Parks bar fishing slow?

[Jared]

Has anyone else noticed a drop in bites and rises since the water levels rose? I was on fire for a while up until around April or so and then it's been skunk town ever since. I've had a few nibbles but zero commitment. I always go in the evenings around sunset but maybe they're hitting at a different time? I'm getting discouraged after months of nothing

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I think that we need to go up over 8,000 feet (elevation) in August?

[TahoeJoe]

Fishing has been slow. Grasshoppers, caddis pupae and big stonefly nymphs have been working at times.

Bill may have it right. A trip up to the North Fork might be the ticket.

[PV_Premier]

Gotta branch out. Lots of good fishing in other places...

Hopper bite on the Yuba should be OK though at this time of year...I haven't been out there in months so can't say from firsthand experience. The salmon should be showing up soon, meaning fish will start turning their attention towards the old orange bead again...

[Woodman]

Keep going up 20 and then 49 to the NF Yuba...

[ryeflyguy]

Went out on Thursday afternoon. LDR'd two smaller fish on green caddis pupa. Didn't see any bugs other than adult damsels and dragonflies, nor did I raise any fish with hoppers or any other surface patterns. Talked to a gentlemen who said he's been fishing it at least once a week for the past few weeks & said it's been slow.

[FlyFisher007]

A friend and I floated on pontoons a couple of weeks ago and I used a hopper towards the end and caught nothing, he used a parachute ant between Hammon and Sycamore and caught three and lost one about 18".

[Brian Clemens]

The fishing has slowed a tiny bit over the past couple of weeks with the flow bump. However, these fish are digging the higher flows and cooler water. Before the bump we were hooking 30 -35 under indicators and a dozen or so on hopers/drys and the same for swinging. Now we are seeing around 20-25 on indicators and 6-8 on top and swinging. The biggest change is where the fish are sitting. They change a great deal from morning to noon to late afternoon on into the evening. Toughest time of the day has been from 3 to 6, also the hottest part of the day. Ive been getting on early and off by 3-330. Last hour or 2 of light has been stellar for drys.

Fish shallow early, shallow mid depth water mid day, riffles and deep pools mid day to evening. Find this type of water and you will find more fish.

Fish are healthy, and eating a plethora of bugs, mainly, stones, caddis, mays also try some eggs and midges early.

Sz4,6 lighter color rubberlegs
Sz12,14,16 tan, brown caddis
Sz16,18,20 olive mays, 16,18 brown mays
Sz20,22 midges

Get out and give um hell.

[PV_Premier]

Great intel as always from BC

[Brian Clemens]

Thanks Double D

[John Sv]

Thanks Double D

Sorry to hijack but is that you on the last page of this months salmon trout steelheader?

[Brian Clemens]

Haven't seen it, or heard about it, so probably not.

[E.Drucker]

putting up some serious numbers. still playing that "everytime the indicator goes under" its a fish game?

[Brian Clemens]

I don't play that game and don't fluff numbers. Anyone that fishes with me knows that. I play the everytime the bobber goes down, client sets and the line goes tight on a fish game. Im on that river daily and see the changes in where the fish hangout and that is key as it changes throughout the day. It doesn't hurt that the take out is 15 mins from my house. Plus the Yuba is one cool fishery, why wouldn't I want to bring my clients to the Yuba and have them play with some bad ass Yuba trout.

[PV_Premier]

Has anyone had any decent luck swinging more classic steelhead patterns on the Yuba? I’m thinking smaller size 6-8 GBS, Hilton’s, Hobo, etc. I got a new-to-me 3wt ACR that I need to get some reps on but wouldn’t mind finding a tug in the process. Of course I can just go cast a sculpin but I thought something more traditional might be fun and even effective.

How about skaters or muddlers even?!

[Smitty Fish]

How about the Bread crust? Hilton might. Only one way to find out.

[Charlie Gonzales]

I used to fish smaller versions of the bread crust on the Yuba, but that was years ago.

[Smitty Fish]

I’ve had luck with small black leach patterns. Klamath intruder, olive or black.

[Rich Morrison]

White woolly bugger with some pork rind stuck on the hook. That’ll do it.

[TahoeJoe]

I used a green/peacock Herniator one day just because I still had it tied onto my leader from a Trinity trip. I'm thinking that it was a size 8. It caught fish. I imagine anything sparkly like that might get a grab.

A Brindle Bug has worked on occasion too.

[Ralph]

Swinging a #6 Coal Car has been my go-to fly if there are no risers in the evening.

[PV_Premier]

Thanks all, I am going to need to blow off some steam this weekend at some point, so might head out there and give this a shot with the new rod depending on the weather and the AQI. I dug into my summer steelhead flies and found a few that might be worth dragging around out there.

[PV_Premier]

Found a few grabs on a favorite run swinging euphorias and muddlers. My Spey casting needs help was the major learning of the day.

[Brian Clemens]

Brindle bugs, Hiltons, Euphorias, muddlers but small. They all have their place and time. Swinging has been good.