Upper part of the Lower American River opens.....

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

.......January 1st.

It is always exciting to see how many fish are hooked that first day.

With all the salmon in this fall some are expecting the winter run to be better this year.

Actually I have seen it be best in Feburary in past years though.



March through May as it warms up in the spring can be very good for half-pounders and small/medium adult Spring run wild Steelhead too. All we need it to not have that super high water in the spring.....

[Frank Alessio]

Bill...Looks like not a lot of Water soooo far this year....Merry Christmas to you and yours... Frank Alessio

[Troutsource]

This article puts an optimistic face on it: "should be a pretty good one, based on the number of adult steelhead that have been climbing the ladder at the Hatchery."

Looks like some weather may arrive just in time.

http://www.wonews.com/t-NorthernCAFreshwater_RanchoCordova_122311.aspx

[STEELIES/26c3]

Despite my usual cynicism about the effectiveness/productivity of the spawning gravel enhancements in the river... it is possible that between these enhancements and the greater flows (provided we catch up on rain in January...) that we will see more naturally-spawning fish return to the system this year. If so, the overall run could be better this year regardless of how ladder counts compare to last year...

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

That could be a fact.........

[Jed Peters]

Is everyone forgetting that our valley rivers are likely a month behind still? Everything--salmon, bugs, flows, the weather--pushed a month out. I think we are primed (from what I've observed on the runs on the other rivers) that we are in for a REALLY good winter season.

I think hatchery numbers are strong, considering that, in essence, it's more like November in our valley ecosystem than late December.

[Troutsource]

Regarding trends in the valley ecosystem, I've observed a personal trend of zero steelhead over 12" this fall after 8 trips since early October on the American -- most recently last Thursday (one smolt) and Monday after Christmas (two hits). I used to think I was an "accomplished" fly fisherman after 30 years of pursuing trout -- until I met the steelhead 4 years ago.

On an encouraging note, the guy I was fishing with today (Monday) and I saw five adult steelhead in the water (I assume they were adults). We almost stepped on them before they took off, then returned. Three of them were in shallow water, and the other two were in a small eddy about 5 feet deep -- almost frog water. None were in the "main stem". They were totally uninterested in the gifts we were bearing (swinging numerous wet hackles, classic steelhead flies, nymphs). Three of the five had white splotches on their head. All were probably 25"-28". Fished from 7:00 - 1:00.

[Mike R]

Dennis,
Thanks for posting some really good info. Quite often we need a shovel to get through some of the "facts" that gets spouted around here.

And to all,

Annual New Years Day message:

Leave the spawners alone!

See ya,
Mike

[briansII]

Regarding trends in the valley ecosystem, I've observed a personal trend of zero steelhead over 12" this fall after 8 trips since early October on the American -- most recently last Thursday (one smolt) and Monday after Christmas (two hits). I used to think I was an "accomplished" fly fisherman after 30 years of pursuing trout -- until I met the steelhead 4 years ago.

On an encouraging note, the guy I was fishing with today (Monday) and I saw five adult steelhead in the water (I assume they were adults). We almost stepped on them before they took off, then returned. Three of them were in shallow water, and the other two were in a small eddy about 5 feet deep -- almost frog water. None were in the "main stem". They were totally uninterested in the gifts we were bearing (swinging numerous wet hackles, classic steelhead flies, nymphs). Three of the five had white splotches on their head. All were probably 25"-28". Fished from 7:00 - 1:00.


Uh oh. :-)

briansII

[Jed Peters]

Dennis,
Quite often we need a shovel to get through some of the "facts" that gets spouted around here.


If that was a call out to me; you better check yourself and your reading comprehension.

Jed

[Mike R]

Jed,
Nope, no call out from me. Just a general statement about some of the information that floats around in the ether known as the Steelhead Forum.

Mike

[loganmike]

If that was a call out to me; you better check yourself and your reading comprehension.

Jed

Take it easy, Francis!

[Darian]

OK,..... This is the Steelhead Forum that I remember.... :nod: =D>