Lower Yuba River report from Hogan Brown

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I just received this email report from Hogan:

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So the Rains came and went. Last weekend the Yuba came up from 730 cfs to 900cfs for a day and half and then jumped up to 1393cfs for 2 days before dropping to 1200cfs for a day and then dropping Jan 27 back down to 730cfs. Lots of flow changes in a week. I guided the river last saturday when it was at 900cfs. The clarity was perfect just a tad off color where we could fish what I call "off color water patterns" like big stonflies, attractor patterns, and eggs. The fishing was really good. No huge fish or big winter steelhead to report just really good numbers of hot cookie cutter yuba river rainbows. We also hit a great baetis hatch with some of the best numbers of fish feeding on the surface that I have seen all fall and winter. My client rose multiple fish but he was new at the small fly down stream feed game so none got to the net. Saw one skwala flying around and that was it for last weekend...Sunday I changed venues

This weekend I was out on the river Saturday and the river had just dropped to 730cfs and clarity was about as dark as would like it and still feel confident about catching fish. It was about 1-2" feet visibility on the banks but the runs seemed pretty dark, but I am sure will clear over the next few days once the flows stabilize, though I am not sure what the clarity in the lake is. That said the bugs we were fishing were "off color water patterns" for the most part. The good news was there was bugs out...the warmer water has kicked some bugs into gear. I saw about a handful of skwalas flying around, Baetis hatching, PMD's hatching, and caddis. No march Browns. I saw a few bank anglers hooked up while fishing dry flies but I never stopped to fish any as I had more confidence in nymphing with the off color water. I imagine once the clarity improves over the next couple days and we get some nice consistent mid to high 60's the skwala hatch is going to go off and the other bugs will follow...bringing the fish to the surface. We caught plenty of fish and lost plenty of fish on nymphs and even managed some nice 16-18" fish to the boat.

I would expect the Yuba to get pretty good over the next week or so but who knows it is the Yuba...

If anyone is interested I still have some dates available in Feb
Feb 5, 11, 13, 18-20, 2012

Hogan Brown

www.hgbflyfishing.com

www.hgbflyfishing.blogspot.com

[Troutstalker55B]

Thanks Bill, Thanks Hogan - That's a spot on report! The weather out there on the 27th and 28th was SO nice. I did see more than a handful of Gray Drakes emerging on the shore and drying thier wings, even saw a rainbow take one in the big water.

This river is really cool, I know it's fickle but that just keeps an angler humble and gives him an education as well.

Jon.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I would go fish it a few times with a good guide because it is not an easy river.

It has lots of different kinds of bugs and lots of wild Rainbow trout though.........nicest water that is close to Sacramento.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I would go fish it a few times with a good guide because it is not an easy river.

It has lots of different kinds of bugs and lots of wild Rainbow trout though.........nicest water that is close to Sacramento.

In low water this time of year you can have lots of hatches and good fishing.