Bullards Bar Reservoir’s Overlooked Trout Fishery
The following appears in the December issue of California Sportsman:
By Mark Fong
In recent years, New Bullards Bar Reservoir in Yuba County has garnered a lot of attention as one of the most prolific kokanee fisheries in the state.
Prior to this development, it was recognized as the premier spotted bass lake in the country. In fact, the world-record spotty, weighing in at 11 pounds, 4 ounces, was caught here in 2017. Although the big spots are now far and few in between, Bullards is still popular with bass anglers hoping for a chance to score a giant. Having fished here a lot over the years, it came as quite a surprise to me when longtime Northern California guide Brett Brady of Bare Bones Guide Service told me about the lake’s sneaky-good rainbow trout fishery.
PRIME TIME FOR TROUT AT BULLARDS BAR
Brady has been guiding the lakes and rivers around Northern California since 1998. He grew up not far from Bullards Bar and has fished the lake his entire life, making him perhaps the most well-versed authority on the lake’s coldwater fisheries.
“Bullards has a nice little trout population, but your success is really dependent on the time of the year,” explains Brady. “Late fall through early spring is the best time to concentrate on the trout. The fish are primarily rainbows and we will see some browns, but that is a rare occasion. The rainbows are a mix of wild and hatchery fish, and we will sometimes get fish up to about 4 pounds, but a 2- to 2.5-pound fish is considered pretty good.”
According to Brady, focusing on areas where creeks and waterfalls flow into the lake is the key to trout success. “Generally, we don’t see the fish bite well until we see running water,” he said. “The flow will bring a lot of food in with it and it’s gonna bring the trout into that area to feed.”
Brady employs two primary methods to target trout. The first is to cast very small plastic insect imitations on a small lead jighead. The second is to troll, mostly toplining with an assortment of offerings, including spoons, plastic grubs or the old standby, a dodger and nightcrawler combo.
TAPPING INTO THE MORNING BITE
Recently, on a frigid late November morning, I met up with Brady at the Emerald Cove Launch Ramp. Joining us was my friend and fishing buddy Mike Barton. We boarded Brady’s 22-foot Chinook sled from Rogue Jet Boatworks and made the long run up the North Fork of the Yuba River. When we arrived at our starting area, Brady shut off the big motor and positioned the boat using his trolling motor.
Brady instructed Mike and myself to cast up near the bank and to work our small baits back to the boat. Stationed in the front of the boat, it did not take long before Mike was hooked up with a feisty trout. The fish put a deep bend in Mike’s ultralight spinning rod as he skillfully fought the fish so as to not overstress the gossamer-weight line. After a spirited battle, Mike quickly unhooked the trout and released it back into the lake.
The action was pretty consistent over the next few hours as we all enjoyed our share of hard-fighting Bullards Bar trout. Once the sun got higher in the sky, the bite slowed down and became more sporadic. For the remainder of the morning it was a bit of a grind, but we still got fish.
If you are up for a new fishing adventure, Bullards Bar rainbow trout may be just what you are looking for. CS
Editor’s note: To book a trip with Brady or to learn more, please visit his website at fishbarebones.com, follow him on Facebook at Bare Bones Guide Service or contact him directly at (530) 263-4451.
