1 yard stick on Yuba

[pezvela]

When I arose at dawn it was cold, cloudy but with a promise of being a decent day so I loaded the boat and headed for Yuba in hopes of finding that elusive 30 pound pike I've lusted for.

It was cold (33 degrees), Foggy and storm clouds threatened when I arrived. The parking lot at the Oasis launch ramp held six boat trailers and there were anglers on the bank. Surface water temperatures were at 42 degrees and the reservoir was flat. Aside from the cold the morning looked promising.

As is my custom I was going to try a new tactic today. One rod would hold a treble hook embedded chub minnow fished on the bottom, while the second rod, an ultralight would cast spinners and small jerk baits. The ultralight rod with 2 pound mono had proved effective on earlier trips, but the dead bait on the bottom was an experiment. I rationalized that since a dead bait soaked below a bobber or on the bottom was the most effective method for pike on Redmond, it might also be productive on Yuba, but I am much to fidgety to sit in the cold and watch a rod. I have to be casting a lure, experiment or not.

Three hours passed and not only hadn't the sun made an appearance as predicted, it felt colder. The only warming event of the time passed were two pike, one a hammer handle and the other a decent fish caught on the little rod. The experiment was a failure and the day was a success.

In spite of the cold I enjoyed seeing several friends on the lake whom also had caught pike and as always, being on the water beats sitting at home wishing I was fishing. Fishing should remain fair to good for northerns until Ice over.

[wiperhunter2]

Good going Steve, lots of color on that fish, is that because of the cold temps? Are the lures in you pic te ones that you have been using? Maybe the lures I've been using too large[:/]. Two pike in three hours, not too bad imo.
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[pezvela]

In a very long quest to figure out how to constantly take pike at Yuba, I have tried many, many lures and techniques. I have become very obsessive and have yet to find any one technique or lure that will work every time.

I keep 8 or 10 rigged rods on my boat depending on what I am planning on trying that day. One is always the 7' ultralight seen in the picture. The small box of light lures are for use with that rod.

Occasionally, the small lures are effective and always a pleasure to cast in contrast to when I am throwing big heavy lures.

I don't profess to be an expert pike fisherman, but through the years I have put in my time and occasionally all that experience and experimentation pays off. I believe that through the years at Yuba we have put well over 100 pike over 10 pounds in the boat. Several have been over 20 pounds, but not much over 20. It is that 30 pound mark that obsesses us as we know that there are giant females in Yuba that will approach that weight. I have seen them on occasion and we have lost two at the net that I estimated at 48".

The lures that have been most productive over the years have been Rapala's, Yo-Zuri's and Luck E strike Rick Clunns and Lucky crafts. For a couple of years rattle traps were the go to lure. Big buck tail spinners were also productive for awhile. This fall the Luck E Strike Rick Clunns suspending hardbaits and the Yo_Zuris floating lures from 4" to 6" have been good and we have caught a few fish with Big Hammer swim baits. If I had to choose only one bait it would probably be a suspending Rapala flat rap in perch color.

That is way more information than you asked for, but fishing is my passion and pike in particular since I have left Lake Powell. I hope to see you on the water to compare notes. The weather looks decent so I hope to get another trip or two in before December. Who knows...We might catch that 30 pounder. Steve
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[wiperhunter2]

Thanks for all the info on your go to lures Steve. On every trip there this year I have tied on several different sizes of perch Rapalas, it is good to know that even though they did not catch a fish they will work at times. That spinner in your pic, the one on your rod, is that something you also catch them on occasionally?
Also, that 2 lb test you use on your ultralight setup must be something special, I'm guessing you are using a steel leader with it?
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[pezvela]

I make my own leaders for all pike fishing with the exception of ultralight and light rod fishing applications and then I use Danielson 12lb test steel leaders I get from Sportsmans. These are the smallest diameter steel leaders I have found. Although the 8" leaders are probably too short, I don't like to wind the leaders up into the tip when casting very light lures as they develop a bend so I use the shorter versions.
I cut the snap off and replace it with a little gadget that I buy from the fly fishing section. It is designed to attach a fly to a fly leader. They are shaped like an S. I have forgotten what they are called, but you hook or snap one end of the S onto the loop in the Danielson leader where the snap was then close it with needle nose pliers. The spinner or lure attaches to the other end of the S and will never come off. Much better than a snap; smaller and stronger.
I have many pike fishing friends that use braid and do not think they need a wire leader. They believe that the steel leader impairs the action of the lure as it will if the steel leader and the snaps are too big. I have seen them lose big fish due to those nasty teeth on a bite off so I always use steel. Titanium is too expense for my pocketbook.
The spinner is a Mepps # 2 brass. It catches fish but the bright colored ones are often better. In larger sizes the Musky killers with bucktails in fluorescent colors can be very productive and I have friends that use them to the exclusion of everything else. Are they the best Yuba lure? Not for me, but others think so. I also know anglers that use nothing but spinner baits and catch a lot of pike, but I have never caught a pike on them, Figure that out?
I can go on forever about pike and Yuba, but I don't want to bore you or the other forum readers, I believe the purpose and the great strength of this forum is the information flow and I am glad to read what others have to say as it makes me a better and more successful angler and I am delighted to share what I know. Steve
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[utahgolf]

nice fish and great info there! I also like fishing that rapala, especially in the spring. Bomber makes a great suspending bait as well that caught a lot of fish for us, Bomber Long A, golden bengal color. Worth a try if that rapala slows down a bit for you .But I have a hard time not throwing those wild Big Hammer colors, those tails push a ton of water.
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[pezvela]

I appreciate your earlier advice about big hammers. I received a few more in todays mail. When I used them I caught fish, but nowhere near as many as you have caught in a single day with them, but the day I devoted to throwing them was a full moon event with a collapsing barometer. When I return to Yuba later this week I'll try them again with more favorable conditions. I will additionally try the bomber long A.
Anything I can add to the mix that produces fish especially when the stand bys aren't working, is greatly appreciated.
Thanks again. I hope to see you on the water before it is over for the season.
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