Jeff’s 2023 American River Shad Reports

**JohnS** · 06-21-2023, 08:04 PM

Where exactly was her truck? Upper Sunrise, Sunrise Boat Launch, Sunrise Pedestrian Bridge, Lower Sunrise?? Heading to the AR tomorrow and I want to take precautions

**Jeff C.** · 06-22-2023, 03:00 AM

Sunrise boat ramp parking lot

**Bill Kiene semi-retired** · 06-22-2023, 04:36 AM

This has been an issue on all the Valley rivers for 50 years or more.

**Jeff C.** · 06-22-2023, 04:37 PM

Did some scouting with Andy in his jet Lowe this morning. There was a lot less fish than we had expected. We still got fish with Andy doing most of the catching using his secret guide’s fly. When we got back to the boat ramp JohnS was there. John and I waded a run further up river and I got several on the pink Shad Worm.

**Jeff C.** · 06-23-2023, 04:09 PM

Solo float today. Not as many bankies so it must have been slow. Not that many boats today so I got to anchor in my sweet spot at the big hole. I saw only one other boat all morning, an aluminum pram with a couple of gear anglers. I didn’t see them hook anything. Mid day Joe showed up with clients and Erick came and anchored after lunch. By then the mid day lull happened so I headed down river and Joe soon followed me down. With the drop in flows I’m seeing more people wading. Ended up with double digits with all caught on the pink Shad Worm.

**Jeff C.** · 06-24-2023, 03:37 PM

Another solo float in the mini. I thought I was going to be in for a crowd when I counted 10 boat trailers before even launching my boat. Turned out to be only two jet boats in the big hole (Rod and a couple in a big Crestliner). They were in the prime spots so I ended up going down river. With the further drop in flow there are more guys wading. Ended up in double digits all on the pink Shad Worm expect for a few on the Pink Eye Perdigon. Steve Sylvester caught a wild 24 inch steelhead nymphing with his hot pink shad fly.

**Dave T** · 06-25-2023, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by Jeff C.

.... Steve Sylvester caught a wild 24 inch steelhead nymphing with his hot pink shad fly.

I was at the river on Thurs. and while I mostly caught the mid-day lull, I also caught a really nice wild steelhead, to my thrill and surprise

although it was on a streamer, as I'd given up for shad at that point.
Is there something of a summer steelhead run here? Or are they more year-round in the river?? Open to any wisdom out there on this....?

**Jeff C.** · 06-25-2023, 04:20 PM

There is a Summer run here on the American. The biggest steelhead I ever landed was on Labor Day.

I floated with Earle Sloan today and we got into double digits in spots besides the big hole. Erick was anchored in his spot and he was having an epic day.

My theory is seek and ye shall find!