Bill Kiene semi-retired
10-18-2006, 03:25 AM
It has been fairly slow on the Lower American River this Fall for Halfpounder Steelhead. They usually come in around the end of August, with Sept/Oct usually being good.
The flow is finally at 2000cfs which is perfect for wading.
We left the shop a little early (5pm) because it get dark at 7pm. We shot down to our 'secret run' above the Watt Avenue Bridge. We were the only people there.
Caddis were flying around and the wind was blowing some.
I was swinging a #10 green caddis pupa on 2x FC with a #6 weight floating line.
I waded out to near the top of my waders so I could get a good back cast. Looking downstream into the sunset I saw a fish roll out in the middle so I new it was probably a real (14-18") Halfpounder. I cast and stepped down several time and when my fly finally reached the area where I thought I saw the fish roll I got a tap. I let the fly swing in directly below me and the fish hit hard.
My old Hardy 3 5/8" Perfect let out a 'rip' that sounded like a tiny chainsaw winding up. It actually ran into the bank and jumped so I got a good look at it. I lost it right at the end but it was OK. It was pretty cool.
The flow is finally at 2000cfs which is perfect for wading.
We left the shop a little early (5pm) because it get dark at 7pm. We shot down to our 'secret run' above the Watt Avenue Bridge. We were the only people there.
Caddis were flying around and the wind was blowing some.
I was swinging a #10 green caddis pupa on 2x FC with a #6 weight floating line.
I waded out to near the top of my waders so I could get a good back cast. Looking downstream into the sunset I saw a fish roll out in the middle so I new it was probably a real (14-18") Halfpounder. I cast and stepped down several time and when my fly finally reached the area where I thought I saw the fish roll I got a tap. I let the fly swing in directly below me and the fish hit hard.
My old Hardy 3 5/8" Perfect let out a 'rip' that sounded like a tiny chainsaw winding up. It actually ran into the bank and jumped so I got a good look at it. I lost it right at the end but it was OK. It was pretty cool.