Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing North Fork Yuba River
California
The North Fork Yuba River headwaters begin from the
confluence of two small creeks just below Yuba Pass.
These are small brook trout streams that flow for about
five miles to Bassets. There are also some small rainbow
trout in the creeks. The lower sections have some brown
trout. Fly fishing North Fork Yuba River in his area is
strictly small stream fishing.
Salmon Creek is the first major tributary. It flows into the
North Fork of the Yuba River just below Bassets. This
creek contains lots of small rainbows and adds a lot of
water to the small Yuba River at this point. Below
Bassets, the stream consist of pocket water with typical
runs, riffles and pools. The trout probably only average
about 9 inches but some are larger.
There's a four-mile section of wild trout designated water
between Sierra City and Ladies Canyon. It requires
barbless hooks. The rainbows in this section are larger,
averaging about 12 inches or better. There are some
brown trout which can be rather large. This section of
the stream is heavy flowing pocket water with large, deep
pools. Fly fishing the North Fork of the Yuba River gets
better in this section of the river.
Below Ladies canyon, downstream to Downieville, the
river receives much more pressure from anglers. This is
probably because it's so easy to access. Below
Downieville, the North Fork of the Yuba is a good size
stream. The river declination is less and the flows
become more moderate. This also widens the stream
out. Pocket water is replaced by longer runs, riffles and
pools. Much of this river can be accessed from pull-offs
along the road. The Yuba River Trail also follows it from
Goodyears Bar for almost six miles downstream. It can
also be accessed from Rocky Rest Campground.
Below the Highway #49 Bridge, the North Fork of the
Yuba River flows through a narrow gorge and into
Bullards Bar Reservoir. From the reservoir, it passes
through a tunnel into Englebright Lake.
We cannot cover the North Fork of the Yuba River
without covering its many tributaries. Some of these
deserve their own section of our stream guide.
The uppermost one, Lincoln Creek, is a little Spring
Creek in the headwaters that has a population of small
rainbows and brown trout. It's a pocket water stream by
the time it enters the Yuba River.
The first large tributary, Salmon Creek, is the outflow
from the Lakes Basin Area - Long Lake, Deer Lake,
Gold Lake and other small lakes. It's a small, pocket
water stream with plenty of small rainbows.
Haypress Creek is the next one downstream. It has some
small brook trout in its headwaters and some nice size
rainbows in its lower section. It has a tributary stream -
Milton Creek, that contains small rainbows. It can be
accessed from the Pacific Crest Trail.
Pauley Creek is a small Spring Creek. It contains some
rainbows up to 12 inches. It has a tributary that makes it
much larger in its lower section - Butcher Ranch Creek. It
contains mostly brook trout.
Lavezzola Creek is another small Spring Creek with wild
rainbows up to 12 inches. It merges with the Downie
River just before their confluence with the Yuba River.
Downie River is yet another Spring Creek with small
rainbows and brown trout under 12 inches.
Winter off-season fishing between Sierra City and
Bullard Bar Reservoir is allowed under special rules.
Barbless hooks and all "catch and release" is required. It
starts when the state season ends on November 15 and
ends the last Saturday of April when the regular state
season begins.
The North Fork of the Yuba River has a large number of
aquatic insect hatches. Golden Stoneflies hatch in May,
June and most of July. Little Yellow Stoneflies hatch in
June and July. Various species of caddisflies, most of
which are Spotted Sedges, hatch all summer from about
May through September. Blue-winged Olives hatch
during the Fall. There are many other hatches.
Seasons:
The season is from the last Saturday in April through
November 15. There's a special winter season for some
areas.
Spring:
Mid May is Spring Runoff time and other than that, the
fishing is great during the Spring.
Summer:
Summertime can slow the fishing down a little in some
places but it's still good most of the time.
Fall:
Fall is a good time for fly fishing North Fork Yuba River.
Brown trout migrate out of Bullard Bar Reservoir up into
the river to spawn in the Fall.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies
California
The North Fork Yuba River headwaters begin from the
confluence of two small creeks just below Yuba Pass.
These are small brook trout streams that flow for about
five miles to Bassets. There are also some small rainbow
trout in the creeks. The lower sections have some brown
trout. Fly fishing North Fork Yuba River in his area is
strictly small stream fishing.
Salmon Creek is the first major tributary. It flows into the
North Fork of the Yuba River just below Bassets. This
creek contains lots of small rainbows and adds a lot of
water to the small Yuba River at this point. Below
Bassets, the stream consist of pocket water with typical
runs, riffles and pools. The trout probably only average
about 9 inches but some are larger.
There's a four-mile section of wild trout designated water
between Sierra City and Ladies Canyon. It requires
barbless hooks. The rainbows in this section are larger,
averaging about 12 inches or better. There are some
brown trout which can be rather large. This section of
the stream is heavy flowing pocket water with large, deep
pools. Fly fishing the North Fork of the Yuba River gets
better in this section of the river.
Below Ladies canyon, downstream to Downieville, the
river receives much more pressure from anglers. This is
probably because it's so easy to access. Below
Downieville, the North Fork of the Yuba is a good size
stream. The river declination is less and the flows
become more moderate. This also widens the stream
out. Pocket water is replaced by longer runs, riffles and
pools. Much of this river can be accessed from pull-offs
along the road. The Yuba River Trail also follows it from
Goodyears Bar for almost six miles downstream. It can
also be accessed from Rocky Rest Campground.
Below the Highway #49 Bridge, the North Fork of the
Yuba River flows through a narrow gorge and into
Bullards Bar Reservoir. From the reservoir, it passes
through a tunnel into Englebright Lake.
We cannot cover the North Fork of the Yuba River
without covering its many tributaries. Some of these
deserve their own section of our stream guide.
The uppermost one, Lincoln Creek, is a little Spring
Creek in the headwaters that has a population of small
rainbows and brown trout. It's a pocket water stream by
the time it enters the Yuba River.
The first large tributary, Salmon Creek, is the outflow
from the Lakes Basin Area - Long Lake, Deer Lake,
Gold Lake and other small lakes. It's a small, pocket
water stream with plenty of small rainbows.
Haypress Creek is the next one downstream. It has some
small brook trout in its headwaters and some nice size
rainbows in its lower section. It has a tributary stream -
Milton Creek, that contains small rainbows. It can be
accessed from the Pacific Crest Trail.
Pauley Creek is a small Spring Creek. It contains some
rainbows up to 12 inches. It has a tributary that makes it
much larger in its lower section - Butcher Ranch Creek. It
contains mostly brook trout.
Lavezzola Creek is another small Spring Creek with wild
rainbows up to 12 inches. It merges with the Downie
River just before their confluence with the Yuba River.
Downie River is yet another Spring Creek with small
rainbows and brown trout under 12 inches.
Winter off-season fishing between Sierra City and
Bullard Bar Reservoir is allowed under special rules.
Barbless hooks and all "catch and release" is required. It
starts when the state season ends on November 15 and
ends the last Saturday of April when the regular state
season begins.
The North Fork of the Yuba River has a large number of
aquatic insect hatches. Golden Stoneflies hatch in May,
June and most of July. Little Yellow Stoneflies hatch in
June and July. Various species of caddisflies, most of
which are Spotted Sedges, hatch all summer from about
May through September. Blue-winged Olives hatch
during the Fall. There are many other hatches.
Seasons:
The season is from the last Saturday in April through
November 15. There's a special winter season for some
areas.
Spring:
Mid May is Spring Runoff time and other than that, the
fishing is great during the Spring.
Summer:
Summertime can slow the fishing down a little in some
places but it's still good most of the time.
Fall:
Fall is a good time for fly fishing North Fork Yuba River.
Brown trout migrate out of Bullard Bar Reservoir up into
the river to spawn in the Fall.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies
| Type of Stream Spring Creek/Tailwater Species Rainbow Trout Brown Trout (Wild and Stocked) Size Small to Medium Location Northern California Nearest Towns Burney Season Last Sat. of April through Nov. 15 Access: Good Non-Resident License State of California Weather National Weather Service Link Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies |
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North Fork Yuba River
California
California
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 &12 ft., 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 71/2
ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0X
Best Fly Rod:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five or
Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Loon Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 &12 ft., 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 71/2
ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0X
Best Fly Rod:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five or
Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Loon Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
| Options For Selecting Flies: 1. Email us (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response. 2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide which flies you need. 3. Email us (sales@perfectflystore.com) with a budget for flies and we will select them to match the budget and get them to you in time for your fly fishing trip. All orders are shipped free in the U. S. Orders over $50 are shipped via Priority Mail. |