Milton is not far from the North Yuba but the roads that connect them are out of the way.  If coming from Truckee, Milton will make a good stop on the way to or from the North Yuba.

If you don’t look at the dam, Milton looks like a natural alpine lake. The upper end of the lake is very shallow and great weed beds surround the channels entering the lake. The rest of the lake is deeper and offers good sinking line fishing. The upper end is best fished with floating and intermediate lines using midges and Callibaetis patterns. Like most lakes, damsel fly patterns are effective all the time. Milton also sees a Carpenter ant hatch early in the summer. Fishing the steeper shorelines with baitfish patterns or woolley buggers and leeches can produce large browns. There are special regulations posted at the lake, so take notice.  I witnessed a poacher get arrested- it was an ugly scene. Don’t be that guy.

This is perfect water for a float tube.  Since the water comes out of the large dam above, it’s cold all year long.  Too cold for swimming or wet wading.  There is no boat ramp.

SUGGESTED PATTERNS

Olive Damsel Nymph 6-12

Callibaetis Nymph 14-16

Olive Midge Pupa 16-22

Black Leech 4-10

Olive Woolley Bugger 4-10

Adult Damsel 10-12

Loop Wing Callibactis 14-16

Griffith Gnat 16-22

Black Ant 14-18

Adult Midge 16-22