American River Halfpounders

[JMKiernan]

Curious as to when the halfpounder bite starts on the American?

[Mark Kranhold]

I'd start going now that the flows are up, there has to be some in by now. I usually start tangling with them mid/late July. Its tough with the summer flotilla though! Here is what you may be rewarded with!

This is my largest summer fish caught on the American in August several years ago, and I'm still on the hunt for one like it:D

7278

27 incher of pure adrenaline! This fish is what got me so addicted to Steelhead!

[JMKiernan]

Sweeeet fish Mark. Thanks for the response.

[Jeff C.]

Caught a small halfpounder last week mid-river. Went yesterday and caught 10-12 smolts so it looks like they are starting to show up.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

That 27 incher in August was probably one of the Washugal Summer Run Steelhead they planted back in the 1970s?

http://www.kiene.com/forums/showthread.php?6479-Summer-Run-Steelhead-start-around-the-4th-of-July


CA Fisheries Biologist Dennis Lee would have more accurate info here.....

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Thanks Dennis

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A friend of mine who has a drift boat and pulls plugs for fresh summer run salmon.

He says he gets some really nice Steelhead in August/September while fishing for salmon.

He said some of them are caught in the runs below Goethe Park/River Run? and above the Gristmil access.


I would get very early AM and/or very late PM for these fish.


In my 50 plus years on the Lower American River I have only caught and heard caught a handful of steelhead at this time of year that were over 5 pounds.

I caught two in the late summer around 7 pounds in 50 years; one on a night crawler as a teenager and one on a fly at Watt Avenue.

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[Jeff F]

When I lived in Sacramento, 10 or so years ago, Jeff Ching and I stumbled upon a couple specific spots in the AR that regularly held good sized, what seemed like fresh steelhead.........in the middle of the hot summer (July and August).

I spoke to a DFG guy about these fish and asked him if they were Summer Run or something else. He wasn't sure, but he did say that there are numerous springs in some spots in the river that bubble up really cold water and fish will hang around these areas. Like I said, Jeff and I hooked these fish in the same few areas. I seriously doubt that they were resident "trout" due to their size. And they were all unclipped fish too, which led me to believe that there was some sort of summer run in the AR.

These fish were all VERY similar looking and strong as hell! Below are a couple typical specimens Jeff and I had the joy of releasing.

[Jeff F]

Interesting stuff DP. Thanks for posting.

Resident or anadramous, those fish were eating well, that's for sure. And some of the healthiest looking fish I've ever seen come out of that river. I can still remember the fly we were gettin 'em on.....it was a #12 BHFB Hare's Ear. Go figure.......

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

"He wasn't sure, but he did say that there are numerous springs in some spots in the river that bubble up really cold water and fish will hang around these areas."

This is fascinating news if true.......makes sense if it is though. I have not noticed any springs that are running into the river like we see up in the mountains.



We have talked at the shop for decades about these Rainbow trout/smaller Steelhead in the lower American River.

I don't know if there is a month of the year that someone doesn't catch some.

I would go out for them now extreme early below some big rapids/riffles.

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[Dustin Rhodes]

Curious as to when the halfpounder bite starts on the American?

I would say the American River has Steelhead year around. All you need to do is go out and fish for them :)

[Frank Alessio]

Again I must say that is a brilliant observation on your part Dustin...Especially the get out and fish for them part.....

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Maybe we need to snorkel the river?

[Terry Thomas]

I'd pay to see Kiene with a snorkel and fins going down the American!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Andy Guibord and Fred Gordon both use to snorkel the river for salvage from what the rafters lost going over the two main rapids.

Sunlgasses, money, beer, etc.

In doing this they did see lots of fish over the years......

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