Caples Creek and Silver Fork American River High Water Warning

AbelBoy · Senior Member

Caples Creek and Silver Fork American River High Water Warning

brian clemens · Senior Member

wow that really sucks. when are they starting this. that way i can get up there and fish it before it happens.

AbelBoy · Senior Member

I was told about this over the weekend.� The drawdown is supposed to start today.

AbelBoy

brian clemens · Senior Member

well there goes that idea

drifter · Senior Member

JMO and I fished Caples Creek a few weeks back, wasn't much to get excited about.�Was planning on hitting up silver at some point though, oh well theres always next year.

shon42073 · Senior Member

Thanx for the tidbit of info Abelboy. I had planned to fish it again in the next month or so. I guess thats not gonna happen.

Flying Dutchman · Senior Member

I, too, was planning on fishing there for a couple of hours, as a leg stretcher, on the way to visit my father-in-law in Carson City...Thanks for the heads-up AbelBoy!

iFish · Senior Member

Thanks Abelboy! I was planning a weekend trip to the Silver Fork this weekend to introduce a newbie to fly fishing. Well, that looks like its a bust. Perhaps the East Carson and Wolf Creek instead?

Anyone got any ideas out there without heading all the way up to the Upper Sac or Mcloud? How's the Stan been fishing lately?

Thanks again...

brian clemens · Senior Member

ill be on the east carson tomorrow. that would be a great spot for a newbie to start. it wont be stocked with planters, but for those that servived they will be easier to get. but i would say the east carson for the scenery and easy wading and if the fish are on they are on.

hopper dropper combos are a go. dry fly droppers as well. yellow humbys, elk hair caddis, sloan paralizers 14-16, for droppers, pupahs, midges, stoneflies, micro mays. hope this helps.

iFish · Senior Member

Hey Brian.... Yeah, I was thinking maybe the Carson. I had it all to myself and an amazing day on drys three weeks ago. Are you going below Hangman's Bridge or above?

Wonder how the North Fork of the Yuba is fishing these days? Heard any news?

drifter · Senior Member

was there last weekend, consistent all day, drys and nymphs, nothing bigger than 14" though (but that doesnt mean there arent bigger fish).� fished from siera city all the way down to downieville, and fished a little bit above siera city also near bassets. nymphs: red copper john was the hot ticket, for drys: elk hair caddis and parachute adams, although i think any well presented dry would have done the trick.

iFish · Senior Member

Hey thanks, Drifter! Haven't heard much patter on The NF of the Yuba lately, so you're info is well recieved. When its on...it can be very on. Also, did you happen to notice any unusual amounts of crowding in the campgrounds when you were moving up and down river? We're camping out and hoping to avoid crowds as best we can. Hoping to stay along the NF river, or if too crowded, stay at a campground near one of the lake areas up on Gold Lakes Basin road.

Did you find it consistent all up and down river or was there an area that produced better for you (Bassett's, Special Regs Section, Sierra City, Downieville)? Sorry for the thousand questions, Drifter. Last minute planning after hearing about Silver Fork and Caples blowout.

Again, thanks...

drifter · Senior Member

As far as the crowds go, they were your pretty typical weekend crowds, most of the camping spots full, but some opennings.� As far as the most consistent fishing, it really was all pretty consistent.� If you like to throw drys, and dont mind the size of the fish (i.e 6 "ers), once you leave siera city and before you get to bassets, pull of the side of the road and walk up as far as you can, plenty of fish to be had.� However, i personally enjoyed fishing the wild trout section the most, between siera city and ladies canyon (a few miles up from downieville).� The scenerey and size of the fish are a little better.� Fished pretty much the entire wild trout section, which was all pretty consistent.� However, as you would expect, in the middle of that section, where there is less pressure, as most acess points are either at the beggining or the end of the wild trout section, seemed to be a little more consistent, in that the fish were consistently bigger (bigger than 6 inches anyways).� I didnt fish below donwyville but i hear good things about where goodyear creek comes in ( i think thats what its called).� good luck up there, ill be on the yuba this weekend as well, just not the NF. (Lower)

-- Edited by drifter at 12:27, 2008-07-25

drifter · Senior Member

just found this on another site, thought you might be interested Ifish, its a recent post from aroudn downiville:
Downieville 7/21-7/22
Yesterday at 8:00pm �

Went up to Downieville to spend time with family. �Managed to get out on the N. Yuba near town Monday evening and Tuesday morning. �Dry fly action was definately phenomenal, although it was certainly quantity over quality. �Most fish small natives 4"-8". �All rainbows with beautiful color. �Did manage to hook into a few 12" planters that I kept for my family that I was visiting. �I got rises to on at least 3/4 of my total casts. �BWO, PMD, and Caddis imitations, with the Caddis definately being the hot go to fly. �Even Tuesday, fished until early afternoon with dry's and was very successful. �Didn't do any nymphing or streamers because I really didn't have to. �I do remember a teenagerhood of catching nice browns off streamers in the bank undercuts. �Should have tried, but hard to get off the dry's when you are having so much fun

iFish · Senior Member

Awesome, Drifter! NF of the Yuba it is. In fact, packing the car right now and heading up. Looks like my 4wt. dry fly rod is going to get a work out this weekend. My newbie fly fishing friend on this trip should get some action as well.

Thanks again. I'll post a fish report when I return.

AbelBoy · Senior Member

Just talked to a buddy who did a drive-by of the Silver Fork. The water is high, but fishable. It isn't blown out like a lot of people (including myself) thought. Just make sure to watch your step if you get into the water.

AbelBoy

brian clemens · Senior Member

above the confluence of caples creek and silver fork is not blown out. just so you all know.

iFish · Senior Member

AbelBoy, you say the Silver Fork is not blown out? This might be worth checking out in the weeks to come.

As promised, a fish report from the NF Yuba this last weekend (Sunday/Monday).

Just as Drifter said, lots and lots of 6" to 10" wild 'bows all up and down the river. Three at maybe 12"s all weekend long. But, it was still fun. Place the first cast well, and bam, a fish. Then there were times when all you had to do was just hit the water, period. Perfect for my newbie fly fishing friend. Caught fish too.

Size 14-16 general patterns, and all drys was the order of the day. Tried a dropper rig for a while, but that was futile. Stick with drys, lot more fun. And, just keep moving.

Fished above Ladies Canyon and above Loganville Campground. Awesome wet wading weather. Didn't see a soul on the river both days, but some miners.

get out there!