READER REPORT

FIRST PERSON REPORT: American River steelhead trip accounts for more than just fish BY ZANE HINRICHS/Special to Western Outdoor NewsPublished: Mar 04, 2010

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NORTH CALREADER REPORT FOLSOM –Even in good years, the limited numbers of trophy-class steelhead that return to the American River make catching a double-digit fish seem as likely as running through a rain shower without getting wet. Last week, my friend Brian Burgess of Camino, invited me to fish in his 16-foot Fishrite driftboat. With Brian manning the oars, Steve Uusher, also of Camino would join me in the front seats. The plan was to put-in at Sailor Bar and pull plugs, and side-drift roe through Brian’s favorite locations until we reached the take-out at Rossmoor Bar. When we arrived at the Sailor Bar ramp, no other boats were present either at the ramp, nor in the water just upstream of the ramp as is the norm, considering that it was mid-February, smack-dab in the peak of the season. While we looked forward to being the first to put our Wiggle Warts in front of any fresh fish, we also wondered if it was a sign of poor fishing. Since there had been some rumors of decent fishing in the lower section, perhaps the other driftboat anglers had decided to fish that section of river. Once Brian and Steve returned from the shuttle-run to drop the truck and trailer off at Rossmoor, we marked our steelhead cards and decided to take advantage of the fact that no other boats were occupying the excellent water just upstream of the ramp. This was our fifth trip since the season opened on January 1, and the first time we would get to fish this stretch. Brian instructed us to get our plug rods out as we slipped into the excellent run right next to the cliffs along the south shore. The plugs were working perfectly, as evidenced by the action on our rod tips. Brian slipped us downstream, so close to the cliffs that his oar was in danger of hitting them. At one point, without missing a beat, he guided the boat over so we could pick up some trash that was clinging to the cliff. ZANE HINRICHS shows off his 30-inch hen American River steelhead, progeny of introduced Eel River fish years ago, estimated at over 10 pounds. He released the fish. Once the run flattened out and became shallower, we pulled in our plugs and began to side drift roe in the riffle that begins where the cliffs end. I was using a slinky set-up, with a 30-inch leader of 8-pound Maxima UltraGreen, a small yellow/orange spin-n-glow tied to a No. 4 Owner hook egg-loop rig. The 7-foot Fenwick Eagle GT rod with Diawa Emblem-Z spinning reel carrying 10-pound Maxima mainline was about to be put to the test. I was getting a good drift, with my slinky weight occasionally ticking bottom, when it simply stopped drifting downstream. I lifted my rod tip and was greeted by the priceless sensation of a quality fish shaking its head and matriculating its way upstream. I shouted “I’m bit”, stating the obvious as my rod bent-over double with the weight of this powerful steelhead. The first several minutes of the fight belonged to the fish, as it did as it pleased, first running downstream 40 yards, then reversing course and coming back towards the boat. I yelled at Steve to get my Cannon D90 camera out and diverted my attention long enough to turn the camera to its HD video mode to record the action. Once the steelie showed itself, not by jumping as is customary, but by its bulging shoulders as it swam just under the surface, the weight-guessing game began. All parties agreed that it was better than eight pounds, and then as it neared the boat, estimates were revised to at least eight, probably 10 pounds. As I locked the rod handle under my forearm, the next subject was wild versus hatchery fish, as we peered into the emerald-green river to see if the adipose fin was clipped or not. From our vantage point, it looked like a wild fish, as an adipose fin was present. All wild fish must be released, while a hatchery fish may be retained. Brian and I have landed many trophy-sized brown trout and lake trout over the years, and our rule is that the net-man does not attempt to net the fish until the angler gives the go-ahead. Our system works well at preventing premature netting, and the lost fish that are often the result. Only after the silver-bright fish neared the boat for the third time did I shout, “Take him!”, as Brian slipped the salmon-sized net under the 30-inch class hen. Once Brian got the barbless hook out from the left corner of the beautiful steelie’s mouth, we took a closer look at the adipose fin. There was only half an adipose fin, indicating that it was indeed a hatchery fish with a mutilated adipose. I made the decision to release the fish. After reviving it for several minutes, I watched it swim away in good shape. The native strain of steelhead on the American River averages two to four pounds, and only rarely exceeds six to seven pounds. It is the Eel River strain, transplanted after the river was dammed, that produces the vast majority of the trophy-sized fish that return to the American to spawn. During the season, from December through March, a trip to the Nimbus hatchery will usually reveal a few jumbo steelhead in the fish ladder or holding pen leading to the hatchery building. Most years, the hatchery personnel report on some hogs in the 18-pound-plus range. With this great start, we continued our drift downstream, alternating between pulling plugs, and side-drifting roe with no additional takers, until we reached the Sunrise run. At the top of the Sunrise run, we let out our Wiggle Warts about 40 to 50 feet. When pulling plugs, Brian is able to fish, even while rowing, as he holds his rod with his foot against the rowing bar. About a third of the way through the run, Steve’s rod was slammed by a hot steelhead that rocketed from the water as soon as it felt the hooks. After a few seconds, the six- to seven-pound chromer threw the hooks. We immediately re-deployed the plugs, and only a couple minutes later Brian’s rod buckled with the weight of a heavy fish. Brian dropped the anchor and picked up his rod as line melted from the bait-casting reel. Brian speculated that it might be a late-run Chinook salmon. The mystery fish changed direction, and swam back upstream. As it passed the boat, we confirmed that it was a 20 to 25-pound salmon. It reversed course again, and headed back downstream. On 10-pound-test line, there is not much Brian can do as the fish nearly spooled him. Once the fish was about a hundred yards downstream, it mercifully threw the hook, allowing Brian to retrieve his vintage Wiggle Wart. That turned out to be our last fish, as the rest of the drift allowed us to enjoy the solitude and spectacular scenery and wildlife, which included a beaver sighting, countless ducks, geese, kingfishers and a great blue heron. The American River represents an incredible natural sanctuary, only minutes away from the cacophony of the city that it winds through. Add the opportunity to catch the magnificent steelhead, arguably the hardest-fighting and most esteemed of salmonoids, and every drift is a priceless adventure.