Motoring up the Lower Yuba?

[Joshua]

Hey smart, experienced folks! I'm coming up on the end of my second year now working as a high school teacher in Marysville, but I've yet to get out on the water here because: A) I still live in West Sacramento; and B) I don't know these waters well enough -- yet!

I've got a 14 foot aluminum Klamath Trailorboat (from 1974) with a four stroke Suzuki 20 hp prop outboard. How far up would I be able to go if I put in at Marysville, proper? Is that even possible?

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

The smallest 4-stroke outboard till jet is made by Mercury.

https://onlineoutboards.com/products/2025-mercury-25-hp-25elhga-jet?currency=USD&variant=29563350286378&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=9b96cb3c1e35&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19940963954&gbraid=0AAAAAD_SDsU7zuOcxoYahi0BpcJxfJpAe&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrPHABhCIARIsAFW2XBPeNFvqdPqm4sez4yvX jIagn2Hf5fppzUF7MpAE2tYsLGs7IitzozQaAmwlEALw_wcB


With your 20hp prop motor, put some wood on the top of your transom to raise the bottom of your motor.

As long as your motor still squirts out water while running up the river, you are all right.



A friend of mine goes up small valley river with a rig like yours.

When he comes to a shallow riffle, he gets out and pulls his boat up through the riffle to the top.

Captain Andy Guibord ran the lower American River for a long time with a 14' Jon boat and a 20hp prop motor.


Eventually, you will want to buy a 20hp Jet tiller outboard with very little weight in your boat.



The lower Yuba River has Steelhead, Shad, Stripers, and salmon in it and has beautiful water.

Living in Marysville or Yuba City allows you to fish the Lower Yuba River and Lower Feather River.


Captain Andy Guibord at Flyfishing Specialties in Sacramento can run you up the Lower Yuba river for Shad right now, I think.

He is very knowledgeable about boats and fishing.

[StevenB]

30+ years ago I lived in Rancho Cordova, and motored my boat up the Yuba and Feather rivers, launched in the Feather near the mouth of the Yuba?
or was it the Yuba near the mouth? Do not remember the exact name or location of the ramp.

I was using a 14" Jon Boat with a 40HP Outboard Jet.

Main things I remember is:

Lower Yuba : concrete blocks with re-bar sticking up just under the water, do not hit them.

Lower Feather lots and lots of shallow sand bars.

EDIT:

A quick look at google maps suggested it was the Yuba City ramp on the Feather.

[boomer4]

Hey smart, experienced folks! I'm coming up on the end of my second year now working as a high school teacher in Marysville, but I've yet to get out on the water here because: A) I still live in West Sacramento; and B) I don't know these waters well enough -- yet!

I've got a 14 foot aluminum Klamath Trailorboat (from 1974) with a four stroke Suzuki 20 hp prop outboard. How far up would I be able to go if I put in at Marysville, proper? Is that even possible?

Hey Joshua -

Hire a guide like Brian Clemens or Andy G. They know that river. It is a boat sinker if you don't know the river. A prop will have difficulties, especially if you don't know the river.

Good luck!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

More info on the Lower Yuba River Shad fishing:

_________________________

Herb Burton of the Trinity Fly Shop used to have a "Shad Camp" on the Lower Yuba River for decades.

_________________________

Maury Hatch took many fly fishers up the Lower Yuba River for great days of Shad fishing.

They used two jet boats and set up a place to eat lunch with canopies, tables, chairs, and great food.

Thanks to Terry Thomas, I got to go on one of those deluxe Maury Hatch Shad trips.

_________________________

In the 1960s, I got to ride up to the Yuba Gold Fields on the south side of the river with Joe Patterson, Joe Shirshac, and Henry Star.

It was $2.00 per car, and they complained about it. We parked at the Deguerre Dam and went downstream.

It was beautiful, clear water like a trout stream, and lots of Shad. Big Rainbow trout were also jumping for dragonflies.






Try to get there with a Lower Yuba River fly fishing guide.

[Joshua]

Thank you all so much for your advice. I'll probably steer clear until I can afford a guide, and instead fish the Feather River, proper.