On the American the past few weeks...

[WinterrunRon]

Fished 4 of the last 10 days or so on the American hitting it for 2 hour stretches at a time while swinging flies... nothing. ](*,)

It's hard for me to belive how drastically dismal the steelheading has become in what seems to be in the blink of an eye. :confused: Just a few short years ago it was hard to find a spot on January 1st. I remember staying up all night on New Year's Eve and arriving at the river an hour or so before sunlight because I wasn't able to sleep anyway knowing those chrome toads were in there. I'd arrive with a headlamp illuminating the way and there were guys alreading wading out but having to wait for a smidgeon of daylight in order to see. Packed a lunch and fished all day and I didn't leave until after dark. Went home exhausted after landing a fish or two and I couldn't wait for the next day to return. I probably fished 10 days straight and 15-20 of 30 days in January back then. Even through February, fishing was good and someone was always landing a fish, even if I wasn't. March was a sleeper month. I'd always catch some really nice fish in March and practically had the river to myself.

Times have changed, but just thinking of those days brings a grin to my face. I'm happy and fortunate to have experienced them. :D

[Bruce Berman]

I remember those days fondly, too Ron. I first fished the AR in 2002. That first day changed my life. A sometimes spin fisher, sometimes fly guy, I used glo bugs with a new fly rod and landed 2 of the hottest fish I'd ever seen. That day I became both a fly fisher and a steelheader. A few days later, I landed 6 fish while all my spinning equipment was being stolen from my van. That also contributed to my giving up gear fishing.

[mike N]

Bruce,

I thought the first time you fished the A was with me and Honest Abe?

MN

[Paul B.]

Hello Ron, I'm off to the American tomorrow with my new 6wt. How about letting me know what you did so I know what not to do. PS Hows the XP work for you?

[WinterrunRon]

I methodically worked Sailor's Bar for two hours on 4 different days, casting through the 200 yard run twice, 3 feet at a time, with a couple of my never fail flies for a total of nothing... so don't do it. :confused:

May I suggest a casting rod, with a hot shot smothered in Smelly Jelly laid out behind a planer board. Place rod in holder, attach clip-on bell to line... relax and read a book. :-\"

XP's fine, used a couple of times... no fish on it yet.

Good luck! :D

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

After this storm series settles we might get some fish up from the Delta?

February can be very good some years on the Lower A.

[Paul B.]

Thanks Ron but I'm thinking to try some new - never worked before - wets that I haven't bought yet at the ISE show today. Good luck, Paul

[Bryan Morgan]

Seeing very few hookups on the American. Anyone else seeing the same thing?

[Bruce Berman]

Man it's been a long time. My memory ain't what it used to be, but my first time on the AR was with Honest Abe in Feb. 2002 for steelies. You, HA and I went after salmon, so that would have been the fall of 2002 or maybe even 2003. Does that sound about right?

[flyguy1]

fished every friday (furlough friday) and a couple of other days since the opening of the upper river. Mainly swinging. One half pounder (opening day) and two grabs. Thats it, pretty dishearting. But, if you line is not in the water, then there is no grab or no fish. I will keep at it.

[WinterrunRon]

Paul, How'd those spankin' new flies work?

Flyguy, I'm with you. My hopes of actually hooking a fish is about 1%. But it's that 1% that keeps me heading down. I'm on my way again this morning. :D Don't ask me why. The logical side of my brain tells me it's pointless, :confused: but the artistic side tells me it could happen, :unibrow: that I might actually hook the one toad chromer that could be there. Not probabale... but possible! :shock:

[pvsprme]

Ron,
Don't let it get to you, keep pluggin' away and the fish will come. I've been on the Trinity since last October at least 4 days a month without success (lost a monster Brown) until last Sunday. Found a grabby pod and the best part is they were grabbing hard on swung bunnies. No nymphing required! Bad part is it started raining hard mid-morning and some friends came in and I decided to stop fishing and chat with them. By the time the rain let up Monday PM, the river was blown and with the forecast for more of the same all week, I lit out for home Tuesday AM. Towed the trailer home in wicked head winds all the way to Sacramento. I'm still pickin' my shorts out..............
Point is, it's not about the numbers, we all got a little spoiled by 2007/8 and I got real frustrated hearing about the epic Northwest year this past fall with no equivocal returns here.
Attached is a hatchery hen I bonked; about 26 or 27" compared to the rod. She took it hard and threw two nice cartwheels.

[WinterrunRon]

Robert,

Same happened to me on Thursday! Spent two days on the Trinity, hooked a couple of fish before the wind came up first in the mid-morning, then the rain joined in, then the river started to swell and color by 5pm. I got on the road to head home, heavy wind and heavy rain got going, white caps from easily 2-3 foot swells on Wiskeytown! I swear I was throttle to the floor doing all of 60 mph the whole way home and doing my best to counter the wind gusts. Two major crashes slowed me down a bit as well. Took me an extra hour!

Crazy thing is, I can't wait to do it again next week! :nod:

I may have to wait, however. River rose from 1000 to 4000 cfs near Helena overnight and dropping very slowly. It may be a few days before it's fishable.