Fishing Yuba Reservoir in Nevada County, California

• Overview

  Set in Nevada County, California, this is Yuba Reservoir. It stands 3,192 feet above sea level. At roughly 10 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Nearest town is Nevada City, 3.1 miles off. Then Grass Valley, 3.9 miles, and Alta Sierra, 6.6 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Yuba Reservoir

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Records held for Nevada County cover brook trout, rainbow trout, tahoe sucker and brown trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Yuba Reservoir a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 71°F and December reads 42°F. No part of the year shuts this water. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan any trip to Yuba Reservoir around it. Late evening often out-fishes the whole afternoon.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Deer Creek Reservoir is 3.8 miles distant. For Yuba Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.