Okay, so I haven’t been on the North Yuba for over a month but I’ve got a good guess as to what’s happening.
If you’re just fishing with kids or pressed for time and want to land a fish- there will be planters in the big pool below the courthouse bridge in Downieville. Deliver them something down deep.
If you’re fly fishing…Here’s my recommendation: Nymphs will be productive. Look for some deeper water behind boulders or in plunge pools. Use heavy flys on a tight line rig for best results. If tight line nymphing is not your game or you see any fish feeding at the surface, go to a dry-dropper: a larger dry fly with 24 inches of tippet tied to the dry flys hook bend that has a nymph tied to the end of the tippet. See the diagram below. Be ready to remove the nymph in the late afternoon if the surface feeding picks up. A Stimulator or Elk Hair Caddis will work for your dry. For a nymph, use A black AP Nymph, Pheasant Tail, or Hare’s Ear in size 14 or 16. If the trout start hitting a hatch and you’re not sure what fly to use, go with a Parachute Adams in size 14 or 16.
The areas above and below Downieville should be good. The flows are high and the water is cold, be very careful. Think carefully about what will happen if you fall in. There’s no cell service outside of Downieville. Be safe and have a great time.
