I've been working way too hard and have only been able to fish 6 days in California so far in 2011. Yesterday, it was time to get on the water, so I ran up to the Lower Yuba for the day to enjoy the 98 degree heat. Actually, being in the water all day, I barely noticed how hot it was until I hiked back down the river and the heat kept the rattlesnakes under cover.
It's just amazing to see this much water in the river at this time of year. I did not see another angler all day. Fishing was pretty good all day. Strangely for the Yuba, lots of little, young of year fish this trip. I was able to land a couple of really nice fish as well. I also landed 4 long fish. I say long because they were very snakey . . . uncharacteristic for the Yuba. I think it shows that perhaps a lot of the nymphs they rely on for food were swept away in the huge flows. I mean a couple of these were not healthy fish and I released them pronto. Food must be a bit more scarce than usual. Seeing all of the young fish has to be a good sign.
The waqter is gin clear. I am not sure that I've ever seen the Yuiba this clear. It's like a spring creek clarity. When you're walking some of the banks, it's tough not to spook the fish.
I had a good laugh. In the picture below, I landed this 5" fish which took a size 10 Rubberlegs. The fly is about 1/4 the size of the fish. This guy knows how to eat. Now it's time for the Truckee to drop into shape.
Nice job Bob! Did you swim across the river again with your dive mask and snorkel??? Maybe you know about the secret upper trail to get to the UC property... The skinny fish are males they just don't eat as much as the chunky ones....
I and friends who fish the river regularly have had the same experience this year, much smaller fish and the longer ones that were caught were very snakey/skinny.
Thanks for the post Bob.
__________________
all of a man's addictions end and begin when he learns to fly fish
I recomend going out about 15 miles from Marysville and entering at the Hwy 20 bridge access point. The bridge crosses the river and you can park at either side of the bridge and access the river easily You can go up or downstream from this point. Also, there is a put-in on the east side of the brisge. The popular float is down to Sycamore Ranch from this point.
Chris, way too hot and too little beer on me to make the hike all the way to the UC Property, but I got pretty close. Tried to cross at 3400 cfs above the rock wall, no dice. It would have been a quick aqua trip back to my car. I almost became fish food.
