Englebright Lake

Streamer Flies:
Balanced Leech #6-8
Seal Bugger #6-8
Hornberg #8-10
Burk's Aggravator #6-10

Bass Flies:
Burk's Hot Flash Minnow #6-8
Punk Perch #6-8
Perfection Perch #6-8
Gonga #2-4
Clouser Swimming Nymph #6-8

Jig Flies:
Float N Fly Hair Jig, #4-8

Directions:

From Marysville, travel east on State Highway 20 for 21 miles. Watch for Englebright Lake roadside signs. Turn left on Mooney Flat Road and travel 2.5 miles to the project entrance on the left. 

From Grass Valley, travel west of State Highway 20 for 15 miles. Watch for Englebright Lake roadside signs. Turn right on Mooney Flat Road and travel 2.5 miles to the project entrance on the left.

To reach the Lower Yuba above Hwy 20 to Englebright Lake is to park above the Hwy 20 bridge at Parks Bar Road and walk upstream along fishing trails.

Notes:

Englebright Lake was created in 1941 with a dam across the Yuba river. Above the lake is the confluence of the North Fork and Middle Fork Yuba with the South Fork Yuba entering the lake on it's northern portion. The lake is long and narrow covering 815 acres. The lake is deep with steep banks with little shoreline access. The lake has a good population of trout as the inlet water is cold water from the upriver New Bullards Bar Reservoir.

Englebright Lake has mostly rainbow trout, some browns, and a good population of Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted Bass. About 10,000 lbs of rainbows are planted within the lake annually. Within the marina is a trout breeding program raising trophy sized fish within pens at the marina. The rainbows move around mostly within the open water of the lake and will be near the surface during the early morning and evening periods. You will find the browns within the coves and inlets with the best bite in the early evening. Largemouth Bass will be found within the back of the coves in early morning and along shallow points. Smallmouth Bass will also be along the points and inlets with rock and rubble.

The South Fork of the Yuba downstream of Purdon Crossing used to receive seasonal plantings of rainbows but this has been discontinued. The waters used to have a very large run of Steelhead and Chinook Salmon until the Englebright dam was built. There is an effort to build a passage for the fish to reach waters above the dam. Today, the South Fork above Bridgeport mostly contain suckers, the rainbow trout do not do well due to the warm temperatures of this section. The number of water diversions above stream reduce the flow and warms up the water beyond what the rainbows can endure.

Collins Lake is a 1,600 acrea lake managed as both a cold water and warm water fishery. The cold water fishery is best from mid-February through May with rainbow trout. Over 30,000 pounds of rainbows are stocked each year within the lake. There is a stable population of brown trout which were stocked by the state in the 1970's. The warmwater fishery includes Spotted Bass and Largemouth Bass. There used to be Smallmouth but these were overtaken by the Largemouth. The lake continues to get introductions of both Florida and Alabama strain Largemouths. Elmer's Cove and the face of dam represent prime areas for fly-anglers working from float tubes. There is little or no dry-fly action. But slowly stripped streamers such as Woolly Buggers in brown, olive, black or white often receive a rave reception from the trout.

The lower Yuba below Englebright Lake is a wild trout fishery and is open from Dec 1st to August 31st. with only artificial lures and barbless hooks being used.
This section has a limit of 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead and 4 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead in possession. The water is a cold tailwater with well-oxygenated riffles, deep pools, and long runs. And, it is usually flowing well through the summer months for agricultural demands. The best fishing takes place in the spring, but summer can also be a good time to visit, due to the cold water releases that keep the temperature in check. It’s very important to match the hatches of this fishery. In January and February, the most prominent hatches are Skwala stoneflies and Blue Winged Olives. Starting in March and April, you will see March Browns followed by Caddis from May through September. In June and July, Little Yellow Stones and Golden Stones are prevalent. In the spring and early summer, you’ll also have success using Pale Morning Duns, Spotted Sedges, Green Sedges, and Short Horned Sedges. Try using terrestrial imitations in the summer, such as ants, beetles, and grasshoppers.

Fishing Regulations

Englebright Lake

Black Bass: Open all year. Day and Night fishing for Bass only. No restrictions. 5 fish per day. 12" minimum.

Trout: Open all year. Day fishing only. No restrictions, 5 trout per day. 10 trout in possession.

Lower Yuba (Below Englebright to Hwy 20 bridge)

Open: Dec 1st to August 31st. with only artificial lures and barbless hooks being used.
This section has a limit of 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead and 4 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead in possession.