Bernie and I went to the Lower Yuba in search for American Shad last Thursday. We found them scattered from just below Hallwood Boulevard to an area just below Daguerre Point Dam.
With higher flows (4000 cfs), fishing was challenging. We had to use type 6 tips to get down to the desired depths. At a few places, I wish that I had a type 8 head. There weren't too many safe places to wade.
I field tested a Rio 425 grain Skagit Short line. See the equipment reviews section for the review.
Dennis
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Denny - Doin' it real since 1969. dennis@flyfishingspecialties.com
Yesterday (5/21), Bernie and I went back up the Yuba. The river has dropped a tad, but wading is still tough. Even with a type 8 head, getting down to the fish in some holes was difficult. However, we still caught lots of shad.
We found fish in this one area in which the water was low. Bernie and I used intermediate lines. He used a full sink, and I used a tip line. The secret was to go to a longer and finer leader with a small fly. I used a size 12 Banger. After catching several shad, the gape of the hook got bigger. Those strong fish sure can bend hooks! After catching 20 or so fish out of the area, Bernie and I drifted the jetboat over the seamline. We saw the biggest school of the shad that we had seen in the whole river! It seemed as if the river bottom was moving when the school moved.
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Denny - Doin' it real since 1969. dennis@flyfishingspecialties.com
