Dennis Estrada Yuba River Shad and Striper Fly Fishing Report
Date: June 7, 2026
Location: Yuba River – Daguerre Point to Recology Take-Out (Private Access)
Anglers: Dennis Estrada and Todd Johnson
Guide: Joe Garza
Flows: Low
Conditions: Slow but productive
Dennis Estrada and Todd Johnson joined guide Joe Garza for a full day of fly fishing on the Yuba River, floating from Daguerre Point to the take-out below the Recology facility. Despite low flows and generally slower fishing conditions, Dennis and Todd enjoyed steady action throughout the day and landed more than 20 fish over the course of eight hours on the water.
Shad Fishing
Shad fishing was slower than expected, but persistence paid off. Fish were caught at every spot throughout the day using traditional swinging techniques with 4- to 6-weight Spey rods. Productive flies included the Shad Comet (size 10, pink) and Shad Bugger (size 10, pink). As the day progressed and the afternoon bite developed, Dennis made a call to switch his dropper fly to a Sweet Meat, which proved that shad, especially the hens, could not resist Dennis’ Sweet Meat.
Pro tip: Use a shad dart type fly as your point fly and a small “perdigon-ish” nymph as a dropper. This combination gives two offerings. The trend of using small jig nymphs to catch shad has been gaining traction over the past two seasons. Don’t be afraid to try a two fly rig using two nymphs.
Striper Fishing
Striper fishing was also challenging due to the low conditions. Dennis and Todd targeted fish with 8-weight single-hand rods and stripping techniques. Stripers were holding tight to structure and staying tucked into shaded areas, making presentation and accurate casts critical. Stripers that were cruising in open water were spooked easily. While opportunities were limited, Dennis and Todd worked structure methodically to find fish. Custom jig flies tied by Joe Garza were used to target the stripers.
Equipment
- 4- to 6-weight Spey rods for shad
- 8-weight single-hand rods for stripers
Hot Flies
- Shad Comet – Size 10, pink
- Shad Bugger – Size 10, pink
- Sweet Meat – Size 16, tan caddis
Outlook
Low flows continue to influence fish behavior, with both shad and stripers showing periods of inactivity. Anglers should focus on covering water thoroughly, fishing structure carefully for stripers, and keeping a Sweet Meat pattern (or a small jig nymph) handy as shad activity increases later in the day.
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