Yuba 2/17/12

[Adam Grace]

I finally got out and fished for the first time in about 6 months. I arrived to the Yuba a little late around 10 am.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/fishing/IMGP0025.jpg

I caught my first fish on a #16 BWO nymph dropper.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/fishing/IMGP0004.jpg

The second fish took the same fly

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/fishing/IMGP0005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/fishing/IMGP0007.jpg

The third fish smashed my large rabbit strip streamer that I fished with my spey rod

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/fishing/IMGP0013.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/fishing/IMGP0016.jpg
It taped out to 16" and it fought very well. I grabbed the fly on my first cast, it shocked me :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/fishing/IMGP0021.jpg

My fourth and final fish of the day also grabbed the streamer but gave up after being hooked, maybe because it was an emaciated "snake"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/fishing/IMGP0024.jpg

Overall the day was fun. Around 11am - 2pm was the most active part of the day. I only saw one skwalla, but other fishermen that I talked to had seen a few. There were a bunch of mayflies out and about today. There were some March Browns.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/fishing/IMGP0010.jpg

There were also some PMD looking mayflies, I didn't get a close look at all of them. I saw a few caddis flies as well. The section that I was fishing above the bridge didn't have much surface action, but there were a few rises here and there. I wish that I could have had more fun on top of the water but overall I had a good day on the water.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/fishing/IMGP0029.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/fishing/IMGP0031.jpg

I enjoyed casting my spey rod today, the 16"er was a huge bonus though ;)

[SHigSpeed]

Fish #3: Stray hatchery steelie!

Cool...

_SHig

[Adam Grace]

That makes sense. I was too pumped, a failed to spot the missing adipose fin. It fought well, and the missing spots looked funny. :)

[Mrs.Finsallaround]

I will get me a Yuba bow!

Photos are great - looks like you had a fabulous day :cool:

[Sammy]

I get the feeling you are a character

[Ralph]

Hey Adam-
That mayfly photo is not just good, it is great. It is VERY tough to get a photo that shows that little point on the leading edge of the small wing. You killed it. That little point is telling us that this is an Ameletus rather than a March Brown which looks VERY close to the same. Both bugs are on the water right now.

WHY is that important? Ameletus nymphs swim back and forth around the shallows until they find a suitable place to crawl out on the rocks and emerge. March Brown nymphs cling to the bottom like glue and the adults frequently emerge from the nymph underwater and drift to the surface. Here is a short video clip of a mayfly adult (callibaetis) slipping out of it's nymphal exoskeleton as it is ascending toward the surface: http://vimeo.com/37036182

When March Browns are on the water, fish emerges or soft hackles drag free. When Ameletus are hatching, swim #10-12 Birds nests or equivalent nymph within a foot or two from shore (it will also look like the salmon fry that hang in the soft shallow water this time of year).

Again, very cool picture detailing that wing.

[jbird]

Great to see your mug Adam! Glad your back at it. I can see it now in the classified section..."Excellent condition spey rod except for human bite marks in the cork handle..." :-)

Super informative post Ralph! Thats a nugget to digest for sure!

[Don Powell]

See Adam, you just have to get out there once in a while... you possess much knowledge, dude, so just get out there and use it!
Congrats on a marvelous day!!!
And, Ralph, you rock and rule! Thank you for the educational insight, much appreciated!
Springtime is near and everyone is getting the fever...

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Great post Adam......you are the man!!!!

Great pictures too.

[Adam Grace]

I was asked what the streamer that I used looks like, well here you go:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/flies/IMGP5599.jpg

It is basically an inverted wooly bugger with a rabbit strip top and a red marabou throat.

Ralph, thanks for the great info about the mayfly picture. :)

[Jed Peters]

You had me until the cock (I mean cork) biting shots.

Ha!