Lower Yuba River Fishing Report 1/27/2016 ~ Skwala Stoneflies!

I’ve been on the river the last two days with my guests and have a very clear picture of the current conditions through observations. First off the river has really come down into shape, currently Englebright Dam is releasing 667 cubes, and Deer Creek is way down at 65 cfs. The water clarity is the issue that has put a bit of a damper on successful fishing. Yesterday it was about a foot and a half, and today it went from 2 to 3 feet. The side water away from the main flow is much clearer. I had heard that after the big spike of water that came down last week that the river had changed with a lot of cobble moving. I guided both the lower river and above the Hwy. 20 bridge and found neither to be true. There is still grass imbedded on the banks and in the river, and the aquatic insects barely were affected. I found numerous bugs while flipping rocks below the water’s surface including many baetis nymphs, golden stones, skwala stones, and free living caddis (Rhyachophila). What did get dislodged during the big flows was finer gravel, stones smaller than a baseball, and finally the algae that chokes the aquatic insects was scraped away. This is very good news that contributes to a healthier river. 

Due to the off clarity the fishing has been slow, but then again my guests and I were focused on the dry fly because the skwala stones are out! In fact today I saw at least 4 dozen that I counted. They were in the willows, amongst the cobble stones on shore, in the air flying, and on the water placidly drifting down with the currents. That’s the advantage of the walk and wade angler as they can observe conditions better than anglers and guides in drift boats. We had very few grabs today and no rainbows in the net, mostly due to the very off color water. We did see a few fish take some skwala adults on the side water, those explosive rise forms are hard to miss. Another cool surprise was seeing some fresh Gray Drake shucks on the cobbles near the water’s edge, and a few flyers in the air. Other aquatics witnessed today included a few blue wing olives, pinkie mayflies, and a couple yellow sallies. The fishing may have been slow but the weather today was to die for, warm and sunny. I’ve been waiting a long time for a pleasant day like today. It was awesome!

Another round of heavy rain is forecasted from Friday into Saturday with very high snow levels at 8,000 to 9,000 feet. The second phase of the storm will be much colder with a chance of snow in the foothills. Another weak system moves in Monday into Tuesday with a chance of a 10 day dry period after such. With heavy rain and high snow levels (think melting snow) there’s a good chance to see high flows again on the Lower Yuba River, and be blown out again. We’ll have to wait and see how the conditions pan out. If so, the last half of the forecasted dry spell could allow us to once again to ply the shores with a skwala dry. Good luck out there, and see you on the river.

1/30 UPDATE: The Yuba is blown! Currently at around 14,000 cubes with Deer Creek at 1,100 cfs. 

Lower Yuba River Fishing Report 1/17/16

The parade of storms just keeps on marching through and we are in for it this week. Currently we have heavy rain in Nevada City which is supposed to last through tomorrow. For a complete forecast for the Lower Yuba River in the next week, click here. I've been out very little but was able to scout around a few days ago when we had a little break in the rain. I was surprised at how little the fishing pressure was at the area I was lurking in. Currently Englebright dam is releasing 576 cubes, and Deer Creek has been yoyoing up and down from 125 to 443 cfs. Conditions will be very different at the end of the week in all aspects of levels, color, and flow. *My how things can change quickly, currently at 8am this morning on the 18th Englebright is at 7,058 cfs, and Deer Creek is running at 3,130 cfs. That's a combined flow of 10,188 cubes - Blown!

I have two reliable reports from my crew that there is a small population of Skwala stoneflies out and seeking shelter under the cobble, staying out of the weather. There must be some females on the water already ovipositing because they have been catching rainbows on skwala dries. For the two days they were on the water they got into 4 to 6 fish each. It's early for the hatch with these colder conditions, but as soon as that sun pops out for a few days it will get those stoners on the move. There has also been some sporadic blue wing olive hatches, and Tom Page of Reel Anglers fly shop stated on the Denis Peirce radio show that there are some pinkie mayflies in the mix too.

Overall fishing has improved but still one day is good and the next just fair, typical of the moody Lower Yuba River. Effective flies have been Jimmy Legs stones, Hogan's S&M, Copper Johns, Flashback Pheasant Tails, San Juan worms, and 8 to 10mm eggs. For dries the Sparkle Comparadun has been consistently producing. This week is a good time to tie some flies and stock the boxes with a hope of a break to cure the shack nasties. I've updated my website with current news and some new content. Click the logo text below to check it out. 

Baiocchi's Troutfitters

Streamer Candy For Big Trout / Steelhead

It's a known fact that big flies catch big fish, but don't be surprised if a smaller fish attacks your 4 inch streamer. Not many fly anglers choose the path of swinging, and stripping meat flies, but in my opinion, it's a technique all anglers should have in their tool belt. Articulated streamer flies have been all the rage in the last few years, I tied my first one (the rainbow trout as shown above) in 2004 for the aggressive brown trout on the Madison River in Montana. This pattern is a true Double Bunny, the more water soaked it gets, the more it flows and becomes alive. The top three flies were tied by Tayler Wells of Tailwalker Guide Service and could be used for both trout and steelhead. I need to take some tying lessons from him as these streamers are truly a work of art.

The Green Zonker has been a long time favorite of mine. It's the fly that allowed me to hook into numerous 20 to 24" fish on the Madison River. Even more impressive is when my buddies and I fished it at night there, it was responsible for a 28 and 33" brown trout. Rabbit hair is amazing as it breathes and pulsates in the currents.

Fishing streamers on the Truckee River in winter time can be very productive with an array of different swings and stripping techniques. These different presentations can be learned in Lance Gray's Streamer Workshop that I'll be teaching at. The date is March 5th and there are only a few spots open at this time. Contact Lance to get enrolled. By the way, yellow/brown streamers with copper flash are deadly on the Truckee River. Adding the streamer game to your arsenal can pay off with possibly the fish of a lifetime. 

See ya on the water.....

Openings For Tours & Workshops With Lance Gray & Company

For 2016 Lance and I have a number of Tours and Workshops available for the fly fishing community to participate in. February and the early part of March are two big months for us and I just wanted to make everyone aware of the status of these dates. Our 2/6/16 Lower Yuba Tour is booked, and the 2/20/16 tour is now booked as well. The Tour consists of 6 anglers with Lance and me instructing and guiding on the water. We'll show you the different access areas, fishing techniques including nymphing, dry flies, and swinging, reading water, casting, and how to stalk wary rainbows during the skwala hatch when they're on the side water. The Tour includes informative handouts, the best map of the Lower Yuba River out there, and a streamside lunch. Besides learning a great deal, you'll be in a social setting meeting other anglers just like you whose life revolves around fly fishing. Expansive knowledge is shared during these tours, and something we all yearn for while deciphering the currents. Our fly fishing symposium is booked for 2/21/16, as is our Lower Yuba River Tour on the 26th.

A 30" brown taken on a streamer by Chris Maher of Maher's Guide Service photo by Justin Andereson

March 5th Lance and I are offering a streamer clinic on the Lower Yuba River. This is your chance to learn how to huck the meat and potato fly patterns that allure Mr. Big into grabbing your offering. Techniques, patterns, lines, leader construction, areas to target, and inside clues will be covered. Handouts and a streamside lunch are included. Like steelheading, you may have to make hundreds of casts, but when you get a grab with fishing big streamers, it could be a fish of a lifetime. 4 spots are open at this time. 

March 6th brings another one of our Pontoon Workshops on the Lower Yuba River. You'll learn how to safely navigate and operate a pontoon boat on moving water, and the best way to set up your boat including carrying your rod, dry bag storage, proper inflation of bladders, oar specifications, and anchor systems. Also included in the pontoon workshop is basic paddling strokes, pivots, and how to move from one side of the river to the other. You'll also learn techniques like feathering your oars, back strokes, forward strokes, jogging, scissor pivots, one oar pivots, slowing down your speed, tackling rapids, avoiding obstacles, and setting up your boat.

All these vacant spots can be filled by contacting Lance Gray at Lance Gray & Company, or myself at Baiocchi's Troutfitters. Here is your opportunity to expand your horizon on the many different disciplines of fly fishing. I hope you can join us in these fantastic future programs!

Lower Yuba River Fishing Report 12/29/2015

It’s been really cold in the foothills and on the Lower Yuba River the last week with temperatures hovering in the high twenties in the morning. We even had a dusting of snow yesterday morning. The good news is the fishing is steadier than the past 3 weeks. Nymphing is getting the job done right now and transition zones from riffles to the edge of deeper water has been very productive. Nymph rigs with Jimmy Leg stones, or red San Juan worms with small mayfly nymph droppers is key. Effective dropper flies have been Hogan’s olive S&M, his Little Amigo in dark brown, and flashback Pheasant Tails in very small sizes #18 to 20. 

Many anglers think that some runs are always effective but here’s the truth; the fish reside where the majority of the food is, and they will move great distances to find such. Current flows from Englebright are bouncing around from 648 to 656 cubes, and Deer Creek is trickling in at 19 cfs. I have found a few skwala stones staging in the side water awaiting emergence, but we need a little warmer weather to get them going. I have not seen very much mayfly activity as well. Long range weather forecast is calling for a week of sunny weather with some clouds. The following week could offer a parade of storms marching through. Our snowpack in the Tahoe area is at 110% of normal. Keep it coming Mother Nature.

Mark your calendars for January 21st to the 24th for the annual International Sportsmen’s Expo in Sacramento. I’ll be speaking on the 22nd at 4:30pm with a Lake Davis Presentation, followed by a very informative Lower Yuba River presentation at 1:30pm on the 24th. The ISE programs director has brought in a bunch of new blood this year at both the fly fishing theater, and the casting pond. Many of these top Nor Cal guides are on the Lost Coast Outfitters team and you can assure you’ll learn something while being there. Here’s hoping everyone has a safe and Happy New Year, 2016 is going to go off!

Lake Davis, Little Truckee River, Lower Yuba River, North Fork Yuba, And Small Creeks ~ The Year In Review

Every year a few weeks before Christmas I reminisce about what transpired through the year of my adventures, trips, and general shenanigans. I’ll lean back in my office chair and just zone out, daydreaming and reliving the highs and the lows. I’ll think about the fish that were caught, the ones that got away, and most importantly, the interactions of good times with my guests. To be honest, it’s pretty awesome to be able to stop time and think back. I’m lucky to have found a schedule that involves many watersheds and still waters as my season rotates around me. My year is different than most guides, I have the availability and permits to work three different National Forests, plus no man’s land; the valley rivers. My year starts on the banks of the Lower Yuba River until the end of March. Then it’s off to the Little Truckee, the Middle Fork Feather River, and Lake Davis whenever ice out happens. This continues until the end of May, and after that it’s all Lake Davis until water temps become too warm. I jump over the hill and concentrate on the North Fork Yuba River which provides cold water and the perfect classroom for my beginning students. As September rolls around I’m back at Lake Davis, but also squeezing in a few more trips on the North Fork Yuba. Once Lake Davis starts to ice up I’m back down the hill and ready for a break (ha ha, yeah right), and I’m right back where I began this; The year in review.

The skwala hatch on the Lower Yuba River this year was pretty damn good despite low water levels and gin clear water. The odds were against us but we managed some great days. I always learn a little bit more about this hatch, and the other great hatches by being on the water and seeing first hand the clues that are offered. I had a great float with Tom Page of Reel Anglers on a day off, it's always enlightening to spend a day with a guide who knows the river so well. The Lower Yuba Tours headed by Lance Gray and myself was well received again by all those that attended. To really get to know the Yuba and gain the confidence needed to be successful on your own; look no further. Besides the skwalas, I think the next best hatch was the Pinkies, followed by the March Browns. The Lower Yuba River is moody, unpredictable, and challenging - And that's the addiction for my guests and I. 

Though my time on the Little Truckee is short, it's still a great experience to be out there and sharing the knowledge. As we all know, it can be a tough game in the catching department, but that just makes one a better angler. The highlight for me this year was not just the fishing, but how many warblers and songbirds were migrating through. I could close my eyes while leaning back on a big tuft of native grass and be content with the sweet melodies of the birds pouring down the valley. We did not see that much surface action while I was there, but enough of a 2 hour window at times to get my guests stoked and hooked up. I learned even more about this special place from my good buddy Chris Maher, and Da Dean of Guides Frank Pisciotta. Good times for sure.

One of my favorite weekends this year was the Small Streams Clinic, another Lost Coast Outfitters joint effort to teach students how to best approach a small body of water and do some creekn’. I was joined with guide Tayler Wells for this two day escape into the wild. Though we were rained on, and found some creeks void of water, we had a blast! The biggest surprise was when one of our guests hooked the biggest rainbow I’ve ever seen in the canyon section of Jamison creek, 13”! I’m looking forward to next year and spreading the knowledge with another clinic.

Normally I put many days on the Middle Fork Feather River, but on the third year of a serious drought I’ve never seen the river so filled with silt and very little holding water. I did one trip this year and it was a workshop in conjunction with Lost Coast Outfitters. My students learned many things and a feel for where to go and what to use once the river returns to normal. Still though, if the fishing is not the best, the Middle Fork Feather does offer solitude and beauty. With a decent snowpack already, I hope this river gets flushed, and is ready to give up some offerings next season.

The damselfly hatch at Lake Davis was awesome this year, especially during the first part of the hatch. As time went on, the resident rainbows wised up and had a PhD in deciphering a natural from an artificial. We learned even more this year with the low water, and where they prefer to go during such conditions. The Lake Davis Still Water Outings were once again a big hit, special thanks to Rob Anderson for doing most of the work, and giving our guests the best time possible. It’s a must experience. The Hex hatch was very different this year and the bugs were hatching in some very unusual places. It’s all about the last half hour of light. My last day was July 7^th on Lake Davis as water temperatures became too warm, and I knew it was time to head to cooler water.

July and August on the North Fork Yuba River is absolutely the best, The sun is out, it's warm, wet wading in the cool water, and small wild rainbows on the dry fly. I got a lot of feedback from other anglers and guides that the river was too low to fish. That's nonsense. Yeah, the river was low, but it only concentrates the fish into the deeper pools, and pockets. No need to worry about warm water temps either since there are so many springs in the upper watershed. As a guide, the river saved me this year with 38 trips completed, while other waters were too low and warm to guide on. The experience that the North Fork Yuba provides is unmatched. Canyon water, insane views, double digit catch numbers, and solitude. I'm really looking forward to next year and rock hopping my way upstream through the plunge pools.

In late Summer Ken Hanley of Pacific Extremes, myself, and our good friend John had another video project in the works while chasing the elusive "Golden Ghost". Water temps were cooling down quickly on the Middle Fork Feather River, and we were running out of time. All of us do not like to rush out productions if the content is not right. We opted to finish the project in the summer of 2016. I'll let you know when it's a wrap.

September was excellent at Lake Davis with dry flies when the Blood Midges and Callibaetis Mayflies were hatching. But the famous month of October failed again for the second year in a row. Low water levels left many productive flats high and dry, so the fish went deep on the east side and consumed Daphnia (zooplankton) as their meal. I also think the population of rainbows in the lake is very low. I keep logs of catch rates, and every season for the past three years they have been lower and lower. The best case scenario is they plant the lake with big numbers, and the water levels come up. Only time will tell.

It's back to the Lower Yuba as we wait for the skwala stones to appear. I can hardly contain myself thinking of a good drift and the aggressive take from a hot rainbow with line peeling out at Mach 3. I want to take this time to thank all my guests who joined me in the quest of adventure and true fun. I also want to thank all the guides and others from the fly fishing industry who support me, including the fly shops I network with that have been so generous. 2015 was a good year despite the drought. 2016 will be even better. I'm going to turn it up a few notches and continue to provide the best service available, and teaching the ways of the fly and rod. Happy holidays!