American 1/24

[Katz]

I love fishing vicariously through this site so I figure I should do my part.

Decided to hit the American Sunday afternoon. It looked like the weather should be pushing in around 3pm and I always feel like I have a better chance of catching something if I'm wet, freezing and miserable. I arrived at upper Sailor Bar around 3pm. No rain and just overcast skies. Several other fishermen on the water with one very dark steelhead with a scuffed nose being landed as I arrived.

I have been practicing with my spey throwing an indicator, not typical I'm sure but mending is really easy. After about 45 minutes of working a soft seam between quicker water the indicator with a trailing pegged orange bead and a Fox Poopah takes off sideways across the riffle. Immediately after coming tight the fish does a tail walk, porpoise bolt across the river followed by a 1-1/2 back flip, gainer with too much splash for a quality score in a diving competition. Then it was straight downstream in the fast current for maybe 50 yards. I followed the fish downstream and after a little bulldogging and head shakes on the surface it was photo time. 12 lb tippet allowed me to keep the fight short. Returned quickly to resume it's upstream travels. It never actually rained on me until the drive home at 5pm... Overall the water is low and clear. Hopefully all this rain will bring in some new fish. Tight lines! Katz