I finally hooked a hot Half-pounder Steelhead on the lower American river.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I went to my favorite access on our little river, Watt Avenue.

We usually fish with waders above the bridge a few hundred yards.

Tonight I just wanted to cast my new 11' #3 line Switch rod or Trout Spey.

On the south side of Watt Avenue I started wet wading right under the bridge.

There is a beautiful 100 yard run there.

About a dozen casts later I hooked a Steelhead/big Half-pounder.

In my 50 plus years of swinging for Steelhead this fish was as hot as anything I c an remember.

It had to be 18 to 22 inches?

Never saw it but have caught thousands of lower American river Half-pounders.

It made a screaming run that stopped just short of going into my backing.........about 130 feet.

It stopped and shook some then ran another run about half that distance..........50 feet?

It stopped again way down the run and was shaking again.......then the hook came out.

I had already started walking to shore.


It was so exciting that I almost quit and went home.

Then I thought, maybe there are more?

I fished out the run and then went home because I was wet with only wading shoes , shorts and a t-shirt.



Get your tackle in your vehicles so you can go out mornings and/or evenings.




Redington Hydrogen 11' #3 - 4 piece




Wade out crotch deep

[hwchubb]

Good on ya, William! How were you rigged up?

The American is still pretty comfortable to wet wade in the evenings. I fished the Lower Sac at Gervin Park last week, though, and was right on the edge of uncomfortable. A bit too chilly to hit that crotch deep mark for me up there.

[EricO]

Maybe you should have gone with the #4 Bill

I gotta get down there soon.

Eric

[fivefingers]

Well done, Bill! My success per effort hasn't been great, but moments like those make the days of failure so worth it.

[Larry S]

Bill,
Cool story! I have Echo's 10 1/2-ft glass 3-wt switch. These rods are so versatile!
Get your butt back out there; probably another one with your name on it.
Best,
Larry S
Sun Diego

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

We are so lucky to have the American river right here in town.

We have Stripers, Shad, Steelhead and King Salmon.......


I hope more people can get out in the morning and/or evening now.

Sept/Oct can be good for Half-pounders on the American.

.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

When I got my new Redington Hydrogen 11'3"#3 Trout Spey (Switch) rod I took it to Andy to get it all spooled up.

https://www.redington.com/fly-fishin...gen-trout-spey

They come in a #2, #3 and #4 liner size.......

**I think the #4 would be more practical for Half-pounders on the lower Rogue and lower Klamath rivers.

__________________________________

Echo makes some nice affordable Switch rods too.

https://echoflyfishing.com/project/sr/


Video.......Tim Rajeff is one of the industries best.

https://vimeo.com/187381804

___________________________________


About 30 years ago we at the shop were mentoring Andy Guibord........funny, today Andy is mentoring me.

I also had Andy pick me a dozen Half-pounder flies, just for luck.


Here is the caddis pupa I hooked my big hot Half-pounder on Wednesday below Watt bridge at about 5:00pm.



I think it is tied on a short shank 2457 #10 hook.

[Mark Kranhold]

Nice job Bill! Nothing like a hot fish, hooking them is half the fun.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Yes Mark......now I am all excited about Fall Steelheading.

[BS]

I went to my favorite access on our little river, Watt Avenue.

We usually fish with waders above the bridge a few hundred yards.

Tonight I just wanted to cast my new 11' #3 line Switch rod or Trout Spey.

On the south side of Watt Avenue I started wet wading right under the bridge.

There is a beautiful 100 yard run there.

About a dozen casts later I hooked a Steelhead/big Half-pounder.

In my 50 plus years of swinging for Steelhead this fish was as hot as anything I c an remember.

It had to be 18 to 22 inches?

Never saw it but have caught thousands of lower American river Half-pounders.

It made a screaming run that stopped just short of going into my backing.........about 130 feet.

It stopped and shook some then ran another run about half that distance..........50 feet?

It stopped again way down the run and was shaking again.......then the hook came out.

I had already started walking to shore.


It was so exciting that I almost quit and went home.

Then I thought, maybe there are more?

I fished out the run and then went home because I was wet with only wading shoes , shorts and a t-shirt.



Get your tackle in your vehicles so you can go out mornings and/or evenings.

Way to go Bill !!!!

Nothing compares to our "fearless leader" posting a fishing report !!!!!


Bob