On The Water...

I have been guiding on our local waters recently and I am happy to say that fishing has been good.

American: April 1oth marked the first striper/steelhead trip of the season with clients and I am happy to say the we were successful. The weather for the day was not exactly pleasant with heavy rain and colder temperatures. Fortunatly, the muck only lasted a few hours just in time to allow our fingers to warm back up. While stiper fishing we managed to get 3 awesome grabs with clousers and one striper to follow the fly. On the metalhead side, we landed 3 hot, chrome steelhead in the 18-21" class. All and all a good day. I expect to see more steelhead and stipers pour into the river everyday.

Yuba, April 11: The Yuba showed her gentle side to us as she gave up plenty of fat 'bows and a few nice steelhead. Fishing was good all day as fish "keyed" into over a dozen different patters. The river was VERY busy with anglers.

Yuba, April 13: Today she showed her uglier side... We did manged to hook a decent number of trout, however we worked very hard to get them.

American: Spring cherome

Had a great day with clients on Monday. Floated the top armed with Watchit indicators, various nymphs including caddis and plenty of cooperative fish. We hook a good number of super charged chrome rockets the gave us plenty of action throughout the day.

The fish we are catching are a little different than what the American normally gets. They are not what I would call blue-backs, these guys are all hatchery, slender, huge tails and fresh. Blue-backs are usually wild, football shaped with a distinct light blue color.

It is time to get out there with your favorite caddis patterns and see what's swimming around.

Indicator Clinic

I ran another indicator clinic for Granite Bay Fly Casters and once again had great weather and awesome students. We split a whole day between an indoor and outdoor classroom.

Topics covered included:

1. Looking at direct and indirect indicators
   
2. We looked at a systematic approach to on-stream analysis called the G.R.I.D. (contact me for more info on this)
3. Rigging
4. Casting techniques
5. and how to fish with the indicator
   

I teach this class to groups of any size and individually. It is the most comprehensive look at fishing with indicators in the area.

Thanks to Bill Carnazzo and Granite Bay Fly Casters!

Guiding on the Swing

I was able to guide quite a bit last week and had a string of great days. One of the more memorable days came off the incoming front. Armed with a plethora of spey rods, lines, tips and flies; client Steve and I combed the clay stained water of the American. We were successful, we managed to get ripped in one of our first runs! Steve landed it, a nice 23" steelhead, she fell for a 3" black tandem tube fly... gotta love it!

Steve did a great job of covering the water, staying in the face of potential grabbers. He managed a few other tugs for the day.

All in all it was a great day, swing on!

Complete Indicator Class...

February 19 marked one incredible day!

In conjunction with Granite Bay Fly Casters, I put on an in-depth, full day class dedicated to insights on fishing indicators. Myself and over 20 members were able to do a two part class where for a few hours we hid in a classroom and dove into the nuances of fishing with an indicator.

After lunch we met on the American River where we were able to attack the common issues related to fishing, specifically casting, indicators and heavy setups needed for larger rivers.

We will be doing this again on March 7, 2009, and although this class is currently full, we may be doing another one due to popular demand. Also, if you belong to an organization that would be interesting in this program feel free to contact me. Look for pictures from our March 7th day!

There's more! In mid April, again with the support Granite Bay Fly Casters, I will be teaching a class dedicated to fine points of swinging flies. This will be an all day event with both classroom and on stream surroundings.

For any inquiries please contact me for more information.

Now is the time to refine-

13 for 20...

American river: one angler, 3 days, one huge indicator, eggs and 20 hookups...

The American still has good numbers of fish in the system. Last week I had one client hook 20 steelhead over 3 days. About half of them were fresh, spunky chromers that took us plenty of finagling to land. We hooked a few fish that were in the 10 pound range and an awesome sight to see.

I have not seen any "blue-backs" yet; however, I know they are out there. This is a great time of year to get out and swing flies, you have a good shot and hooking late winter-run plus ultra hot blue-backs.

American RIver: The Study of Swingology

Thanks to Andy Guibord for taking these photos and to Jason Hartwick for fluffing up a few fish. This fish ate a 2.5" mess of marabou.

Jason and I going over the plan

Jason loading up to launch

If you are in need of a good photographer Andy Guibord is your man, send him and email to see what he is all about.

Grabs are rad...

American Metalhead ate a big 'ol nasty tube fly... Thanks Hartwick!

American: Monday the 16th

Had the pleasure of guiding Rob and Sam and we put the screws to 'em. Overall we hooked enough fish to last a week! We managed to land a few fish in the 3-5 pound class... pictures to follow. We worked the water meticulously and found some very aggressive fish. They were still on eggs and various small mayfly patterns. We had almost perfect weather with light rain most of the day and a few brief downpours. The wind was a little intense, but we pushed though and prevailed. All and all a great day, good company, cooperative fish and great weather. Thanks boys!

With all this rain, look for a boost in steelhead fishing everywhere!

Also, it is time to hit the Yuba. I will be guiding out there all next week.

American

I have been on the American enough days to tell you that things are slow out there. I had a string of great clients, both a blast to be with and great anglers and fishing was just plain slow. With temperatures nearing 70 plus low and clear water the fish have the upper hand right now. The first part of the day yields the most activity. That could be because of where we are in the AM or just the time of day.

Last week I had the pleasure of guiding Gary and Jerry from the Midwest and let me tell you it was more fun than a clown on fire! Both anglers had fished in many parts of the globe for a variety of species, however, neither one had fished for steelhead. On the morning of our trip the energy level was high and channeled towards the great hunt from chrome. After launching, rigging and getting fired up we began with the deluge of nymph bombs into places where we thought the unsuspecting steelhead may be. After several passes through an area with no promising grabs we changed up. The next pass allows for our flies to be right on the "honey hole" or RRPH, WHAM, 'cator flies under with nothing to show for it. We got taken, oh well, we will get the next one! A few more passes and no love... onto the next spot.

Not too long into our next round of passes we hit a nice wild "quarter-pounder" (12" bullet), another few passes we found another one. These are the first QP's I have seen all season...

No other action in that run! We go a few more runs with nada, finally we come to some promising water. I set up the boat, give the "go" command and off the races we went, just as Gary flies dropped of a ledge, ... SLAM, we get hammered, within no time a 6-8 pound face emerges from the water. OH SHIT, game on! This must have been a buck, he thrashed for a minute, gave us a good look and just as Gary went to put on the lateral tension the moment was over. DAMN! Gary was ecstatic and bummed at same time. On average 20% of the metal hooked will be landed!

The "one that got away" was enough fuel for us to keep motivated the whole day. Every once in a while Jerry would bring up the moment and we would all mentally salivate. We would need that motivation to help us push through the day. We successfully watched indicators all the way to Gristmill with only a few goldens to show for it, no chrome landed.

So it goes, another great day of steelhead fishing.

Pictures to come soon

A big thanks to the Midwest slingers who provided great entertainment and an awesome day on the river.

February can be magical on the A, get out there and jump one!

Multiple Days, American and Yuba in a nutshell

American: I have been guiding and fishing the American frequently and overall have been please with the results. Fish are eating egg patterns, SJW's, copper johns, and other small mayflies. If you swing, think black, purple or brighter pinks and oranges. We are getting grabs everyday, the water temps are conducive to big grabs from pissy fish (love it).

If you are not hooking fish nymphing under indicators try going deeper, heavier and change your egg. The egg will get eaten, however, sometimes it is there to attract fish. Also, keep moving, you need to go to them, they are avoiding us!

American

Yuba: The Yuba has been throwing her monthly cycle at us, there have been some brutally tough days out there. Mixed in with the beatings have been a few great days, hooking good numbers of big fish. Swinging flies is still producing big, aggressive fish. Fish are are eating eggs, rubberlegs, copper johns, small mayflies. On top: the march browns are crawling around, I have seen a few here and there, the skwalas are on the same program. Fish are keying in on them now, look for bigger hatches soon!

Yuba McFatty

February is big season in the valley... big bugs and big fish. Look for monster chrome to show up in the American and big bows to start packin' on the pounds.

American: BAM!

I guided the American today and was very satisfied... My clients and I got into quite a few nice fish today. Many of the fish came out of slower water and ate eggs and small nymphs.

I will be anxious to see how the crowds look tomorrow.

As clean as they come

Adapose attached!

Look at that face... all three of them

Overall the river was uncrowded with the exception of the the usual snaggers.

Casting Interrupted...

Yesterday on the American was spent with Mike Edgehouse and Jason Hartwick. We floated the upper river with an arsenal of rods and chrome in our eyes. Fish run, first cast, Mike sticks a hot, chrome jumper that was not landed... 3-4 pounds on a FBPT. We all swung a large run wherin Jason and I both got ripped on leech patterns (hook never bit in). Down river in another run Hartwick managed to stick a piggy while catoring (Jason is a great indicator fisherman :). Outside of that is was a quiet day.

This morning was like any other winter morning, quiet, foggy and fishy. It was only Edghouse and I as we swung our 13'7 spey rods with skagit lines, tips and goofy flies. We had gone through the run a few times with no tugs, as we got ready to go through it again we were more or less nudged out of our water by a few guys in a drift boat that must not have seen us...

On to our next spot... 6 casts, 13 minutes and FISH ON! I hooked a dandy, she jumped, she ran, she got her picture taken!

Rod:1307 Scott LS2
Line: Airflow compact skagit 510 with a T11 tip.
Fly: multicolored egg sucker.

When in doubt, fish.

American Steel

Overall the fishing on the American has been ok. I have been fishing the lower river with a few good friends on a regular basis and sporadically fooling a steelhead or two. With the exception of one day we have been sticking strong to swinging flies with spey rods. I would give you details of where fish have been hooked, however, there is very little consistency. There are no gimmie's out there, just cover water and and be methodical.

If you are looking to swing the A for winter chrome keep in mind that these fish are hauling tail through the river right now and you need to be on the move too. Fish various types of water to see if you can find any patterns. We have been fishing more of the slower tail-outs... Flies: make sure it has movement, pay attention to overall size, try big and small... Brighter colors have been catching more fish.

I did managed to stick a few nice fish under an indicator with egg patterns.

I will be guiding out there this week so keep your eyes peeled for fresh reports and hopefully a few pictures.