Fly Fishing the North Fork Yuba River
One of the most beautiful trout steams in California, the North Yuba provides 37 miles of blue ribbon fly fishing opportunities.
The North Yuba is an excellent river to learn fly fishing on. There is a very high fish count, the fish see little pressure, and the rocky terrain creates turbulence which allows the angler to get close with short casts. The owner of Lost Coast Outfitters calls the North Yuba his goto river to bring new fly anglers.
Most of the river is near highway 49 and is easily accessed from the road. There are essentially three sections to the river: The Upper Pocket Water, the Special Regulations Section, and the Lower Big Trout Section.
The Upper Pocket Water
This is where we go on those hot summer days. Be ready to scramble over large boulders. Your efforts will be rewarded with easily catchable wild trout. This section begins as a trickle at the Yuba Pass and extends down through Sierra City. It is steadily fed by snow melt and springs. The trout here are beautifully colored wild rainbows. A rare Brown trout can be found here. The most down stream access is found by parking across from Sierra Pines Resort and walking down the road behind the restaurant. Drop in for a drink on your way back, it’s a lovely spot with a generously stocked trout pond. Other access points are right off of highway 49 between Sierra City and Bassets Station. There are numerous pullouts to choose from. Park, Hike, and catch fish. You’ll need to be in good physical shape to fish here, it’s rough terrain.
Gear for the Upper Pocket Water: keep it simple. A light rod..2,3, or 4 wt. Floating line with a 7 1/2 foot tapered leader. This wild fish will be happy to take dry flys. A beginner will have success here with dry flys. Be stealthy and approach from downstream. Use short casts to the sides and heads of the pools. You’ll catch more trout nymphing, but you can catch plenty on drys. Attractors will work as well as EC Caddis, Parachute Adams, and Humpys. If you see terrestrials, use the appropriate imitation.
The Wild Trout Section
The Department of Fish and Wildlife gave the section of river between Sierra City and Ladies Canyon the designation of a Wild Trout section with special regulations. This 4 mile section comprises of deep pools and heavy pocket water. Regulations are single barbless hooks, artificial lures and a take of only 2 trout, 10 inches or greater. For fly fishers, this is a great place to go. Access is varied from easy to difficult. Easy access leaves you near the road. Scrambling is worth the effort to find solitude. This section is still rough canyon country. Watch for hatches of Pale Morning Duns, Golden Stones, Blue Wing Olives, Caddis, and October Caddis. Use similar gear as the Upper Section but add tight line nymphing (European Nymphing) as part of your mid-day tactic. The fish are generally small to medium sized. This is California Gold.
Below Ladies Canyon, the river becomes a bit wider and is much more easily approachable. The fishing pressure is higher here due to the proximity to cabins on the river and the hotels in Downieville. In Downieville, the North Yuba joins with the Downie River. There is a large pool at the confluence of these two rivers. The pool is generously stocked with rainbows. This is a great spot to bring the kids for some bait fishing. Flip lip over some rocks to find a Stone Fly to bait your hook. Bait can be purchased at the Sierra Hardware store in town.
Below Downieville, the next few miles of river is very difficult to access due to private property and dangerously steep terrain. The section above Goodyears Bar becomes available but is rarely productive. There are alway fish under the Goodyears Bar bridge that crosses over the North Yuba.
The Lower Big Trout Section
This section of the river is best fished during the cooler months. When the water temperatures are 68 degrees F or above, go upstream. At the higher water temperatures, fighting a fish can kill it due to the low oxygen content of the warmer water.
In the Fall, the Brown trout come into this section of the river to spawn. Some will hold over into Spring. Some of these fish are trophies. Larger rainbows will come into the river as well. They are after the eggs of the browns. Egg patterns are a good bet then.
Access is good with numerous pullouts and trails to the river. The river is easier to navigate since it’s less steep than the upper sections and is wider. The fish per mile here is lower but here, we are looking for the periodic big boy. Tight line nymphing works well when the hatches are not happening. If the water is high and off color, streamers is the name of the game. Use a small rainbow imitation or Buggers.
Where 49 crosses the Yuba on its way to Nevada County, the canyon creek Trail parking area area is a convenient way to walk the last section of river. There will be less fishing pressure here due to the walk. During spawn, please avoid fishing the reds (spawning beds). They are oval shaped light sections in the gravel where the fish have fanned away algae.
Regulations
The North Yuba River is open year-around from Sierra City to Bullards Bar but the regulations change to catch and release with single barbless hooks during the winter months from mid-November to the last Saturday in April. Confirm the regulations at the Department of Fish and Wildlife
The other tributaries follow the regular pattern of being open the last Saturday in April through November 15. Locals will take matters into their own hands if you are seen to be poaching. Really.