Jeff’s 2023 American River Shad Reports

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Originally Posted by ErikB

Did you catch fish or just see fish. They don't seem to be real grabby yet from my trips out.

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Yes I'm catching... nothing really serious yet. Hooked 32 this morning and landed 24

I can verify Bigg A’s comment. When to try down lower this morning and I didn’t get anything swinging and nymphing. Ant was fishing a spot that is difficult to fly fish and I watched him get several while I was there. In fact he was the only angler hooking ‘em. I gave him a couple of my flies and I hope he got some using them.

Looks like they just raised the American to 10K and change. The site I use doesn’t show any other planned increases, but 10is still a bit of a challenge. Maybe partly mental, but even after 35+ years Fishing this river I find it tough to find fish wading at 10K and above.

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Originally Posted by hwchubb

Looks like they just raised the American to 10K and change. The site I use doesn’t show any other planned increases, but 10 is still a bit of a challenge. Maybe partly mental, but even after 35+ years Fishing this river I find it tough to find fish wading at 10K and above.

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50 years ago over 3,000 cfs was a pain.

10k will really limit the shoreline at upper sunrise on both sides.

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Originally Posted by cmcdhuibh

10k will really limit the shoreline at upper sunrise on both sides.

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Getting off topic, but The OV and Estes Park? I’m currently in Orangevale, and my parents honeymooned in Estes Park, I got seriously bitten by the fly fishing bug on the Big Thompson in RMNP as a teen, we had our last and best family reunion at the YMCA of the Rockies, and I scattered my parent’s ashes at the Continental Divide on Trail Ridge Road. Magical place, Estes Park.

Almost 13,000 CFS now.

I'm relatively new to the AR....I started fishing for shad last June. Flows were 1250 and I found a few spots I could wade. I caught a few at Sunrise.

I was out yesterday while the flows were 7300 and there weren't many spots for wading. Now the flows are going up 2k every day..... they're almost 13k now. It seems that wading might be out for the entire shad season. Just my luck. Don't have a boat and can't afford a guide every time I want to fish.

I did hook up a shad yesterday while I was out. He played with me for a while, then jumped and spit the hook. I don't mind so much he spit the hook but he spit it AT me!

PS I do have a Classic Accessories Colorado XTS Pontoon Boat....at what flows is it save to use it on the AR?

I spent over 50 years working in the sporting goods/fishing tackle business within a few miles of the Lower American River.

Please, In these high flows, be very careful wading and in boats.

Every Spring in high water we have some drownings.


We lost a fly fisher once that I remember; it was a real tragedy.


Don't fish alone.

Have a belt on your waders.

Have a staff.

Have cleats on your wading boots.

Don't go in too deep.

Don't fish alone. I haven't found a fishing buddy yet.

Have a belt on your waders. Got one and use it all the time.

Have a staff. Wouldn't go in the water without one.

Have cleats on your wading boots. No cleats.... one pair has felt and the other has rubber nubs.

Don't go in too deep. I'm very cautious since I'm by myself. .[/QUOTE]

All good advice Bill.