Summer is here and all the great things about it are in full
swing…BBQ, striper fishing, Shad fishing, weddings, cold beer, great new music,
anger at the giants, caddis and PMD hatches, wet wading, golden stones, sierra
trout streams…you name it. I love June.
Lower Yuba
– I have been on the Lower Yuba a few days in the last week and fishing has
been great to good. The flows are hovering around 1300cfs which is a good flow,
but I would like to see it higher. 1300cfs has a good current through the flats,
but not enough water to come up into the willows on the bank which is going to
make hopper fishing a bit more challenging this summer. The fish are spread out
in the flats and deeper parts of runs and will move into shallower water or the
riffles to feed in the evening. We caught fish on nymphs (jimmy leggs, birds
nest, S&M PMD’s, Red copper johns, and a new medium size stonefly I am
working on) and dries in the evening. There was decent caddis and PMD hatches
along with a few golden stones flying around. We got fish to eat Cutters E/C
caddis, the Yuba Emerger, Quigleys Golden Stone Dry, and Quigley’s hackle
stacker. As long as the flows don’t drop any more I think it is going to be a
good summer on the Yuba. Not sure how the hopper fishing will shake out but as
long as the caddis and mayflies come off each day things will be good.
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| Yuba Double..one a few that day |
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| Grip and Grin...sorta |
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| Yuba ... survivor. Nice osprey talon scar on this guy...the fish not the angler |
Lower Sac Stripers
and Shad – The striper fishing for me really picked up over the last
week. We hooked fish in almost every run we fished the last few days I have
been on the water. The fish are on the smaller side with a mix of nice schoolie
size fish and shakers. Though we have hooked a few bigger girls just not gotten
them to the boat. I think most of the fish that can eat shad are still eating
them. Shad fishing has been hit and miss…not a really strong shad year for me
personally. I know people are getting into them at various times but there just
doesn’t seem to be as many fish around as last year (that said last year was
pretty epic). Hopefully this will
result in a good striper year.
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| Lower Sac Striper |
Lower Sac Trout
– Fishing remains good from what I have heard. I am going to start getting out
on the lower river down below barge hole shortly. Summer is a great time to
fish the lower river and can provide some of the best fishing of the year. I
may be biased though as this is some really fun guiding and really a pretty and
unique stretch of river.
North Fork Yuba
River – I spent a day up out of Downieville fishing some old haunts
this week. I started guiding up here over 15 years ago and it is always cool
going back and seeing how little things have changed. I will say the water
level is scary low for June. To me it looks about to be at August levels. That
said fishing was good. We caught fish on dries and small nymph rigs. There was
good numbers of golden stones, little yellow sallies, and what looked to be
gray or brown drakes flying around. I would say if you like this piece of water
get up there sooner then later as it is going to get pretty thin this year.
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| a Few goldens flying around |
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| Beautiful Water up on the NF Yuba...get there soon though |
Fall River
– Word is the hex hatch has started…I will be up there soon to confirm.
The Rock and Roll
Report – so with all the driving around I have been doing I needed some
new music…Summer always brings some good releases.
Jason Isbell “Southeastern” – Jason was part of drive by truckers
for a few years and wrote some of my favorite DBT songs. He then left the band
and has released four albums, two solo and two with his band the 400 unit. This
is a solo release and is seriously amazing song writing. For some reason every
song this guy writes I relate to. This is a great sun setting on the way home
from work or the river type of album, or just having a cold one on the porch.
The Wonder Years “The Greatest Generation” – Awesome and
rocking earnest emotionally charged music…similar to Taking back Sunday but way
cooler and way more relatable lyrics.
There are few bands that make me yell and pump my fist while driving
like these guys.
The Front Bottoms “Talon of the Hawk” – the listeners also
bought feature on I tunes continues to cost me $9.99 at an incalculable and
painful rate. I found these guys while buying the new Wonder Years CD…they are
just could rock. The singer is great and kinda reminds me of Pavement a bit but
a bit more catchy and relatable…like I know what the song is about. I love
pavement but lets be honest if anyone can tell me what any given song is about
let me know, not just lines from the songs but the song as a whole.
That will get you through a few drives to the river or lake
or mud puddle.
Cold beverages I
drink past 12:30 during the summer report - Any new device to consume beer is worth a review…the new
Klean Kanteen 16oz Vacum insulated Tumbler is amazing. Not only does it look
cool it keeps your beer colder then a frosted pint glass and doesn’t have the condensation
that gets my wife’s various wood furniture things wet. I know a coaster would
solve this issue but even then the condensation drips on my chest while
slouched on the couch and while that is a cooling feature at times after a few
beers I am just wet. I made it a point to drink all my daily beverages out of
one of these the other day…iced coffee: ice lasted and drink stayed cold for a
good 2 hours while I watched sports center, tied flies, and answered
emails…much nicer compared to the 20mins my usual plastic souvenir cup I got at
the giants game. I then made myself a smoothie and rode to the river with it in
my cup holder and it stayed nice and cold through the drive…then of course when
I got home I had a few summer ales out of it. I even fell asleep in bed with a
half pint next to me and while I don’t make a habit of drinking beer in the
morning I took a sip when I woke up and it was still a bit cold. Good stuff.
Liquid wise I have been rotating between the staples…Pale
Ale, Summer Fest, and Torpedo. I did try a bottle of the Sierra Nevada Double
Dubel brew. This is a Belgian Style Dubel that is aged for two years in Oak
Casks previously used to age Brandy. It was good it was just a bit sweet for
me. I would probably drink it again but it was
not my favorite.
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| Frosty and Cold...even in the morning. |
Funny Things
Clients' say…
Client: “So does the fishing get better in the evening?”
Me: “Well it would be pretty damn good now if you set the
hook on a few of the half dozen grabs you are getting in EVERY hole we have
fished.”
Client: “Good Point…does it get easier in the evening”
Me: “if you get better at this fly fishing thing”
Laughter
Still Plenty of
dates in July for Lower Yuba trout, Lower sac trout, Lower sac stripers, Top
water bass, NF Feather Trout, NF Yuba Trout, Small stream trout….. Either way
go fish.
July 1, 2, 5, 6, 8,
9, 11, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31
August 1-8
