I hiked up above the bridge for about an hour hoping to see the big rainbows jumping for bugs, but I didn't see a riser the whole evening. I put on an egg and caddis combo hoping to catch something down below. Soon after I hooked something that felt like a snag. The "rock" started moving. I saw flashes of brown and yellow and was thinking brown trout, even though I have never seen a brown trout on the lower Yuba. I finally got it to shore and it was an 18" Carp. It fought like a trout, so I had some fun. When the flows drop there should be some excellent fishing up above the bridge for big rainbows on dry flies. March Browns, and X-caddis have been some of my favorites in late Feb and Mar.
I havn't fished up there in 5 or 6 years. It used to be an awsome spot until it turned into a zoo. I never understand how 7 people could walk into a run your fishing and stand in a 2' x 2' patch of water for hours casting over and over to the same spot.
I'm sorry but if you don't hook into something after 2 or 3 casts MOVE.
what a waste of a great fishery
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Winter eats heat the way darkness swallows light. The terrors of failed power and frozen stems are stymied with fire, smoke and white ash.
Late february through march is usually the best time to fish up there. When the season opens up in April you should move on to better waters, or join the private club below the bridge by the lower dam. The excitement of catching 19-22" fish on dry flies is worth the hike in March though. The more lazy and unetiquetted(otter dictionary) flyfishers you pass the better.
