Safe Yuba parking

[left field]

May have a chance to head up there for a day next weekend. Haven't fished there in a few years and the last few times have been pretty sketchy for parking - had a bunch of people check out my car - a local guy chased me off the river with a quad. This was all around the #20 bridge parked just under on the right bank.

As I will be travelling and have all my gear: luggage, computer, etc with me, I need to play it safe.

Is there secured parking at Hammon Grove Park or Sycamore Park and can I wade up from there? Or park along the left side on Hammonton Rd below the 20 which seems to get down to the river. Is that a private road?

Will I need a Steelhead card as well as a non-resident license?

Will the NF Yuba be fishable? Happy to head up there as that was the first place I caught a wild trout.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[TigerLilly]

The Yuba is not a great place to leave anything of value in your car. Parking at hwy 20 is asking for trouble. There are county workers many times at Sycamore. . . it seems like the "safest" place.

[left field]

Thanks. Real shame.

[Scott V]

I have never once been broken into. The cars that get broken into are the ones that leave stuff sitting out on their seats on plain view. Leave nothing in view and you should be ok. Tons of people park under the bridge every day and do not get broken into.

I often wonder if people use the scare tactic to keep people from fishing the river. Just like the American, I have never been broken into and I fish that river at least 20+ times a year during shad alone.

Yes break ins happen, but usually because the thief saw something on the seat. Nothing on the seat and they usually won't take the chance. Break ins are smash and run, not hope their might be something in that car they can't see or there might be something in the next one.

[left field]

I have guys stand there and look at my car as I was gearing up. Guys with meth lesions up and down their bodies. I waited them out until they got bored and moved on. Then there was quad guy.

I'll probably have an SUV so my gear will be a little more exposed and I really don't want to take a chance. The security of a few people in the public lots downstream is worth it.

It just seems a shame that's the state of things.

[Alosa]

I have guys stand there and look at my car as I was gearing up. Guys with meth lesions up and down their bodies. I waited them out until they got bored and moved on. Then there was quad guy.

I'll probably have an SUV so my gear will be a little more exposed and I really don't want to take a chance. The security of a few people in the public lots downstream is worth it.

It just seems a shame that's the state of things.

Nothin' that a big ole Rottweiler can't fix :D

[Bob Loblaw]

I've never had a problem parking at the Yuba...I get a little nervous when I drive down the dirt road on the South side and park. I've had a few encounters with some very sketchy individuals down there, but never been broken into.

I have a buddy who is a Sheriff and I always leave one of his business cards sitting prominently on my dash. I don't know if its a deterrent but so far so good. (does that qualify as impersonating a sworn peace office?? ;-)

[TigerLilly]

A roof roof rack got stolen this weekend at Hammond while the guy was fishing a few hundred feet away. They cut the gutter of the car and lifted the rack connected to the gutter. Pretty gnar. The only good tweaker is a dead tweaker in my book.

[yubaman]

I have parked at the bridge literally dozens of times and was one of the unlucky ones who was broken into once. The one time I was broken into, I was on my way back home from Truckee and fished the Yuba on the way home. Unfortunately I made the mistake of leaving things out in plain view on my seats. They took:
a. An overnight bag with 3 days worth of stinky sweat laden fly fishing clothing.
b. A cell phone.
c. 20 cd's, most of which I had burned myself.

They did not touch a brand new set of Titleist irons, 3 expensive fly rods and reels and 2 sets of Golden State Warriors tickets.

I reported it to Yuba Country Sherriff's who called me about 2 months later to let me know they nailed these lowlifes. It was a group of tweakers out of Marysville. This was about 5 years ago. No problems since, just cover everything up.

[sierraangler]

A roof roof rack got stolen this weekend at Hammond while the guy was fishing a few hundred feet away. They cut the gutter of the car and lifted the rack connected to the gutter. Pretty gnar. The only good tweaker is a dead tweaker in my book.

That's crazy. Both my rigs have gearboxes on the roof. I have parked and waded on the south side at hwy 20 bridge (and downstream) many times, have parked on the north side and waded upstream, and have parked in Sycamore while drifting. I mostly see the moto-heads and the occasional shady looking tweaker but no-one who was super sketch or who I thought was ever casing me/my car.

Never had an issue. I am sure I have even had overnight bags laying in the back seat but nothing of high value too obvious. I always take my wallet, keys, and phone with me no matter what though.

[Paul B.]

The only issue I've had there was five years ago. I was returning to my old pick up on the south side of the bridge. On the way I passed three boys 6-10 or so years old obviously brothers who looked quite guilty for some reason. After we passed each other they started at a trot and broke into a run when I turned around to look.
When I arrived to my truck I found a dozen or so softball sized rocks in the bed! Some dents but no real damage done and I had to chuckle when I imagined them hiding behind a nearby berm and lobing imaginary hand grenades into my truck bed.
My old ranger suffered worse on fishing trips but that was most memorable.
Best not to fish there at all with a lot of valuables in truck.

[Ralph]

Parked on the gravel under the 20 bridge and had someone break (smash) open the camper shell and steal a rolled up Avon Drifter with rowing frame. I was only a few hundred yards upstream and undoubtedly was being watched the entire time. Had to complete the police report in Marysville and the cops suggested parking on the north side of the river where the commuters park and the gravel employees are constantly going back and forth. During the annual SYRCL river clean ups there is invariably quite a bit of broken safety glass picked up in the parking areas around the south side of the bridge.

[amoeba]

Thieves think there is stuff to steal whether they can see it or not:

Had my car trunk broken into there ~10 yrs or so ago; cleaned me out (gearbag with spare reel/spools, fly boxes) my tennis shoes, and assorted other moderately pricey items. Left my clothes, thankfully. That was at 20 bridge. Another SUV I know of was broken into a month or so ago (not yet posted here), took concealed fishing/other items.

I leave nothing in the vehicle exposed or not (other than a change of clothes and extra water).