Half-pounders could be in the lower American river?

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Late August is what we remember for the Half-pounder run of small fall run Steelhead in the American.

I would fish from 6:30 am till about 9:00 am unless it is overcast, then maybe longer?

I would try the riffles from above Watt Avenue down stream to Cal-Expo/River Park/Paradise Beach.


You could also try the lower Yuba, lower Feather, and Lower Sacramento rivers.

There should be Half-pounders, adults, resident trout (Yuba/Sac).


We like to swing a magnum caddis pupa......size #8/10/12?

Some do well on Sculpin imitations.



Love to see a good run this Fall......love to see some photos too.


As soon as you guys scout up some I will be over with my Redington 11'4" #3 Switch/Trout Spey.

[fishing&beyond]

Late August is what we remember for the Half-pounder run of small fall run Steelhead in the American.

I would fish from 6:30 am till about 9:00 am unless it is overcast, then maybe longer?

I would try the riffles from above Watt Avenue down stream to Cal-Expo/River Park/Paradise Beach.


You could also try the lower Yuba, lower Feather, and Lower Sacramento rivers.

There should be Half-pounders, adults, resident trout (Yuba/Sac).


We like to swing a magnum caddis pupa......size #8/10/12?

Some do well on Sculpin imitations.



Love to see a good run this Fall......love to see some photos too.


As soon as you guys scout up some I will be over with my Redington 11'4" #3 Switch/Trout Spey.

Heading to the lower yuba tomorrow. I can give a report there.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Local drift boat guide Bruce Porter told me the American was 67 degrees and with these days coming over 100 he fears we will be in the

70s for a water temp. Maybe lay off the Half-pounders in the American until it cools?

Sac, Feather and Yuba will be good.......

[Tony Buzolich]

The Sac and the Feather have both been over 70 degrees for a couple of weeks.

The Sacramento weather forecast is 105 tomorrow, and 108 for Saturday. I think I saw 109 for Tuesday. Uugh.
Tony

[PV_Premier]

I hate August. Always miserable even in “cool” years.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I always say if you are retired and still in the Sacramento Valley in August you must be crazy?

Well, our little motor home has new tire, new batteries and is fully serviced.

But many of the RV camp grounds are full.....

We will try to get over to Lawson's on Tomales Bay soon to get out of the heat.



Right now you need to be at 6,000'+ or on the cool Pacific North Coast to get cool.

[PV_Premier]

I always say if you are retired and still in the Sacramento Valley in August you must be crazy

Pretty much. This weather is not fit for man nor beast nor plants if you go look at my garden. Every year it seems to get worse heat wise here in the valley.

Still many years on the 9 to 5 treadmill for me, but we are making moves now for the potential of cooler escapes in future summers...

[Mr T]

108 right now Not even gonna think of going outside.

[OceanSunfish]

I hate August. Always miserable even in “cool” years.

I heard that a new development is now underway in RC along White Rock, et. al. Thousands of new homes?! Apparently not hot enough to keep new residents from arriving?!?!!? Do any of the long time residents of the Sacramento area think that the climate has changed, both in Summer and Winter, from just 30 years ago? Less fog in January/February?

[Smitty Fish]

To me, Summer is still hot. Winter there is less fog. I’m hoping for a long wet winter. As soon as this heat wave ends I’ll be looking for some Steely’s!

[PV_Premier]

I have been living in Northern CA for about 8 years now. The weather has been unsteady that whole period. A few years ago we had almost 100F in March. Bad wildfire seasons off and on. The great deluge of the winter of 2018.

Back when I was a kid in the late 80's, early 90's I visited my grandparents in Manteca every summer in late July or early August for a couple of weeks each year. I always remember it was hot then too...bearable, but hot, so maybe I am just more annoyed by it as I get older. It wouldn't be the only thing that annoys me more than it used to :p

Last summer wasn't too bad, I recall that the summers of 17 and 18 were very hot, this year even worse it seems though with the inability to readily get away from it due to CV19 maybe I am just feeling/seeing it more first hand.

I definitely agree that there is less widespread winter fog in the valley on a YoY basis now than there was back then. When I was a kid we didn't visit too often in the winter, but when we did, I recall it being pea soup every day until at least early afternoon. Now, that almost never happens.

I think another thing we see (though the old timers would know better) is that there is now very little snow in the foothills compared to years past. I lived in Grass Valley the first 4 years after I moved here and it snowed measurably once or twice, old timers say that it used to snow 3-4x each winter.

[Twowheelsonecamera]

Ganna try watt this evening, swinging with the two hand spey. I typically go between gristmill and watt each day after work. It has been a while since visiting watt however. I know they pulled the trap out on right right of the island at watt. flows are meeting the averages, and water temp as of today checking it out online shows a steady 65 degrees. havent really seen much trout action the last few weeks going out. AM fishing has had much more... activity than the evening. took a friend out the other day to teach him some single spey and we were watching some slurping happen with very small mayflies sitting on top. only a single hit in these last two weeks while swinging nymphs via single spey. focusing this season on two handed spey and single spey. got two steelies last year using th 6wt sage x single hand, this year the goal is to find them using spey. it was about this time last year i could catch an abundant amount fry and smolts on the upstream side of watt bridge. sept things really picked up with smolt action and seeing the salmon start coming through. i dont know a ton, but i think if they can leave the flows alone, it would be a benefit to bringing steel and salmon through earlier, but if they keep adjusting things... i dont know, i really think it messes with things on the AR drastically.

side note, ive been stalking what i believe is the same big boy, at gristmill, river left obviously, each night at sunset you will see a single hunk come to the top and slurp, then hes gone. if anyone finds the beast id love to see a photo. ive stalked this spot for weeks now and cant get the tease to bite.

[Twowheelsonecamera]

Just figured I'd give an update on the latest ventures. Spotted some "test redds" at watt as you cross to the island. Wasn't big enough or clean enough for a salmon redd but it definitely holds a nest look. Watch your steps as you wade the area folks. I almost walked through two side by side.