Success on lower American River yesterday

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Local guides on their day off, Ryan Miller and Jason Hartwick, hooked up with two nice fish yesterday AM swinging flies on two handed rods.

Andy Guibord went along to take some photos.....

PS: If you want some help catching Steelhead you might get out with one of these guys.

http://www.steelheadonthespey.com/Site/Welcome.html

http://www.northernwatersflyfishing....hing/Home.html

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

We have Half-pounders in the lower American River from September through May.

Winter-run adult fish are here December through February+.

March/April/May can be very good on years that we don't have high water with spring-run Half-pounders and wild spring-run adults (3-6#) or Blue Backs as some call them.

The river is so close and if you fish it a lot you can be successful.

[Kurt P]

My buddy, Robert and I were drifting with Charlie Gonzales that day and Ryan and Jason waved us into their spot, letting us take a shot at the run. Amazingly gracious of them and since Robert and I are raw beginners, I'm sure it was fun for those guys to watch. I managed to land my personal best sucker fish (must've been at least 24 inches) and then foul-hooked Robert right behind the ear. He put up a good fight but Charlie handled him deftly, pulling the Dirty Bird out before he could make a run. Thanks, Jason and Ryan for being so nice, I hope you didn't give Charlie too much grief about his lame clients. Just to let you know, he managed to straighten us out later that morning and Robert and I hooked several nice fish, even bringing a small wild chromer to hand.
It's the first time I've floated the Lower AR, and for most of the day it was hard to believe we were right in the middle of Sacto. Beautiful river, lots of waterfowl. Can't wait to do it again.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

thanks Kurt,

This is one of my favorite posts ever.........very nice and very funny too.

Ryan, Jason and Charlie are all in this for the right reasons........

So cool.................

http://www.bigvalleyguide.com/

Charlie does excellent tile work, is a great chef and a top local fly fishing guide.

[Kurt P]

Thanks, Bill.
It was a great day, not least of which was Charlie's amazing food. I had 3 big helpings of his chowder--and I'm not really a soup guy. I was so stuffed I could've taken a little nap. Charlie really needs to install a hammock or two on his boat if he's going to feed his clients so well.
Anybody thinking about getting a guide for the American, Sacto, Feather or Yuba really couldn't do better than Charlie--give him a call. Good food, good guiding (hell, if I could land a steelie, he's GOT to be good), and he's just plain fun to spend the day with.
Kurt