Yuba River Fishing Report

Report updated Jan. 23, 2012

TROUT: TOUGH

The Yuba has been fishing pretty tough in the low, clear flows, so all this rain should really help things out as Deer Creek is pumping in some turbid water. When things settle down later in the week, look for some Skwala action and maybe a little afternoon dry fly stuff as well.

Trusted Guides

JD RICHEY SPORTFISHING

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Lower Yuba River map

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About the Lower Yuba River

The Lower Yuba can really be considered two rivers — the 12-mile stretch from the mouth up to Daguerre Point Dam and the section from Daguerre up to the Englebright Dam. The lower section is not much of a fishery anymore — a few trout here and there and some good shad and striped bass fishing in high water years but that’s about it. Migrating species like salmon and steelhead negotiate the lower river quickly and are difficult to catch.

The few miles of the Yuba immediately above and below the Highway 20 bridge, however, support a prolific wild rainbow trout fishery and produces nice fish in the 13- to 20-inch range. In the fall, the river gets invaded with a bunch of 15- to 17-inch half-pint steelies but winter fish to 12 pounds are occasionally taken as well.

The Yuba’s a single barbless, artificials only stretch, so leave the nightcawlers and Power Bait at home.

You can access the river right at the bridge and hike either up or downstream. A few miles up, your access is blocked by the Yuba Narrows, a steep, rocky canyon — and some seriously grumpy locals as well.

Tying the Poor Man’s Glo Bug for steelies