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All California reports
North Yuba River
Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Should I go fishing?
Check the water temperature first.
Water temperature is unconfirmed. Use a stream thermometer; stop trout fishing at 70°F or warmer, or sooner if fish show stress.
Fishing rating92
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 127 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1931-2025, 94 readings) show a typical middle range of 114 cfs to 180 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationMediumWater temperature not verified; do not use this score to clear warm-water risk.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Use the RiverReports chart and USGS station before committing to a wade plan.
- Try
- Fish upstream through pocket water and keep casts short enough for clean drifts.
- Leave when
- Skip the North Yuba when the river is too pushy to cross or even to enter safely, when wildfire or road issues complicate the canyon, when the easiest pullouts are already crowded, or when you want a relaxed beginner day rather than technical freestone wading.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 127 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air forecast
- 46°F
- Next 24h high
- 76.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 0%
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.
Latest stored weather check
Sunny
- Wind
- 3 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Sunny
National Weather Service
Goodyears Bar forecast point
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: North Yuba River at Goodyears Bar
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Blue-Winged Olive PatternsSmall BWO driesView fly guide ↗
- Perdigon NymphperdigonsView fly guide ↗
- Zebra Midgezebra midgesView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
Late spring
What to look forCaddis, mayflies, stoneflies
Summer
What to look forCaddis, yellow sallies, terrestrials
Flies to try
Also try small droppers
FallThis season
What to look forBlue-winged olives and midges
Winter
What to look forMidges and small mayflies on mild days
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish North Yuba River today.
The North Yuba is a flow-sensitive mountain river. Treat wadeability as the first decision, then fish broken pocket water, boulder edges, and softer seams when conditions are stable.
Runoff or high flow
Avoid crossings, fish safe edges, and consider smaller streams or a different day if the river is too powerful.
Stable summer flow
Work upstream through pocket water with buoyant dries, dry-dropper rigs, and compact nymphs.
Low and clear
Use longer leaders, smaller flies, and careful approaches. Fish can slide into shaded slots and broken oxygenated water.
Cold mornings
Nymph first, then switch to dries when sunlight, insects, and trout movement improve.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading92/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishingNot recommended
This report does not recommend bank fishing on this reach.
Floating92/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Full river report
Is North Yuba River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Goodyears Bar, California before you go.
The North Yuba is a cold, fast mountain river where runoff, releases, and canyon access can matter more than fly selection. Start with flows, then choose pocket-water tactics that match the current.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Technical fishing
- Technical fishing means the fish are hard to fool, so careful casts and natural drifts matter.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Dry-dropper
- A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
- Pocket water
- Pocket water is a small calm spot among rocks or fast current.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowHelps
USGS shows 127 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1931-2025, 94 readings) show a typical middle range of 114 cfs to 180 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Lower, clearer water rewards careful approaches, longer leaders, and smaller attractor or mayfly patterns.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 46F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 76F. Sunny.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip the North Yuba when the river is too pushy to cross or even to enter safely, when wildfire or road issues complicate the canyon, when the easiest pullouts are already crowded, or when you want a relaxed beginner day rather than technical freestone wading.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use the Goodyears Bar trend to judge whether the river is in a practical pocket-water window. Stable summer and early-fall flows are the clearest fit. Steep runoff, storm bumps, or cold pushy current should move you to the bank, a smaller stream, or another day.
Skip the North Yuba when the river is too pushy to cross or even to enter safely, when wildfire or road issues complicate the canyon, when the easiest pullouts are already crowded, or when you want a relaxed beginner day rather than technical freestone wading.
Base the day around one Highway 49 area near Goodyears Bar or Downieville, then fish upstream through a limited set of pocket-water targets instead of bouncing between every roadside turnout you can see on the map.
If the North Yuba is too high or too busy, pivot to Hot Creek for a very different technical trout plan or to the Lower Yuba if you want a larger river with more hatch-driven structure and less pocket-water scrambling.
North Yuba River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
Confirm current California Department of Fish and Wildlife inland rules and emergency closures before fishing. Also check fish consumption advisories where relevant before keeping or eating fish.
Where to access the river
Goodyears Bar area
Use as the primary planning anchor for this report and the RiverReports/USGS gauge reach.
Highway 49 area
Roadside planning is useful, but anglers must respect private property, parking limits, and safe pullouts.
Downieville area
A nearby services and planning base for North Yuba trips upstream of Goodyears Bar.
Tahoe National Forest streams
Nearby public-land stream options can help when the main river is too high, too busy, or unsafe.
- Confirm legal parking and public access before entering the river.
- Do not assume every visible pullout provides legal or safe fishing access.
- Runoff can make the river dangerous even when the weather is good.
- Fire restrictions, road work, storms, and emergency closures can affect Sierra access.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 10 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current fish eating advice and check which fish and waters it covers.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This North Yuba report is maintained from current flow, weather, forest-access, regulation, and fish-advisory sources so anglers can plan the Goodyears Bar corridor with realistic wading and canyon-travel expectations.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
Is the North Yuba good for dry flies?
Yes, especially in summer and early fall when flows are approachable and trout are holding in pocket water. A buoyant dry with a small dropper is often a practical starting point.
What flow source should I use?
Use the RiverReports page for a polished chart where available, and keep USGS 11413000 as the durable official gauge reference.
Is wading difficult?
It can be. The river is cold, rocky, and flow-sensitive. Avoid crossings in elevated flows and use traction and a wading staff.
Do I need to check closures?
Yes. CDFW emergency rules, fire restrictions, and road conditions can affect Sierra fishing trips.