Fishing on the Lower Yuba River has been very good during the breaks between storms and following the recent drop in flows after the last water release.
Flows settled around 2,200 cfs, and the river carried a light amount of color with 3–5 feet of visibility. Despite the slight tint, fish were comfortable and holding in predictable water. Midges and beads in the 8–12mm range were the most consistent producers throughout the day.
Fish were found sitting in fast, shallow riffles as well as deeper 2-3ft buckets along the banks, particularly where softer edges met faster current. We also encountered a few hatchery steelhead mixed into the system, adding a nice surprise to the day.
Hatches were very limited to nearly nonexistent, so subsurface presentations were the clear go-to, with little incentive for fish to look up.
Important Update: Flows are expected to be released again over the weekend, with projections climbing above 20,000 cfs by Monday, January 5th, followed by a gradual drop over the next week. Once flows spike, the river will be unfishable for some time, so be sure to monitor gauges and scheduled releases closely to plan your next outing.
When conditions line up, the Lower Yuba continues to offer excellent winter fishing—but timing will be everything in the coming weeks.
