The North Yuba River - The Ultimate Fly Fishing Guide
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About The North Yuba River
The North Yuba River Rises on the Sierra Crest about 8 miles from Sierraville CA before it heads into the HWY 49 gorge fed by Glacier Formed Alpine Lakes. These lakes, known as The Lakes Basin, feed the North Yuba River fresh cold water, making it a fantastic summertime fly fishery. The river’s main tributaries are the Downie River, Goodyears Creek, Canyon Creek, and Slate Creek. For fly fishers, the North Yuba River offers 37 miles of scenic river with excellent fly fishing and a dense population of Wild Rainbow and Brown Trout. The river is broken down into three main fishing sections; The Upper Section, the Wild Section, and the Lower Big Trout Section.
Breaking down the zones
The Upper Section features pocket water, perfect for fishing on hot summer days. This section begins as a small stream at the Yuba Pass and extends through Sierra City, fed by cold mountain streams. The wild rainbow and brown trout here are small, yet beautiful in color. You can access this section in a few key areas; Wild Plum Road above Sierra City and Behind the Sierra Pines Resort. Wild Plum Road access is my preferred location as it is the confluence of Haypress Creek and the North Yuba and it is a wonderful place to spend the day fly fishing.
The Wild Trout Zone starts just below Sierra City and flows downriver to Ladies Canyon with approximately 4 miles of amazing fishing opportunities! This zone is regulated by the Fish and Wildlife with single barbless hooks and a limit of 2 trout larger than 10 inches. This area is where we specialize in guiding, offering a backcountry fly fishing experience with more challenging access! You can access this section from the road in a few pull-out spots along the river, however, the steep canyon walls box out the majority of access. Knowing your way around here is key to finding some amazing Wild Trout Fishing!
Below Ladies Canyon the river becomes easier to access, which means, there is more fishing pressure and recreational activity. During the summer, the river can be crowded with people relaxing on the banks and swimming in the fishing spots! When the weather cools off, this section is a great place to fish downriver to and past Downieville as the river winds and bends in and out of the beautiful gold country canyon. Look for access pullouts on HWY 49, access around Downieville, The North Yuba Trail Head in Downieville, and access pullouts as you drive west towards Goodyears Bar.
Big Trout Section is where the larger brown trout move upriver to spawn in the colder months, starting in the fall. With limited access and a bit of a hike to the river, few people explore this section. However, at the right time of year, the fishing can be absolutely amazing! The best time to fish this section is the fall and early winter. Depending on flows, Spring can also be the right time and the right place to fly fish for some amazing large trout.
This section of the river should not fished in the warmer months when the water temps are near 65 + degrees. Fighting fish when the water temperatures are high can kill the fish due to low oxygen content in the warmer water. Access in this section is along HWY 49 below Goodyear Bar downriver where 49 crosses the Yuba River at Indian Valley Road, providing access to the Canyon Creek Trail.
What types of Fish are in The North Yuba River?
Lots of Rainbow Trout! The upper river and wild sections are packed with ample, hungry, small, wild rainbow trout and a few occasional brown trout. The fishing is fun and the scenery is top-notch. Lower on the river, during the fall, larger brown trout move into the system to spawn and the larger rainbow trout follow looking to capitalize on the eggs of the spawning browns. Most fly fishers come to the North Yuba River for the scenery, the high numbers of willing wild Rainbow Trout, and the charming backroad adventure the history small towns have to offer.
Where to fish on the North Yuba River?
The Upper Zone and The Wild Trout Zone are your best bets!
Look for access points off HWY 49 from Bassetts to Sierra City, including Wild Plum Road and Sierra Pines Resort. Parking is limited and you will have to use your imagination on where to park and access the river but doing some exploring will quickly pay off. From Sierra City to Downieville look for access along HWY 49 and at the following locations: Loganville Campground, Union Flat Campground, Crow City Road, Downieville, The North Yuba Trail Head, Rocky Rest Campground access the river by crossing the footbridge to the North Yuba Trail Head and head up river.
Popular Fishing Access on The North Yuba River
Access along HWY 49 use available pullouts
Loganville Campground - use day parking and access the river at the backside of the campground
Union Flat Campground - use day parking and access the river from campsites
Crow City Road off HWY 49 under the bridge has good river access
The Town of Downieville - Behind the FS kiosk where the Downie River and the North Yuba River intersect
North Yuba Trail Head behind Downieville Court House. Park in day use parking lot and walk the trail to the river
Rocky Rest Campground - Day use parking, walk over the foot bridge and head upriver, you can access some deep pools along the North Yuba Trail
Indian Valley Road | Canyon Creek Trail - Day-use parking and walk down river via the Road | Trial.
I tend to fish the lower sections of the river in the Spring and fall, and the upper sections in the summer once the flows have come down and the temps have come up, usually sometime in June. The upper sections of the river are some of the best summertime fly fishing in the Lost Sierra with cold water and remote access.
How to Fish The North Yuba River
The North Yuba River fishes all year long but the way you fish is changed based on the seasons
Spring Fishing starts and stops as the weather warms up, we get snow melt and some early spring storms. Once the water “clears” up, Spring fishing starts on the lower sections of the river. The upper section of the river is usually too blown out from all of the runoff to fish well…. target the river from Rocky Rest and below. I tight line, Euro Nymph, and strip streamers while the water is still high, I will use an indicator to reach further out into the river and hit all of the seams. Look for walking-speed water, fish it well, and make sure you are getting your flies deep enough!! Be creative! Indicator, Euro Tight Line, Mono Rigs, Dry Dropper, and still stripping that streamer!
Summer - July and August I am usually guiding and fishing the Wild Trout Section of the North Yuba River. When it is hot get out early in the morning as the bite starts once the light hits the river and usually goes pretty strong until Midday. During the cooler part of the morning, I am fishing all the usual spots. Walking speed water, fast pocket water, tail outs, and traditional-looking runs. Once the sun gets high above, I start looking for opacity. Opacity comes in the form of moving water or depth. Like us, the fish want to find shade from the hot overhead sun and they move into faster-moving water and deeper holes. Presentations are easier in the faster-moving water so those are the spots I target with my guests. Tight line nymphing, double dry dropper, and the occasional wooly bugger stripping are the top 3 methods to get my presentations in fast and deep. As the day turns into late afternoon, start looking for slightly slower water again as the fish move out of the fast deep holes.
Fall!! After a quick break in July and August, I am always chomping at the bit to get back on the water in Sept. Once the temps start to drop overnight the fishing tends to turn back on and as soon as the first few rain storms arrive, fall fishing lights up and goes strong into November. Fall fishing is one of my favorite times of the year. The colder days, and the lower mellow light all add up to an amazing time to be alive and be outside in nature. Like Spring, I am mixing things up on the water mostly Euro Tight Line, Dry Dropper, and stripping streamers. I get into some remote places in the Fall since the water levels are lower in the canyon sections making backcountry fly fishing more accessible and safer with lower water levels. Every year I dream about fall!
North Yuba Fishing Regulations - Check out Fish and Wildlife’s website for the current North Yuba Fishing Regulations.
North Yuba River Feather River Fly Patterns
I tie 90% of my flies - why? I like to fish deep in the water column and I can add weight to the flies I tie making for productive presentations in the Strike Zone with nymphs and streamers.
Hare’s Ears sizes 8-14
Plastic Surgeons sizes 12-14
Frenchies sizes 12-16
Pheasant Tails sizes 8-10
Zebra Midges sizes 14-16
Parachute Adams - 14-16
March Brown -12-16
May Flies - 12-16
Chubby Chernobyl - 14
Wooly Buggers - Green, Brown
Egan’s Poachers - Green, Brown, White
I spend over 200 days a year on the rivers in The Lost Sierra covering all of the different sections. I key in on the diversity of the ecosystem, the weather, and flows. I “usually” know where to go at the right time, if you are interested in getting the most out of your experience on the river, let’s connect, I would love to guide you and share with you a memorable adventure!
