The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Well, today was opening day for the Yuba above the bridge. I have a love/hate relationship with this river. I haven't fished it since early last Spring, but I am nevertheless drawn to it. When it is good it is very good. And the rest of the time it humbles you.

Today was pretty good.

I caught four fish and landed two. That's a better-than-average day on this river (for me anyhow).

The specifics: I fished various nymphs with no success until about noon. Then I started seeing bugs on the water and occasional rises. I immediately switched to a PMD, the closest approximation, and I was rewarded almost immediately with a nice 14"er to hand. Then ten minutes later I got another grab. This guy was very large and eventually broke off as I was trying to land him.

The rises turned off pretty quickly, so I ate lunch and watched. Saw a few more rises, so I tried again. This time I tried a dark Cahill and again got lucky with a 12"er. One more grab and an LDR and that was it for the day. Headed back to the car at 3:00. Nice day in spite of the wind and cold.

I was especially pleased to see so many bugs. I think this river is recovering.

Being Saturday, and opening day, I expected to have some company--but 12 cars under the bridge and nearly 20 flyfishers spread over a mile did surprise me--I usually fish only during the week. But it's a big river and we all had room to fish. I met a lurker (Aram) who recognized me and my Bash hat. Saw a few other familiar faces from previous trips to the Yuba. It was nice comparing observations and opinions.

Back under the bridge many other fishers had quit at about the same time, and we swapped accounts (and lies?). Others had the same success with dries. Nobody admitted to being skunked.

Well, that was my day on the river. I fish a lot on other rivers, but this day on this river deserved a report. I hope to see other similar reports.

Cheers all,

El Rey

El Rey,

OMIGAWD!! a fishing report?? Thank you. there is so little water down here the Carmel and Big Sur won't open before the New Year and maybe not then...

Glad you got out!!

Hearing about your pretty good day fishing makes up for what happened to the Bears...

I got home in time to watch most of that disaster. What a disappointing season after such high hopes. Well, next year!

Where is that KARMA rating thingy??? I need to DING you big time Harlan for actually posting a fishing report. What do you think this is, a fishing board or something!

Next time I promise to join you. What about next Sat?

You got that right. At least El Rey had a good day...

Shoot, it was like two completely different seasons.