North Yuba
The flow on the North Yuba is 342 cfs at Goodyear’s Bar as of June 23, 2009. The flow is dropping slowly and the fly fishing is good. The water is clear and water temperature in the late afternoon is in the mid-fifties. The wading conditions are still difficult and you should be prepared with felts and a staff. You will not be able to cross the river back and forth easily, so some spots are not going to be fishable. The larger fish are beginning to spread out into the shallower sections.
Small Rainbow
On June 19, 2009, I fished just below Bassett’s Station with clients. The 11 year old daughter had only fly fished twice before. She used a fixed line length (about three feet of line beyond the rod tip) and a size 12 parachute Adam’s to work the pocket water. She wound up catching about twenty-five fish in a four hour session. The fish were on Gray Drake spinners which is imitated very well by a #12 Parachute Adam’s. Granted we had quantity over quality, since the largest fish ran about 10 inches.
On the North Yuba, I have seen a few Golden Stone adults in the evening; the fish are responding to the imitations. Hanging a small dark nymph off the imitation will improve your chances. Parachute Adams used in the shallower runs will give you a few fish. The caddis are out; both green and tan running in size from 12#-14#.
The most consistent method for taking larger fish is indicator nymphing in deeper water using generic nymphs such as the Hare’s Ear, B/H Prince, Turkey B/H and Copper John’s. The dry fly fishing is good.
FLIES:
NYMPHS: Green Rock-worm #12, Turkey Bead-Head #12-#16, Golden Stone Nymph #8-#12, B/H Prince #14-#16, Copper John #12-#16,Green Glass Bead Caddis #12-#16, B/H Hare’s Ear #12-#16, FBB/H Pheasant Tail #14-#16, Biot B/H #14-16
DRIES: Gold or Brown Stimulator #10-12, Parachute Adam’s #14-#16, Elk Hair Caddis (olive, tan, brown and black) #12-14, Flying Ant #12-3x long, E/C caddis #12-#16 in tan and olive, parachute ant #12-#14