Northern CA Freshwater Fishing Report

Flows drop to prime levels on the American River BY JIM JONES/WON Staff WriterPublished: May 17, 2012

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SACRAMENTO — Just as predicted in the last issue of Western Outdoor News, this writer predicted that American River flows should drop very soon into a fishing “sweet  spot,” and that's where they are, kicking the shad fishing into high gear. Shad fishing immediately picked up, with some anglers getting as many as a dozen an outing, but others happy to catch one or two. Fishing’s going to get a lot better as the water continues to warm. Most of the best action is still from Harrington Access on down, but by next week, there should be shad available for the catching all the way to Sailor Bar. Anglers are swinging shad flies as well as drifting mini-jig/curly-tailed grubs combos under bobbers.   Also as predicted, some stripers are showing up, for now mostly surprising anglers fighting a shad. But, anglers soaking sardines or bloodworms, or throwing jerkbaits or soft swimbaits, should attract strikes. For stripers, too, this is just the beginning of a late spring and summer of great fishing on the American River.