Tell me about the April/March dry fly fishing on the Lower American

[troutie]

I've heard that the Lower American has a great dry fly season in April/March. Considering the Steelhead are out to sea, wondering what we're fishing for? I didn't know there were resident trout in the river.
Can you tell me more? I want to take my boat out and enjoy this beautiful river.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

When the river gets down to 3,000 cfs look for caddis activity in the upper reaches in the afternoons.

Spring run Half-pounder Steelhead will be feeding on them if we get a run.

March/April/May.........


In the Spring we can have Half-pounders, Stripers and Shad.


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If the Lower Yuba and Lower Feather Rivers have lower flows they can have insect hatches too.

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Warm sunny afternoons are good for caddis and stoneflies.

Cloudy cooler days are good for Mayflies.

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[Sheepdog8404]

A good friend and I have noticed an incredible amount of surface feeding right about the time we’re rushing to the takeout before the rangers lock the gate. I have been very tempted to bring a 5wt and skate a small Caddis for these rising fish but we are always pushing it to the very last minute when this occuers. If you’re walking in, you might give it a shot Nik certain these vast flurries of surface feeding are the shad keying in on the abundant Caddis but it would be a hoot to catch one on a skated dry instead of a deeply presented swung bloody Maria.

[hwchubb]

Shad will take a skated caddis, or a pupae in the film. I’ve gotten them for the last 25 years that way, although 2015 and 2016 had virtually no surface activity. Got a few again last year.

It is the last hour of light for the most part, and mostly males for some reason. A nice bonus is the occasional blue back and very occasional downriver adult.

March-May, as Bill said, is mostly blue backs and once in awhile a downriver adult.