Lots going on in Northern California…Spring seemed to be
here and then Tornados, Hail, Rain, Wind, and Snow rolled in for a day or two.
Pretty typical late winter early spring February fishing though really, when
the weather is nice 60-70 with now wind fishing is good. When the wind, cold,
rain, and what ever else gets cooked up moves in fishing can get tough. I spent
a few days over the last 2 weeks on the Lower Sac and Lower Yuba Rivers.
Fishing was good, great, and tough on various days or all of the three in one
given day as the weather changed. Here are some reports and observations.
Lower Yuba
The Lower Yuba fished fair I would say, but like I said
above very dependent on what the weather conditions were and more importantly
what water was open. Bottom line the river is really crowded. Which is funny as
I have worked my tail off to put fair to good numbers of fish in the boat over
my last few trips and most of my fish are coming in water that people can’t
wade fish. Fish to me seemed to be podded up as a result I think of getting
pushed out of a bunch of water by wade fishermen. This Saturday there was wade
fishermen in almost every run they could get into. I don’t have a problem with a crowded river
but it does push the fish around.
Most of my fish came on small may fly and midge patterns. I
got fish on the new S&M PMD, Better Baetis, brown and coffee black jimmy
legs, and quasimoto PT’s. In the back swirls and back waters there has been
TONS of midge schucks from midge hatches so I had a duh experience and tied on
a zebra midge…next pass both clients hooked fish.
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| Midge Schucks on the Lower Yuba |
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| Even More Midge Schucks |
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| Lower Yuba Bow |
There are also a few small PMD’s when the sun is out and a
few baetis when the clouds role in and temperature drops. I have seen ovipositing skwalas around, but
if there is a fish in the river that has not seen or been fooled by a skwala
pattern I would be surprised. I even
grabbed one and dropped it down a run that I was pretty sure there were fish in
and either there wasn’t fish home or no fish were interested. I found fish
podded up in deeper water, swirls , and deep runs. That said I didn’t get a
chance to really fish any true riffles as those are where wade fishermen
usually congregate.
Fishing should continue to improve over the next few months
as weather warms and becomes more stable. Some of the best dry fly fishing of
the year is coming up with the PMD, PED, and Caddis hatches.
Lower Sacramento River
The Lower Sac has been good to great on those nice 65-70
degree days. Key is no wind. On the cooler and/or windy days fishing can be a
bit tougher. On the warm days the caddis can come off and fish get really
grabby that said clarity is still an issue but the lower one goes in the river
the better the clarity is. I am still catching good numbers of fish on
attractor eggs and stoneflies but over the last few days I have seen more and
more fish come on bugs, mostly amber wing caddis, a black Fox poopah with amber
wings, S&M PMD Nymph, and bigger flash back PT’s.
I have been spending most of my time between Bonnie View and
Anderson and Anderson to Balls Ferry but I know that a few people have done
down low from Barge to Bend and had some great days. I think that as the upper
stretches get more crowded and the Trinity guides come back on over to the Sac
I will move down lower and lower.
Fishing should continue to become more consistent over the
next month but can fluctuate with wind and air temps.
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| Lower Sac Trout |
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| More Lower Sac Trout |
BOTTOM LINE
Spring fishing is about to get really good as the weather stabilizes
and moves into nice warm spring weather. Fishing on both the lower Sac and
Lower Yuba along with the Lower Feather is going to be getting really good. I
have a few dates still open in march and april.
March 16, 17
April 3, 6, 7, 13, 14, 21, 28
In other News
The Giants first spring training game is coming up on Feb 23
this coming Saturday…This marks the official beginning of baseball season in my
book. Daily games and reports on players. It is hard to catch spring training
games as they are all day games for the most part but I DVR the ones I can and
listen to ones on KNBR 680 when I can. I was a bit surprised but not to surprised
when Bochy named Cain the opening day starter before spring training games ever
began but who could argue the decision.
Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show is coming up this coming weekend
as well. Cast Hope will be there with a booth and a great raffle. Stop by say
HI to Ryan and the crew and buy a raffle ticket. You may win something cool. I
am going to try to make it on Sunday but I might have to work all 3 days of the
show. Simms fishing products will also be there showing all the new Fall/Winter
products. Stop by and see John Sherman and the simms guys to look at the new
products…make sure to look at the Kenai Shirt, Windstopper Soft Shell Hoody,
and the Cold weather Shirt, these are my must have’s for the fall/winter/early
spring.
Booze News: Got a bottle of Makers Mark from the Deeler and
have been hooked on Makers, soda water, and a lime. Also been drinking some of
the Sierra Nevada Tumbler and the Ovila Abby Quad…so good but not cheap. The New
Big Foot ale is out but I have not had a chance to have any yet. I gotta have
an evening where I can get a good buzz working to have the Big Foot.
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