DIY Skwala Hatch!
It was brought to my attention that many of you folks may need a little help with your Skwala fishing this coming year. Below are tips, rigging and fly suggestions that will help you on your Skwala adventures.
I was on the Yuba River this morning 01/13/2022. The current flows on the Yuba River at Parks Bar Gauge 673cfs (this gauge is not working properly all the time). Deer Creek Gauge is 72cfs. The water clarity at the Parks Bar bridge was around 2-3 feet. When I walked out to the river at Sycamore Ranch it was a good 3 feet in visibility.
I fished above Hammons Grove and below Sycamore Ranch. I only fished for a couple of hours. Mostly I was walking the bank looking for Skwala exoskeleton and or Skwalas themselves. I found fresh exoskeletons. I did see a nice Pinkie hatch going on at the Clay Bank area and some March Browns at Miner’s Corner. With the high temps in the high 50’s and reaching the low 60’s the Skwalas should start at any time. I believe the water will continue to have a little color to it for a while, with the low elevation snow melting off.
My normal Skwala day usually starts at 10am or so if I am just targeting the dry. If I am fishing both nymphs and dries, I start around 8am. I fish my nymphs until 10am or so and then take a break, re-rig to a dry fly setup and head out to fish the dries until 2pm. The Skwala nymphs start crawling early in the morning from the highly oxygenated water in the high current/cobble bottom toward the shoreline. I fish nymphs right on the current seam between these prime habitats and the main current flow. You can use your choice of Dead Drift or High Stick methods.
The Dead Drift method is a rig using an indicator that allows the flies to dead drift down the seam using stack mending to extend your drift. The High Stick method is wading into position right in front of where you would like to fish and casting upstream and lifting your rod as the flies come toward you and lowering the rod once the flies go by on the downstream side. I prefer the Dead Drift method. I don’t like to disturb the fish by wading right through the prime water.
Dry flies are fished using the Bump method down the seam of the current line and working your way closer and closer to the shoreline. The Bump method is standing upstream from the area you are targeting and then casting the fly directly downstream but just short of the prime area. To allow more line to extend from your rod, lift your rod tip up and down while pushing some slack into the line and it will kick additional line out downstream.
You need to be flexible throughout the day. Go for a long walk and get away from the crowds. You will find unfished water. Be stealthy, even with a little tint on the low water the fish can see you. Don’t be in a hurry, watch the water and observe what is happening (hatches, rises etc.) Remember Skwalas' adults love nice sunny weather, with highs in the upper 50's and 60's.
Top Flies Bill Carnazzo's Skwala Dry Fly Lance's Jigged Skwala Nymph, Mrs. Skwala Unit Size 10, Mr. Skwala Unit Size 12, Lance’s X-May Emerger Olive and Black Sizes 16-18, Quigley’s Marabou Emerger March Brown Size 14 Lance’s X-May Olive, PMD, Pink Lady and Brown in Size 16-20, Fox’s Caddis Poopah Olive Size 14, Sweet Pea Size 16-18, Frenchie Size 16, Thurman’s Bird’s in Olive and Brown in Size 14, CDC Thorax Pink Albert Size 16, CDC Parachute Spinner Pinkie Size 16, and Last Chance CDC Pinkie Emerger Size 16
Don't forget we have a Yuba River Tour on May 7, 2022 - there is 2 spots open.
