LTFF Level 3 Shad Fish-out - Lower Yuba River

  • 20 May 2023
  • 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Lower Yuba River, Marysville
  • 0

Registration


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REGISTRATION FOR THIS LTFF LEVEL 3 EVENT WILL OPEN ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29th AT NOON.

LTFF Level 3 Shad Fishout on the Lower Yuba River

This is a one day only introduction to Shad fishing for LTFF Level 3 students on the Yuba River on Saturday, May 20th.  We have reserved two guided jet boats (5 students total plus the fishout leader) for this one day outing on the Lower Yuba River.  We will meet at the boat launch site at Marysville and travel by jet boat up the Yuba to fish.

The past several years have been hit and miss for this shad outing--low water flows and high temperatures created challenges.  As a back-up plan this year---if the shad fishing is not acceptable for some reason, this outing will convert to bass fishing from boats in a Sierra foothills lake--likely Bullard's Bar Reservoir, or Scott's Flat Lake both near Grass Valley.   We will make the final call the week of the fishout.

If you are lucky enough to get into shad, it can be a whole bunch of fun!   If you already own a 6-8wt single-hand rod and a shooting head set-up with a Type 3 or Type 4 sinking shooting head (ie., 3-4 or 4-5 ips sink rate) on a floating mono (or floating, coated-fly line-type) running line OR an integrated sinking line with a roughly 180-275 gr. sinking head and know how to cast this set-up that would be ideal.  Depending on how fast the river is flowing, a Type 6 shooting head (or maybe a 10' sink-tip of T8 or T11) may work also.   Having a selection of sink rate heads/lines will aid you as the fish move up and down the water column based on temperature.  You may be fishing relatively shallow in the cool morning and fairly deep by mid-day. 

You will definitely be using the skills you learned in Willy’s Shooting Head and Sinking Line clinic in early February.

Shad are present in our Northern California rivers for a brief period during the spring, which also coincides with water flows for rice farming.  As a result, river flows can be shallow, so jet boats are used to navigate the potentially low water levels at this time.


We will meet our guides early in the morning (likely 7AM, but this will be determined closer to the event).   We will be off the water by mid to late afternoon.  Marysville is a 2 ½ hour drive from GGACC, so you may prefer to make your own motel reservation for Friday evening in the Marysville/Yuba City area.

 The guides will also provide necessary flies.

As you may have heard, shad are often referred to as the "poor-man's tarpon" since they can put up quite a battle for their small size -- esp. on a light fly rod.   For handling shad I suggest that you may want to have a pair of sungloves or similar half-fingered gloves -- which is something that you will want to be sure to wash when you get home.  

Bring a windbreaker or fleece (just in case it cools off), polarized glasses, and hat.  The guides will provide the rest.

We will review similar gear requirements in the pre-fishout zoom call for bass in case we need to switch venues.   Your 7/8 weight rod will work well, and a floating line can work, or ideally a line specific to bass flies which are heavier and turn-over easier with a specialized bass line.   Flies will also be provided by the guides.

This fish-out will be limited to 5 students and a fishout leader.  The registration fee to cover the guides is $395 per person.  As always, guide gratuities are not included—and $35-$50 per person tip is recommended. 

As with all GGACC LTFF events, your registration is non-cancellable and non-refundable.  If you find that you must cancel, it is your responsibility to find a replacement.

Contact info:

Bruce Greenwood    brucegre@pacbell.net




Questions? Please direct your inquiries to the appropriate mail box:

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