Half-Pounders on the A

[JD2105]

Hey all, been a while since I've posted. Had some free days this past week and was out on the American in search of some half-pounders, didn't have much success the first day, but saw some real nice fish rolling in the riffles right in front of me in the riffle below the bike-bridge at riverbend park, id guess the biggest was 23-24 inches at least, sadly did not get him to bite despite watching him feed for a solid 15 minutes barely 10-15 feet in front of me.

Ended up exploring the river in the William B Pond area the past couple days and got into some smaller trout, mostly 6-9 inches or so, most of which were wild fish. This morning I had no luck while using caddis emergers and didn't find any feeding fish until a little later in the morning when some mayflies were coming off the water decently thick, switched to a flashback pheasant tail and that ended up attracting some takes on the swing. I had one better fish on, maybe 13 inches or so, but he popped off right in front of me after swimming upstream into some current. Still in search of those bigger fish! Biggest thing I found was a rattlesnake that startled me when trudging through an overgrown trail, please be careful out there! Thankfully she let me know she was there way before I got too close.

I was wondering if anyone else is fishing the A and having any success the past couple weeks and would be willing to share what worked and/or didn't work. I might go out the next few mornings in search of different areas depending on the water temperature in the upcoming days of heat.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

We usually start looking for them late August with September usually being good.

Early and late in the day is best and at that time we just swing something on a floating line and long tapered leader.

People fish anything from a #8 classic wing wet steelhead pattern to a size #12/14 caddis emerger.

Any size #10/12 nymph will work.

Right now they would be still in schools and have fresh ocean colors.

By October they will be scatted and look more like a rainbow trout.

They will also be feeding now on insects and what ever they can find.

We fish them from below Paradise Beach at the "first riffle from the ocean".

My favorite is the area above the Watt Ave bridge.


We just need to get some Forum members out there, morning and evening.


Larger rods are not fun with Half-pounders because at 16" average they won't bend a #6 weight Spey rod.

I have a 3 weight Switch rod with a ratchet reel and a Scandi head, and 12' leader.

[Mr T]

You have me thinking about swinging now....

I got out earlier this week and fished the lower river area with top water- yes, I'm one of those guys who will throw conventional gear-

I managed a couple good blowups and two striper, so it was a good night indeed.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I spent a lot of my early years fishing conventional tackle and worked in sporting goods stores and a bait shop.

I feel a connection to all who enjoy fishing of all types. I walk right up to them and ask them how it's going.


In 1975 when I opened 'The Fly Hutch-Sacramento' I sold and gave away tons of conventional gear because if I was going to have a fly

fishing business I needed to only fly fish. Sold my guns and reloading equipment too. I needed the money to survive at the beginning.


The Fall Half-pounder run does vary from year to year......



We used to keep all our gear / tackle in our vehicles and fish before and after work in September/October.

I had some felt sole boot foot neoprene waders, rolled down to the knees.

And a #6 line 2 pc fly rod, WF6F line, tapered 9' 2x leader, spool of 2x tippet and one fly box with some caddis imitations, mostly.

After I parked my car it only took me about 5 minutes to be ready, walking to the riffle.



Much of the lower America river runs east to west so the sun is almost always on the water.

Not idea with swing on or near the surface........

In the Summer and Fall shade is your friend unless you are on or near the bottom.

[JD2105]

Made it out again this morning on the water at about 6:30, water was still pretty cold until around 11, then It got too hot for me and and the fish, so I decided to leave. Had some decent grabs, a few fish in the 8-12 inch range with one maybe slightly bigger that I lost pretty quickly and didn't get to even see. No luck for the bigger fish I've been looking for yet! Didn't see too many fish rolling in the riffles in the AM, and only a small mayflay hatch at probably around 8:30 or so.

I ended up hooking a decent little fish when I was walking upstream with my line below me in some slower water, same story with this one though, never got to see it, lost him after having him on maybe 5-8 seconds. A stray shad or a decent pikeminnow would be my guess there, it didn't feel very steelheady. Maybe I need a hook sharpener? Haha, not sure, but I seem to be losing a lot of fish lately, more than usual for me.

I'll probably seek some colder water this next week while it is super hot, maybe the lower Yuba, that's not too far to drive. I'll be sure to update you guys if I find any success. Tight lines everyone!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

What is the water temp?

If the water is warm they will be in the riffles and faster water for oxygen.



We had huge caddis emergences years ago in the evenings.

It varied from night to night how many would come off.

The lower the river level, the more caddis action.

They would go in your nose.

They would be emerging for a while in the PM.

Then late they would come back to the water, near the willows, and lay their eggs on the surface.

That was dry fly time....we would see them really feeding on top in one place.

We drifted the #12 Elk Hair caddis over them, then twitched it some.

______________________________________________

A long time ago, (1970s) above Watt Avenue Bridge, some of us had gathered on both side at the clay banks.

It was September and in the PM after work and we had a good run of Half-pounders that year.


I had bought a Cortland LTD split cane fly rod that day from someone?

It was like new, 8' #7 in 2 piece with a softer action.

Put an old Pflueger Medalist 1995 reel on it with a WF7F fly line.

Put on a new Berkeley "Finalist" 9' 4x knotless tapered leader on.


Bob Giannoni had bought Gary LaFontaine's new book, Caddis, and he tied up some of Garry's different new caddis patterns.

Bob gave me a few of each stage: Deep emerger, shallow emerger and then one for in the film with a little mini hair wing.

I think they were size 12 and I put on the one with the little hair wings for in the surface.


I think Harvey Holcomb and Larry Kenney (of Scott Rod) were below us.

Al Perryman was with someone else?


I saw a nice fish rise right in the throat of the clay banks, so I cast and hooked it.

This good fish, about 5 pounds, ran up stream in the smooth pool above jumping several times.

Everyone was excited and when I landed it Mike Ziem had come over to observe us after work.

It was a night to remember.....

[JD2105]

Hey Bill, the Watt Ave Gauge showed it at 64.5 degrees at around 6 this morning and peaked at about 70.5 in the afternoon. I didn't have a thermometer on me but I could tell the water was heating up by around 9:30-10 AM. The gauge is still at close to 70 degrees currently, seems like evenings are off the table for the next few days until day temps come down a bit.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Hey Bill, the Watt Ave Gauge showed it at 64.5 degrees at around 6 this morning and peaked at about 70.5 in the afternoon. I didn't have a thermometer on me but I could tell the water was heating up by around 9:30-10 AM. The gauge is still at close to 70 degrees currently, seems like evenings are off the table for the next few days until day temps come down a bit.

JD, you are totally correct. Two hours every morning before work?


Hell, quit that lousy job, get divorced, sell the kids to the Gypsies, sell every, get a van, get some Top Ramen, canned beans and spam.

Now you can be a real Steelhead Bum.........................Yahoooooo.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

At the shop we always had young guys working for us who were addicted to fly fishing.

Fly fishing for Steelhead is the most powerful addiction there is.


We would tell them they needed to become a 'Eunuch' so they had no other distraction or responsibilities but fly fishing for Steelhead.


In China, castration included removal of the penis as well as the testicles (see emasculation). Both organs were cut off with a knife at the same time.[38]

Eunuchs existed in China from about 4,000 years ago, were imperial servants by 3,000 years ago, and were common as civil servants by the time of the Qin dynasty.

They actually put their removed 'gear' in some preservative clear liquid in a glass jar and put them on a shelf with others.

[Darian]

TMI, Bill.... :rolleyes:

[JD2105]

TMI, Bill.... :rolleyes:

Can always count on Bill for a good laugh :cool: haha. Actually being a steelhead bum doesn't sound too bad and I'm already pretty close per Bill's directions without the Wife and Kids, just don't know about the eunuch part :eek:

[mogaru]

If you are married or have girlfriend is very difficult to be a real "steelhead bum"........it may cost you both.

[PV_Premier]

There were some good mayfly (creamy PMD) hatches at Watt in late August at about 7:30am. I live near there and walk the trail daily. Have been out of town the last 10 days so cannot report on current status.

[JD2105]

Been out a few times the past few days, the water is cooler with the extreme heat being mostly gone. Managed to finally hook my first true half-pounder :D I've caught some trout on the American before but never one as chrome as this one. I've been seeing some nicer fish feeding in the lower light times as well with the temps dropping these past couple days. The fish are out there for sure!

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[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Good news JD.....

I always ask people to fish barbless and release all Half-pounders so they can be caught again by someone else.


Was just talking one the phone to a friend in the Elk Grove area and he said the weather is cooling off some now.

Looks like evening will be getting into the 50s soon. That should cool down the river.

[JD2105]

Good news JD.....

I always ask people to fish barbless and release all Half-pounders so they can be caught again by someone else.


Was just talking one the phone to a friend in the Elk Grove area and he said the weather is cooling off some now.

Looks like evening will be getting into the 50s soon. That should cool down the river.

Barbless is great for the angler too, when you get the occasional hook in the finger, it comes out much easier. In fact I had one of my flies dig into my finger a couple days ago while trying to untangle my line from a bush, thankfully the fly was debarbed.

That little hatchery guy was held no longer than 20-30 seconds, just enough for a quick picture and short rest before he was back into the water to get bigger! He was about 15 inches, but I've been seeing some 20-24 inchers in the same area for the past week or so now

[Salmonriver]

Barbless is great for the angler too, when you get the occasional hook in the finger, it comes out much easier. In fact I had one of my flies dig into my finger a couple days ago while trying to untangle my line from a bush, thankfully the fly was debarbed.

That little hatchery guy was held no longer than 20-30 seconds, just enough for a quick picture and short rest before he was back into the water to get bigger! He was about 15 inches, but I've been seeing some 20-24 inchers in the same area for the past week or so now

Couldn't agree more, I have very rarely lost a fish from a barbless hook. Like you said, far safer for me and the fish.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I not sure but I think most rivers in CA with a salmon run have a barbless rule?

Your flies hold up better too.

[JD2105]

I was out the other evening and had the absolute pleasure of meeting Erik Gabele while we were in search of some fresh half pounders. I had hooked one that I lost earlier and did not get any more grabs, but Erik managed to hook this beautiful fresh chrome and wild fish! It absolutely one of the greatest fish I have ever had the opportunity to help land and see in person. I just thought you guys had to see this fish, my net's webbing measures up to 24 inches and this fish was nowhere close to fitting in my net, easily much bigger than 24-25 inches. It was an exciting evening for sure. I also saw some other very fresh fish jumping completely out of the water around sunset, the cooler water seems to be bringing more fish into the system. I'm glad I had the experience of seeing this fish caught!

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[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

OMG.....an absolutely beautiful wild fish.

Erik is a long time old buddy of ours. Could not happen to a better guy.

This is a lifetime fish on the lower American river in the Fall for many.

This makes me so darn happy..............


________________________________________

Fall Steelhead veteran Bruce Porter yesterday on the phone predicted that with these good flows and cooler water that we would drawn

in some nice Salmon and Steelhead. Big Stripers love Half-pounders too.

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There are always a few 4 to 6 pound Steelhead here in the Fall.

Most Fall Half-pounders on the A average 16 inches, running 13 to 20 inches.

_______________________________________

Around the 1970s when they had more budget for the Nimbus hatchery the C D F & G introduced some summer Steelhead from

Washington's Washougal river. These fish were pretty big, 8 to 12 pounds?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washougal_River


Snorkeling at the Falls in a deep hole.......lots of Summer Steelhead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcRFgib_abY


50 years later not sure if many are left.

[Pvillarr]

I was out the other evening and had the absolute pleasure of meeting Erik Gabele while we were in search of some fresh half pounders. I had hooked one that I lost earlier and did not get any more grabs, but Erik managed to hook this beautiful fresh chrome and wild fish! It absolutely one of the greatest fish I have ever had the opportunity to help land and see in person. I just thought you guys had to see this fish, my net's webbing measures up to 24 inches and this fish was nowhere close to fitting in my net, easily much bigger than 24-25 inches. It was an exciting evening for sure. I also saw some other very fresh fish jumping completely out of the water around sunset, the cooler water seems to be bringing more fish into the system. I'm glad I had the experience of seeing this fish caught!

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Wow. That is a nice fish….especially for this time of year. I am curious if he was throwing a streamer or a larger wetfly/nymph?

[Smitty Fish]

Nice one! And wild!!

[tcorfey]

Wow. That is a nice fish….especially for this time of year. I am curious if he was throwing a streamer or a larger wetfly/nymph?

Looks like a olive nymph or wet fly in the picture.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Some years ago lower American river expert, Captain Andy Guibord, used a "larger than the natural" #8/10 olive caddis emerger.

He would just swing them on a floating line.


Today Andy also likes to swing a small sculpin imitation that he and Mark Kranhold developed. They use smaller two handed fly rods

with a floating Scandi head and sink-tip.


In the Fall most use insect, egg, crayfish and fish imitations on the Valley rivers rather than classic Steelhead flies.

If you use steelhead flies I would just use sparce #8/10.

__________________________________________________

I have to go back and look at Erik's wonderful fish again......

.

[PV_Premier]

Great fish...they're out there...can't catch them from the couch...

I might take a walk over to Watt on Sunday morning after seeing that...

[JD2105]

Wow. That is a nice fish….especially for this time of year. I am curious if he was throwing a streamer or a larger wetfly/nymph?

He was swinging a brindle bug, yellow and brown/black I believe, but could have been an olive and black one too. Erik was generous enough to let me try one of his brindle bugs and give me his recipe for tying them. He said he does well with both the yellow and olive variations, it is pretty simple to tie.

[Pvillarr]

He was swinging a brindle bug, yellow and brown/black I believe, but could have been an olive and black one too. Erik was generous enough to let me try one of his brindle bugs and give me his recipe for tying them. He said he does well with both the yellow and olive variations, it is pretty simple to tie.


Thank you for the info. I have never tried that pattern before. My guess is that it resembles a big caddis with that color scheme.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Erik is old school.......we mostly used Brindle Bugs for years.

Now I think we found out that an #8/10 wet 'fly / nymph' of your choice will usually work.

________________________________________________

Just did some emailing with Jeff Ching and asked him what he was doing now?

He said he fishes almost every day.

He is fishing for Steelhead and for Stripers now.


I asked him what was the latest he caught a Shad in the American.

He said in October but they are all small males.


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[Twowheelsonecamera]

Sure looks like the hunt is on in here! Been a while since I shared anything but this thread is perfect for my report.

I have been doing my first drifts with my boat on the AR, between Rossmore down to Watt. There has been steelhead on every trip with a 50/50 split on native fish and hatchery. 5wt Echo switch rod, OPST Commando smooth with s5/s6 sink tip, 8lb flouro about 4' to my leech pattern I use every year. This last weekend was the most steelhead for me ever in a single day. 5 adults, 2 native 3 hatchery, between 16-22" on the high end of the spectrum. I've noticed the fish are going after active flies, not a dead drift. In fact every trout I have caught in the last month has been stripping back my fly. Striper are still around, I got one Sunday fishing near a run I had great success with from my boat, just wading the stretch. Again on the strip. Fish have been getting caught during all times of the day. Heck, I had 4 inside 20 minutes around 3pm on a sunny day during the float last weekend.

I've only seen a salmon getting flossed in the morning two weeks ago, put on a good show.

I'll be headed out again this Sunday to float and see what I can find. Our flows are much better this season and hopefully a wet winter approaches. Late Aug-end of Sept has been great steelhead fishing the last three years for me. The fall season should be productive with the factors at play holding a positive look for the next few months.

BUT there is always something that messes with our game...if I remember correctly flows have been drastically adjusted during the week of steelhead opener and things just feel like they go downhill from there until shad season comes around. I can't see the current release from Lake Folsom continuing much longer and fear we will see another hard adjustment to the flows of the American.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Thank 2W&C......

Great post......looks like a good year?

Most years in late August we would see the half-pounders arrive.

I guess right now we have good flows and good temps.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I worked in the retail fishing tackle business within a few miles of the lower America river for 50 years so it was our number one

fishing destination. After a couple of decades we started looking for the Half-ponders around 'late August /early September'.

We kept our waders and tackle in our cars so we could fish before and after work, during the week, for Half-pounders in the Fall.

___________________________________________

I almost hate to think or talk about how good the lower America river was in the 1970s.


We had Fall and Spring Half-ponder runs with them feeling on top on big insect hatches.

December through February we had Winter Run Eel river Steelhead 8# to 20#+.

We had big runs of Shad in the Spring where people actually came from all over the World to fish.

Locals used Hair Razor jigs and Rebel plugs to catch lots of Stripers in the American.


The reality was, you did not have to drive anywhere because "we had the fish" right here in Sacramento.


Back then there were no indicators but actually they were not needed, yet.

_______________________________________


Back in the 1960s and 1970s we used 9'#9 line tubular fiberglass fly rods with braided backing, 100' of 20 to 30# mono shooting line

and 30' shooting heads in different sink-rates depending on the flows and depth of the Shad, winter Steelhead, Stripers and Salmon.

For Half-pounders most used 8' to 8'6" tubular fiberglass fly rods in #6 or #7 line size. Most used weight forward floating lines with a

tapered mono leader and #8 to #12 size wet and dry flies. This was before integrated sink-tip lines were developed.

_______________________________________

50 years ago flies were much bigger, on average, I think because there were more fish and less anglers.

The average dry fly was a #12 and #14 was considered smallish.

The average fiberglass fly rod was 8' to 8'6" in #6 line size.

A 7' to 8' #5 line rod was for small streams and small fish.

__________________________________________________ ____


I my grandparents generation the roads, car and even tires were no where are good as today.

There were less roads and less people so the impact on fisheries was far less.



I use to talk to all these old timers who said before World War II it took 4-6 days to drive to the Klamath river.

They had to go backwards uphill with their Ford Model A cars, up the steep mountain grades because the gravity feed gas tanks were

right on top in front of the wind shield. They would take a half-dozen spare tires along because the mountain roads were bad and the

tires were not very durable. Cars back then had a canvas bag full of water for the radiator.

[hwchubb]

Hopefully, everyone is carrying a stream thermometer. The water temps were 66 at Sailor Bar at 6:30 this morning, so they are likely lethally warm by the afternoon, especially from Effie Yeaw downstream. Certainly at Watt and below.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

What is the temperature today at Watt Avenue in the evening?

What temperature is too warm for practical catch-n-release fishing?

[Twowheelsonecamera]

Took out the young and cool owner of the American River Shuttle Co. Drifted rossmore to gristmill. Didnt have any bites until the end of the drift. Luckily we were able to get him his first AR half pounder on the swing. Before leaving our last spot I moved the boat into the same position as last weekend when I landed a bunch of steelhead in one location and ended up getting a decent striper striping back the dark leech I was using all day. Spotted fresh salmon earlier in the day. Beautiful day of fishing.

[JD2105]

Great reports twowheels, always glad to hear about people catching fish!

As for the temperature question, from what I have seen and can find, lethal temperatures generally for rainbows are above 72-73ish degrees Fahrenheit for a prolonged period of higher temperatures, and some figures I've seen presented show tolerance times to be from 7 days to merely 24 hours (even shorter for more extreme temps) for those lethal temperatures. Obviously these temps are different than what is generally recommended for fishing because they tend to exhibit stress at or around temperatures 67ish and above, though many of these studies show these fish continue to feed, even in close to or above 70 degree water.

I personally don't like fishing above 67-68 degrees or so, but I personally have not really seen or found anything on the impact of catching and releasing these fish within these "stressed" zones of temperature, and am curious if any of you have more knowledge on the rates of successful releases within those higher "tolerable" zones for trout which many believe and do not fish in. I do know that general fish release success depends on a number of factors, but not limited to water temperature, such as the type of water, the oxygenation of said water, and the different depths that may be nearby for the fish to be able to recover in after being released, and more that I've not included here. Even with pristine conditions, I've seen claims that catch and release can have a failure rate up to and beyond 3%, though how many of these fatalities are from poor fish handling are hard to tell. Are there any studies that show the specific correlation between these "fishable" temperatures (in which the fish are stressed but still feeding) and how much the successful C&R rates differ between these temperatures, like the 67 degrees that many quote, to 69 degrees or even 70 degrees? I do know that different locations who have slightly different variations of Mykiss sometimes tend to exhibit stressors at differing temperatures. One example of this would be the strain of southern run steelhead, though not many, they still exist and reproduce and survive much higher temperatures than many would expect them to.

I ask these not because I wish to necessarily fish higher these temperatures, but because I am self-admittedly a fish (more specifically, trout) nut, haha. I imagine there are some much more knowledgeable individuals on this forum who would know some of the answers to these questions.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

We had a nice guy who worked at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery for decades.

He told me about a resident disease or virus dormant in our American river Half-pounders that was activated by a higher temperature.

I think it was around 68 degrees? He said when the virus was activated the symptoms were that the fish became lethargic.


I will have to check with DF&W Senior Biologist retired Dennis Lee and see if he remembers his name and the virus?

[Smitty Fish]

Flows on the American will be dropping down to 2000 cfs this Thursday 29th. Hopefully the temperature outside
does the same.

[Twowheelsonecamera]

183751837618377
Flows certainly dropped hard over the last week. Spotted salmon pushing up the gravel mound riffles. Took home a hatchery steelhead who took a rubber legs nymph under an indicator. Far less fish bit action than last weekend, no doubt due to the change in the river conditions.

[Troutsource]

183751837618377Took home a hatchery steelhead.

Nice fish? What did it have in its stomach? The few times I've kept a hatchery fish they had tons of caddis (pupae and larvae -- along with green algae), and one time in August a fish had nothing but mosquitoes!

For some reason I've never tried a rubberlegs on the A.

[Twowheelsonecamera]

Nice fish? What did it have in its stomach? The few times I've kept a hatchery fish they had tons of caddis (pupae and larvae -- along with green algae), and one time in August a fish had nothing but mosquitoes!

For some reason I've never tried a rubberlegs on the A.

I didnt spend to much time checking the stomach, for the most part just dark blackish blobs were coming out of the intestines. Im not really that good at identifying the stomach yet lol.

I typically throw rubber leg nymphs on when I need a nice anchor fly. its typically on the very bottom of a tandem rig, with the second fly just a foot or two above on a short tag. This way under the indicator it is essentially suspended between the indicator and the heavy fly.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

When Half-pounders first come into the lower American river in August they are usually in small schools and have the ocean camouflage.

The have dark backs, silver sides and white bottoms like a salmonoids in the ocean.


After they are in the river for a month or so they start looking like a Rainbow trout coloration with spots.

They start feeding more like a trout too.

[Pvillarr]

So this happened tonight on the AR...I was swinging a #12 soft hackle with an Airflo Intermediate 14' Polyleader attached to a 250-grain OPST Commando Head on my Echo OHS #6 (equivalent of a #3 spey). This guy took me to my backing twice and measured at 26."

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[Mark Kranhold]

Solid, all ready to go to the prom dressed in those colors! I’ll bet that was a great fight on that stick, congrats!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Veteran Steelhead expert Bruce Porter was saying that the American river is in perfect shape to draw in Steelhead and salmon right now.


That is an extremely large Fall fish on the lower American river....great photos.

I guess it could be from the Washougal Summer Runs planted many years ago when the Nimbus hatchery was better funded?.

[JD2105]

Wow, that is a BEAUTIFUL fish Peter! I got one last night, though much smaller, was similarly a bright chrome pink color, very exciting seeing to see the pictures of your awesome fish!

Similar to others, I have had some pretty decent success the last few times I have been out within the past week or so. I don't have a sinktip but have done well just swinging leeches with a floating line and a 8-9 foot leader in multiple different sections of the river in every piece of water in and surrounding riffles. In fact, I tied up some of Stali's Lethal Leeches that Nathan posted onto the Kiene's facebook group and had 4 grabs in an hour just a few days ago after the flows dropped, and also got my first steelhead on a fly I tied myself! The fish are out there for sure!

[Trouter925]

wow that fish is colored up! Nice one Pvillarr! I am jealous.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

If you just break 24" and 5 pounds on the lower American river with a fly in the Fall that is a big deal.

28" is maybe 8 pounds?


Very inspiring.......thanks.

[Troutsource]

Hot damn that's some fish!

I've been swinging soft hackles a lot over the last year as an alternative to euro-nymphing when (a) it's windy or (b) it's getting dark. Also works during hatches. This will be the first season I really try them for half-pounders (instead of swinging streamers or euro-nymphing).

[Pvillarr]

Thanks for all the friendly words, everyone! I am still so stoked over the fish and can’t believe I landed it lol. Regarding soft hackles, they are simply amazing during hatches. I love soft hackles for their simplicity and ease of fishing. I also euro nymph so sometimes I will euro nymph during the day and then switch to a micro spey setup to swing soft hackles in the evening. It is a blast!

[Troutsource]

My favorite soft hackle is orange and grouse or orange and partridge.

[Pvillarr]

My favorite soft hackle is orange and grouse or orange and partridge.

I need to try that one. I am a sucker for a wet fly hares ear.

[PV_Premier]

I have a purple soft hackle I really like that catches the hell out of fish. It looks like this:

https://www.lundsflyshop.com/NEW_TRICK_PURPLE_SOFT_HACKLE_p/ntpsh.htm

[Troutsource]

That's interesting. It's kind of like a spruced up version of this traditional Snipe & Purple soft hackle:

https://www.theslidingstream.net/snipe-and-purple-spider/amp/

I bought this book to get more patterns and learn more about the history of soft hackles (cheaper on ebay.uk):

https://www.amazon.com/North-Country-Fly-Yorkshires-Tradition/dp/1904784658

The author says, while it's an attractive fly, he doesn't use it much.

I tied a few but haven't used them yet (I substituted for snipe since it's pretty much impossible to get). I'll try them now, or maybe tie the one you posted.

PS my brother and I fished mid-river Sunday morning. It was slow, and the few fish we caught were small, but the top producing fly was an orange and partridge. Of all things, it was catching fish during a trico hatch while we swung through porpoising fish.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

At some point I just started telling the "new to Half-pounder fishing" on the "A" to use the #12 nymph or wet fly of your choice.

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In the 1960s my brother Dick and I heard of these large Rainbow trout or small Steelhead that were in the lower American river.

I think we heard it from someone at "Ed's TV, Liquor and Sporting Goods" near the river.

We heard they would take dry flies like a trout. We ended up above Watt Avenue Bridge.

I think we were wet wading in Septembers with our funky little trout fly rods.

Dick was fishing a Coachman dry fly and we noticed that they were rising very inconsistently.

The fish would rise once and then seem to disappear on that particular afternoon, it was all new to us.

He just kept drifting that dry fly over that spot, over and over again until one finally came up and ate it.

It was a "classic 16 incher" that ran and jumped which for us was a huge event.


I think that Dick caught the only fish but we decided that we were going to give up our night crawlers and switch to fly fishing.

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Some times you have to actually "match the hatch" when they really key in on something.

In the 1070s my brother Dick took two outfits at times, one with a caddis emerger and one with a caddis dry.




In the Fall we use to go in the morning before work and after work in the evenings, Monday through Friday.

I use to have some felt sole boot foot neoprene waders I kept in my vehicle with the top rolled down like the fire fighters.

Our rods we already strung up with a fly tied on them. We were on the river fishing in a matter of minutes.


Weekends we went to the mountains......

[Pvillarr]

I had an unexpected surprise while swinging for half-pounders after work yesterday...I was using the Thomas and Thomas 1086 #6 fly rod, OPST 225 grain Commando Head, and the Airflo 14' Intermediate Polyleader with a #12 caddis pupa fly, and 8lb fluoro while swinging. After a great fight that took me down the river, I was so surprised to see that a striper was at the end of my line. You can see the fly in one of the pics.

18440184411844218442

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

That is kind of a new one..........or at least not too common.

Nice photo of you and the beautiful Striper.

Can imagine it was quit a battle.

We get small (3-5#) fresh King salmon on the lower Klamath river in the early Fall.






As a teenager I used nightcrawlers for half-pounders in the Fall on the American.

We would hook Stripers on the night crawlers.......