Hit the Yuba up one last time above the HWY 20 bridge before it closes in 2 weeks. The flows are still high and the water is absolutely gin clear. I'm sure every fish can spot an angler moving along the banks in no time at this clarity. It was a rather steamy 97 degrees during the day and I'm glad I brought 2 bottles of Gatorade with me.
Once again, caught a number of small fish and anything longer than about1 3 inches was very skinny. THe big fish just do not look real healthy at this point. My guess is that the high flows this year, kind of like back in '05, scoured many of the bugs from the river bottom and the biomass source was depleted. I bet those fish are just waiting for the salmon eggs to replenish and feast on.
I was able to set a new personal best by being able to cross the river above the HWY 20 bridge at 3000 cfs. I treated myself to a couple of beers for that one. The areas to fish are much more concentrated at these flows, and several of the holes require sink tip or about a 30' leader to get down to. I'd guess that the flows will not go below 2500 before the salmon run, which should be interesting. Many areas of the river which are crossed to access salmon spawning beds simply won't be accessable at these flowes. As I understand it, flows wil have to be maintained at these levels so that the salmon redds will not be exposed during the incubation/ hatching period.
I think the river is ready for a little color in the water as well. We anglers need just a bit of cover to work with. It is amazing to see the high water marks on the river this past year. Trees, brush and flotsam are in some strange places. It will end many of thoes median high water mark arguments, that's for sure.
Way to go Bob. Nice to see people still out fishing even with the high flows. Just guided 2 guys on the Feather today for steelhead, it was an awesome day, but can you believe it 3500cfs at Gridley, thats just nuts.
Dont worry bob the fall flows will be here soon. Trust me. Below 1000cfs by the 1st of Sept. Id put money on it.
-- Edited by brian clemens on Sunday 21st of August 2011 09:45:04 PM
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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
I fished the Lower Yuba on Saturday at the Highway 20 bridge also. It was my first fishing trip in about 20 years and as I suspected I left empty handed, but a very contented man nonetheless. It was great standing in a river all day untangling my leader and casting occasionally.
The water was very high indeed and I didn't attempt to cross. I fished the pool just above the bridge and the riffle below the bridge and tried to into a few spots downstream but casting was very diffifcult because of all the brush. I did hook one fish down there but my poor knot cost me the fish and my last stonefly pattern.
I did see a guy on the North side of the river land a decent fish downstream from the bridge and a couple of boaters told me they had landed some decent fish in the 20 inch range the day before on brown stonefly patterns.
I stopped by Nevada City for a beer and a burger after and went to the fly ship there. The owner told me that starting today they will be dropping the flow 200cfs per day until they get to 1500cfs or thereabouts...perhaps 1200. Told me it will be perfect for fishing in about 2 weeks
I really can't wait for the flows to drop. All I have been seeing is snakes!!! This little rattler scared me to death!! The little rattlers have no rattles and do not know how to hold their venom back. The other snakes on the yuba I am happy to see....
Bob how did you get across the river at 3,000? Did you start by the rock wall and swim across? No pictures, so you must have drowned your phone and camera... ha ha ha.
I had a run in with a rattler too, a big one, and another snake that was in the water...under the water. I was looking down at my feet and saw what looked like a snakes head sticking out from behing a submerged rock and sure enough I kiched the rock and it swam for shore. It was all brown with a slight diamond pattern and a slight arrow shape to its head....so I left it alone. Wasn't a garter and wasn't a rattler wasn't sure what it was.
Up towards the UC Property. Hiking over those rock walls in 97 degree weather sure worked up a thirst. Nothing was picture worthy except a few shots of all the tire marks in the gravel on the YOA property. The joke is that the YOU is one of three groups banded together attempting to close the drift boat access under HWY 20 bridge for "streambed enhancements". I find it rather comical that up on there leased property, there are 2 areas where trucks drive right INTO the river water to take out their boats and rafts.
I guess sometimes ecology is secondary to geography????? Depends whether it's on your property or not I guess?
Addressing my earlier post, here is a picture of the oxymoron. Half a mile downstream, YOA is ferverently supporting the closure of the drift boat put-in on the Lower Yuba in order to support streambed resotration work for salmon spawning areas. However, on their property, half a mile upstream, their viewpoint seems to be quite contrary.
This take out/ put in goes directly into the water less than ten yards above an annual salmon redd????? Help me out with their logic here. DO you just maybe think that there is an alterior motive associated with their position??????
Yuba Outdoor Adventures actually tried to close all fishing above the Hwy 20 bridge about five or six years ago. They put signs up pretending that they owned all the gravel and water. The signs were burned and people legally walked up river.... YOA is a menace to the Yuba. They are just trying to make everyone pay to fish a public waterway. Jarvis (YOA) is now trying to control the area below the bridge. Watch the Kienes site and fight for your rights to fish!!!
