Yuba Wednesday

[Duckbutter]

I have the opportunity to hit the beehive state for a CE course in Provo this weekend, and am planning an heading out from Colorado early in the AM Wednesday and take a 6 hr "pit stop" on the way as the family is staying home and I will have all day. Original plan was to hit Fish Lake, but in light of current ice reports Yuba sounds like a safer (although not entirely safe) bet.

Never fished Yuba, through ice or soft water, and it intrigues me, and watched the threads last winter carefully. I am not new to pike fishing, and caught a decent 29 incher last week, but am new to Yuba and would love any "where to try" tips. PM's are fine. If anyone wants to meet up, I would love the company and we can cover a bit more ground. Also, any advice on possible weak ice would be greatly appreciated as chances are I will be by myself and would hate to attempt a "self rescue attempt". Love my kids too much to risk it. Fine, I guess my wife too....lol

Thanks in advance and tightlines.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Don't have any first-hand info for you but a couple of reports from late last week indicated that safe ice was forming in most areas of the lake. But be careful and drill test holes before you get too far out. Better yet is to look for holes drilled by others. Last week's report indicated no holes visible then. Might have had some action since then.

Attaching a couple of maps. Best spots for icing pike have been across from the Painted Rocks ramp and around the island...and several spots around the narrows. Also a few taken near the Oasis ramp and along the shoreline to the west. Also some fish reported east of the ramp and around into the rocky shoreline off the camping areas.

Not sure of the water levels but that will play a role in where the fish will be holding. They can be caught in water as shallow as 15 feet but are usually deeper. They will follow their food...perch and small carp.

Some anglers fish large whole minnows on tandem hook rigs...with wire leaders. Anchovies will work too. Others prefer jigging with large spoons, tubes or other plastics...with a bit of perch meat or other fishy parts added. Lipless cranks in perch colors can be effective...especially with good rattles. But lots of pike have been taken on "sweetened" jigs deadsticked just off the bottom.

Hope you have a good sonar. That will be vital in finding the right depths and locating fish.

Should be some others offering help...I hope.

Good luck and post a report.
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[skrewflanders]

Let us know how it goes, been itching to head that way and wondering how ice conditions are.
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[bornfishin]

Judging on the weather and temps for the next week, it looks like the ice won't hang around for long. Good luck and let us know how you do.
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