i think i might be taking a shot at the middle and the north fork of the american river where they meet up at hwy 49 outside of auburn. i have looked it over from the foothills bridge outside of auburn, and it looked pretty good at that time, there will be some walkin that will need to be done, but it looks like some great fishy looking water. dont know if anyone on here has ever fished it, but if you have and you have done well, even if you havent, any info that you might have would be greatly appreciated. if you would like to join me in an exploration of some uncharted water (uncharted to me that is) with me please let me know
thanks brian
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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
I have fished the area quite a bit. The NF of the American has great looking, but poor fishing until you well above Colfax. There are a couple of good small streams which feed into the NF below Colfax and fish well however. Shirt Tail Creek, which you access off of Yankee Jim Road from Weimar, is a good small stream fishery. Not many big fish, but lots of them and decent dry fly fishing as well. Dry and dropper rigs work well here. Access to the North Fork in most areas is VERY difficult. Major hiking involved with many 1000'+ verticals. The only easy accesses are off roads, many are old mining roads. The North Fork of the North Fork of the American is another good small stream with some large Brownies in it. You access off Forest Service Road 19 at Emigrant Gap, off I-80. It's probably snowed in now though.
The MF of the American has some very good fishing. Good access from Foresthill off of Mosquito Ridge Road and Oxbow Resevoir Rd. The are a number of small streams which feed the MF American that offer excellent fishing as well. One I go to involves a 2.5 mile, 1800 vertical foot hike, in and out. It's an absolute ball buster to say the least, and I'm in shape. The fishing however is worth the hike. It's fantastic! If you have a Delorme, check your access routes, have 4WD, and you can get to some great small stream fishing. My sign, oneweight, comes from humping into these streams with my 1 weight Sage TXL and enjoying the fishing. Most of the small streams in the area have some unusually large fish in them because they don't get hit much. You see more gold panners than anything. Some have nasty dogs on their claims, so I always come armed with a wading staff just in case. Hope this helps.
Also, wouldn't mind hitting the area with you sometime, there is some good winter fishing here. Let me know if you want to arrange. If you're up for a hike, it's possible to hit the place I was describing as well.
i would definitly be down, where even and i would say when ever, but right now its just looking like thursdays and fridays, could you do it any of those days i would definitly be down. do you have a 4x4 cuz i sure dont. what type of flies do you use on those rivers. and for the hike stream, whats average size fish there, and you say its well worth it, really, worth a 2.5 mile hike in with a 1800 verticle drop and a 2.5 mile 1800 verticle hike back, thats some hikin but i am down if its well worth it.
let me know
-- Edited by brian clemens at 10:37, 2007-12-23
-- Edited by brian clemens at 10:39, 2007-12-23
__________________
Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
Fridays are a good day for me. Last time I fished this place in May, 35ish fish with 7-10 dinkers, 7-10 in the 7"-10" range, 5-8 in the 12"-14" range, a couple of 14"ERS, A 16"ER AND A 19" ER. Lots of dry fly activity.
As I say, the hike is a hump, but worth it. I'm a wee bit out of my prime at 47, but still run quite a bit, and the hike is a good one. I could not imagine this hike in the summer when it's 90 degrees, but in the spring and fall, it's one that can be done.
Anyhow, my calendar is good in January. As long as we have no low snowfall, this place would be great. See what works for you. I come from the East Bay. This is a place where it's a 1 hr. hike in from the road, which is 1 hr. 15 minute from Sac. It is a full day but well worth it.
Guess I left out some info! All general caddis patterns have worked well . . . elk hair, adams, e/c caddis, stimulator also yellow humpy's, royal coachman. These always seem to work well as top flies. Droppers . . . beadhead princes, copper johns, hare's ear seem to all work well. Fish are not super selective. And I do have 4 WD!
sweet, we will be going sometime in the near furture. cant wait for the hike, ya right. catching fish will take the apin away.
__________________
Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
