Fishing near Downieville is best in the Fall
Fishing up at the North Fork Yuba River has been absolutely fantastic lately! It’s that time of year when pretty much every body of water is teeming with action, and fall is hands down the best season for anglers here in Northern California. Right now, the water temperatures are hanging around a comfy 53 to 58 degrees. What’s even better is that there’s hardly any fishing pressure, and the campgrounds are practically deserted.
If you’re planning to fish the North Yuba, you’ll want to head downstream of Downieville. Look for those sunny spots that October caddis love – they enjoy basking in the warm, sunny bends of the river. The water characteristics in the lower watershed are quite different from the upper areas. You’ll find longer runs, riffles, and fewer pocket water spots, not to mention some bigger fish lurking around.
For the best fishing experience, aim to be out there during the warmest part of the day, roughly between 11 am and 4 pm. The trout are getting pretty excited about Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs), October Caddis, and other smaller caddis, so those are good flys to use. Whether you prefer tight line nymphing, using a dry/dropper setup, or going with dry flies, all of these approaches have been proven to work well. I generally tight line (euro nymph) unless I see trout feeding on the surface.
While I haven’t spotted any brown trout on redds just yet, I’m pretty sure that they’re coming soon. With the upcoming warmer weather this weekend, a camping and fishing trip to the North Fork Yuba River with those beautiful fall colors is something you won’t want to miss!
