AR Go-To Winter Fly?

[jkemp9]

I have spent some time swinging the American, but have not had much success and usually stick with the Feather and Yuba, at least before the gates were closed. I swing a simple ESL, but have been tying intruders for the coast the past few weeks. I will be swinging the AR this weekend, so starting to wonder about flies.

Trying to find a pattern or two that I can tie up and trust so I don't over think fly selection. Should I just stick with the ESL in winter? Anyone throw intruders? If so, I assume mini or single stage? Black/blue?

Thanks!

[tcorfey]

My experience is that smaller natural color flys are more productive on the lower American. Not to say larger flies like intruders do not work but, trout size intruders and flys tend to be more productive. I know different people and guides out of Kiene's suggested size 14 to 16 caddis patterns to me for the steelhead on the American and when I switched to them my counts went up. I have caught fish on smaller intruder patterns and tubes but the smaller flies have definitely produced more fish. I do fish larger intruders and such on the Feather and lower Yuba rivers. Using smaller patterns do have a drawback though in that you tend to get more juveniles which means careful handling is required, make sure you do not take them out of the water and avoid excessive handling of those juvenile fish.

[jkemp9]

Thanks for the reply. I was optimistic that something larger would work in the winter and the sz 16 caddis was more of a summer/fall thing. I swing small stuff on the Feather and do alright, especially during a hatch, so guess I'll try some of those this weekend.

[The Cal Fisher]

Like he said, small natural stuff seems to work better. I don't swing much, but from what I've seen others do its been small leeches tied on jig hooks (i saw a guy use a black with charteruse bead to catch a nice chromer last week) and alevin patterns.

[Twowheelsonecamera]

I've been swinging now on the AR for about five years. My go to is my leech thats pretty simple. Black and blue really is my preferred combo color for the American as well.20355

[winxp_man]

My go to is a red and black reverse marabou leech. Have caught fish from the OP to down here on the American.

Most recent fish this winter…..


https://i.imgur.com/lGx3ASA.jpeg

[Phil P]

I was out on the American River Wednesday after the big storm and it was interesting. Fished from about 10am to noon and noticed a bit of a hatch around 10:30, even saw a nice mature steelhead take a fly from the surface. I tied on a caddis pattern but no luck. I have only caught a few steelhead on the American and they were on natural stonefly type patterns, although I’m not too sure about the prevalence of stoneflies in the lower section. Also there was a pair of sea lions working the stretch of water I was fishing, they had more success than I did..

[Darian]

winxp_man.... What size is your leech pattern (looks to be around 2.0" or longer)?? Also, by "reverse" are you referring to the hackle or the entire pattern?? :confused:

[winxp_man]

winxp_man.... What size is your leech pattern (looks to be around 2.0" or longer)?? Also, by "reverse" are you referring to the hackle or the entire pattern?? :confused:


This is the fly. Black Schlapen front, and yes about 2” -2-5”


https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5d583dd65df1d000011d9f7c/1585851896899-BZGG1CCNH5VYY8KSABOZ/reverse+marabou+black+red.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg

[Darian]

Aron.... Thanks for the info. BTW, very nice Fish in that photo. :D