Half-Pounders on the A

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

When Half-pounders first come into the lower American river in August they are usually in small schools and have the ocean camouflage.

The have dark backs, silver sides and white bottoms like a salmonoids in the ocean.


After they are in the river for a month or so they start looking like a Rainbow trout coloration with spots.

They start feeding more like a trout too.

[Pvillarr]

So this happened tonight on the AR...I was swinging a #12 soft hackle with an Airflo Intermediate 14' Polyleader attached to a 250-grain OPST Commando Head on my Echo OHS #6 (equivalent of a #3 spey). This guy took me to my backing twice and measured at 26."

[Mark Kranhold]

Solid, all ready to go to the prom dressed in those colors! I’ll bet that was a great fight on that stick, congrats!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Veteran Steelhead expert Bruce Porter was saying that the American river is in perfect shape to draw in Steelhead and salmon right now.


That is an extremely large Fall fish on the lower American river....great photos.

I guess it could be from the Washougal Summer Runs planted many years ago when the Nimbus hatchery was better funded?.

[JD2105]

Wow, that is a BEAUTIFUL fish Peter! I got one last night, though much smaller, was similarly a bright chrome pink color, very exciting seeing to see the pictures of your awesome fish!

Similar to others, I have had some pretty decent success the last few times I have been out within the past week or so. I don't have a sinktip but have done well just swinging leeches with a floating line and a 8-9 foot leader in multiple different sections of the river in every piece of water in and surrounding riffles. In fact, I tied up some of Stali's Lethal Leeches that Nathan posted onto the Kiene's facebook group and had 4 grabs in an hour just a few days ago after the flows dropped, and also got my first steelhead on a fly I tied myself! The fish are out there for sure!

[Trouter925]

wow that fish is colored up! Nice one Pvillarr! I am jealous.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

If you just break 24" and 5 pounds on the lower American river with a fly in the Fall that is a big deal.

28" is maybe 8 pounds?


Very inspiring.......thanks.

[Troutsource]

Hot damn that's some fish!

I've been swinging soft hackles a lot over the last year as an alternative to euro-nymphing when (a) it's windy or (b) it's getting dark. Also works during hatches. This will be the first season I really try them for half-pounders (instead of swinging streamers or euro-nymphing).

[Pvillarr]

Thanks for all the friendly words, everyone! I am still so stoked over the fish and can’t believe I landed it lol. Regarding soft hackles, they are simply amazing during hatches. I love soft hackles for their simplicity and ease of fishing. I also euro nymph so sometimes I will euro nymph during the day and then switch to a micro spey setup to swing soft hackles in the evening. It is a blast!

[Troutsource]

My favorite soft hackle is orange and grouse or orange and partridge.