw's riffle on a spectacular Spring day - Pure bliss.
The nymphal shuck of Pteronarcys californica, aka the Salmon fly. An even smaller population than the Golden stone exists on the Yuba River. The biggest of the big bugs at nearly 3 inches long.
Explore your natural world...See ya on the water!
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