North Fork Yuba Trip and a question

[BobVP]

I got to take a shortened trip to the NFY last week and it was wonderful. Do not remember when I tied into so many fish there before! No great size to them but always lots of fight in those wild fish.
Fished below Sierra City....new area for me and saw no one other person until I was back to the car. The early morning was very generous and it slowed up quite a bit when the sun got higher.
The the evening bite was also good, this below Downieville. Always a pleasure to fish that area.

I have two questions for anyone familiar with the area or the Yuba lower:

Is there an access to the Downie off Sailor Ravine Road? I drove out there about 3 miles and turned back...getting a bit tough for my Subaru with some pretty deep water bars. I remember Seth Norman writing about access but not the specifics.

Also, is there any fishing to be had on the South Fork Yuba near (above) Pleasant Valley Road our of Penn Valley?

Thanks.

[Hogan Brown]

BobVP - not sure about the Sailor Ravine Road access but the SF Yuba off of Pleasant Valley road or what is commonly referred to as Bridge Port or Covered Bridge has a few trout around at various times but is pretty warm and more of a swimming spot. There is decent small mouth bass fishing below that at various times of year but nothing I would say is spectacular. Nice place to swim and cool off though.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I think that JUly is usually a top month on the NF Yuba but this year it is early. Go now.......

[BobVP]

Thanks. I had the thought that area might have some bass around.

[MickeyFinn]

I just fished it around Sierra City as well. Yellow stimulator is the only fly you need right now. If anyone ever needs lodging up there look into Sierra Streamside Cabins outside of Downievile. Jim the owner is a friend of mine and he guides in the evenings for $100. Great for family outings as he'll work with the non-angler and you go off on your own.

I like to head farther up river this tie of year near Bassetts or fish the creeks such as Haypress off Wild Plum road. You get chances and brookies up that way. Better pay close attention, you'll catch so many small bows that the brookie will catch you off guard as you release it.

[BumpBailey]

Would you mind sharing a little more access info??? We have three families are heading up to Plumas for the 4th of July weekend and the dad's get a morning to fish. Trying to decide between Lake Davis or NFY. Davis we are well versed on but not so on the North Fork of the Yuba. Looks like a relatively short trip over Gold Lake Hwy.

[jayclarkflyfishing]

Would you mind sharing a little more access info??? We have three families are heading up to Plumas for the 4th of July weekend and the dad's get a morning to fish. Trying to decide between Lake Davis or NFY. Davis we are well versed on but not so on the North Fork of the Yuba. Looks like a relatively short trip over Gold Lake Hwy.

It is an easy drive over the Gold Lake Highway from Graeagle to the North Yuba and there is plenty of access along Highway 49. Pick a pullout and start fishing. Check out the Wild Plum cg area as well.

Jay

[MickeyFinn]

A little tip, especially if coming from the East. The farther upstream you go the skinnier the water, but the fish are about the same size as down lower. Makes those dinks a lot more fun in the plunge pools. Wader are not needed. Also, fish it at dusk or down. No reason to fish midday.

[BumpBailey]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the 411!

[Bob Loblaw]

I just got back from an epic 3 day trip to the NFY. Camped just downstream from Sierra City and fished dawn till dusk...with some swimming breaks and a couple of naps thrown in. It was my first time up there and its a beautiful stream, lots of great fishing water and lots of hungry little fish. Its a really buggy creek. The rocks were covered in golden stone nymph casings, and the bottom of the river had loads of huge caddis nymphs. There were also mayflies coming off and a prolific midge hatch in the late afternoon. Also towards evening big orange salmon flies were coming off. I was watching one buzz around the surface when a 4 inch trout went completely airborne and nailed it. The fly was nearly as big as the fish! There's so much food in the water its weird that the fish don't get any bigger. I caught loads in the 6-10 inch range and one nice 12 inch fish. Caught them all on dries, mostly big stimulator patterns...the bigger the better! There seemed to be fish under every elephant ear in the deeper undercut spots and in the shallower water tailouts where the spots to get them. The fishing was very hot and cold. For a couple of hours they'd rise to every cast and then it would just go dead. Probably at the bottom chomping on nymphs. I was having too much fun with my 3 weight and the big dry flies to put an indicator rig on, so when the fishing went dead I took a nap or a swim...water was perfect for wet wading and swimming! I snorkeled a couple of deep holes and they were all full of fish. One thing I did notice about these fish was that you only get one per spot. As soon was you land one, or even have one refuse the fly a couple of times, the spot goes dead, so just move on. I guess the water is so gin clear that the word gets out fast that theres a predator in the neighborhood...on that note, be prepared to spend a lot of time on your hands and knees sneaking up on these fish, they are very spooky indeed and there's zero color in the water. Have a great time!

[Mike O]

A little tip, especially if coming from the East. The farther upstream you go the skinnier the water, but the fish are about the same size as down lower. Makes those dinks a lot more fun in the plunge pools. Wader are not needed. Also, fish it at dusk or down. No reason to fish midday.
and it goes without saying, but BRING BUG SPRAY if you go up higher. mosquitos will drain you to a husk

[BobVP]

I second what Micky and Jay wrote and will only add, having fished the NFY from above Plum to below the 49 bridge I prefer the upper sections....even though the largest fish I've caught there was just a mile or so below Downieville. The section below Sierra City is just too beautiful to not fish. Look for more than a pull-out...maybe a short road to the river.