Yuba - Above Hwy 20

Spent the last day of 2009 on the Yuba. Parked under the bridge before the sun came up. Put my gear on and walked upstream and around the bend. There is a certain section of water that I always hit here. The run seems to always produce. So, it seemed I should start there.

Access	Above hwy 20 bridge
Air Temp	Low 45, High 56
Water Temp/Visibility	~47 F / 4-6 feet
Weather	Mostly Cloudy
Flow	~710 cfs
Time in/out	7am, 5:15pm
Leaders/Lines	Compact Scandi
	Int. Poly	All day
	7 & 12 lb FC tippet
Producing Flies	Sz6/8 steelhead hair wings	4

The first hour produced only a slight bump. However, after getting a little more than half way through the run, I hooked up with a small 15" female. She took a sz8 steelhead hair wing. Not much of a bend in my rod, but she did go vertical several times.

After putting her back, it was quiet until near the end of the run. I had the line below as more was being pulled from my reel. The fly was bouncing all over the place as I was also moving across the river. Not a very good presentation if you ask most anyone. However, that didn't stop a large fish from taking a grab that almost ripped the rod right out of my hands. The hook up was very short. There was too much slack line to set the hook. However, the fish must of been more than 25 inches. It was pretty unusual.



After finishing off the run with only a bump or two, I crossed and went upstream a ways. Caught another 15-17" female as the fly was dangling below me. Stuck around for a while but didn't feel the mojo. I went back downstream and stepped through with nothing to show for it.

I fished the same one from that morning, but from the other bank. Nothing. Crossed river again and fished my favorite spot to catch a couple more fish around 20".

It was a nice day and I had a chance to see 2009 off doing something I enjoy. Hope to get out again next week, but not sure if it will happen.