Fishing Reports

Angler: Dennis Estrada
Location: Hammon Grove, Lower Yuba River
Date / Time: August 16, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Flow: 1500 CFS
Method: Trout Spey – Prospecting Swing
Conditions: No hatch observed during the entire session. No surface activity, no adults on the water.

The Summary
Pure prospecting evening at Hammon Grove. From 5:30 to 8:00 PM there was zero hatch and no risers, but the swung caddis pupa patterns still moved fish. Yuba Rainbow Trout were holding deep in soft seams and were willing to come up and grab a searching pattern on the swing. Had to cover water to find them.

5:30 – 6:30 PM:
Started in full sun. Focused on the inside seams and tailouts you can wade to at 1500 CFS. Slow, broad swings. Light grab here and there on the hang-down.

6:30 – 8:00 PM:
Light went soft, water came into shadow, still no caddis, no mayflies, nothing hatching. Best action came in that last hour as the light dropped. Fish were tight to the bottom in 3-5 ft of walking-speed water, taking the fly deep on the swing and on the slow strip back. Packed it up right at 8 PM.

Hot Flies – Doctor’s Sweetmeat Caddis Deep (tangerine, size 14), Tim Fox’s Bead Head Caddis Poopah (tan, size 16)

 

Notes
No need to wait for a hatch right now at Hammon Grove. If you go 5:30-8:00 PM, plan on prospecting. 4wt trout spey with a Scandi head and 10′ fast sink Versileader let me cover the soft water you can’t reach with a single hand rod. Keep your swings slow and let it hang.