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Suggested Flies for New Bullards Bar Reservoir: |
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Streamer Flies: |
Bass Flies: |
Jig Flies: |
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Directions: 
Bullards Bar Reservoir is located on the North Yuba River at an elevation of 2000 feet. It may be reached by traveling Highway 49 to a point 1 mile south of Camptonville, and then proceeding west on Marysville Road to the reservoir. From Marysville, travel east 12 miles on Highway 20 and turn left (north) on Marysville Road (Road E21). Go about 12 miles to the intersection with Road E20 and turnright, proceeding another 18 miles to Bullards Bar Dam.
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Notes: New Bullards Bar Reservoir is a large reservoir (969,600 acre feet) in northeastern Yuba County, California, United States, at an elevation of 2,000 feet in the Tahoe National Forest and about 30 miles northeast of Yuba City. The New Bullards Bar Dam was constructed in 1970 and is built on the North Yuba River but the reservoir also receives a portion of the Middle Yuba flow through tunnels. The lake has poor shoreline access, so almost all fishing must be handled by boat. The lake is known as both a coldwater fishery for Kokanee Salmon and a warmwater fishery for Largemouth, Spotted, and Smallmouth Bass. The Kokanee are plentiful and not large, as most are in the 11-13 inch range. Most fish for the Kokanee in the Spring focusing on the dam, the North Fork arm, and the inlets of Mill Creek and Willow Creek. The fish are at 35 to 45 feet of water until the water temps warm up, then they go deep to 90 feet or more. Both Rainbows and Browns are stocked by CDFW into the lake but fishing is sketchy due to the size of the lake and the warm water temps during the late Spring and Summer. The North Arm in the Fall can be a good location as the Browns stage for a spawning run up the North Yuba and Rainbows can often be found in the North Arm during the winter months of December to February. Spotted Bass is a big attraction to fishing at Bullards Bar Reservoir as the World Record has been broken three times recently, with an 11.3 lb Spotted Bass holding the record. The Bass fishing is best near the creek inlets and rocky points. Float N Fly jigs work well in the winter months and poppers will work in the Spring early in the morning or during twilight. The Bass mainly feed on Pond Smelt which are 1-1.5 inches have a white coloration. Most of the baitfish patterns are based upon the pond smelt. One popular technique adapted by local guides, Hogan Brown, Chuck Ragan, and Ryan Williams, is the Float N Fly rig which has a jig fly attached to an indicator with the depth set to be close to where the bass are hanging. Small movements of the fly will trigger a response, particularly effective when water temps are 50-53 degrees. Once the water temps exceed 53 degrees, many of the guides will go to stripping streamers. Topwater action with 4-6 inch patterns are popular in the Summer months from April to August. A 9 foot 5-6 wt rod works well for the lake. A floating line will be used for the Float N Fly as well as topwater action with poppers. A Type 6 Shooting head is used for streamer presentations.
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Fishing Regulations
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.
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