American River 11 Feb 2008

JT · Senior Member

American River 11 Feb 2008

Emerger · Senior Member

Chuck, Brian and I saw fish taking those mayflies off the surface too. While I was fishing the chute there was another large fish taking bugs off the surface. His rise was a sight to see. First the snout, then the whole head, then the entire back and then the tail. Like a dolphin swimming next to a boat.

Cappy and I witnessed another significant hatch this past Saturday. At one point Cappy got out of the water and his waders were covered with mayflies. Pretty cool. We didn't see a single fish rise in that eddy though.

ChucktheDuck · Senior Member

I observed this phenomenon also. One thing that interests me is since then I've read some stuff about steelhead behavior that may explain what they were doing in a different way. Steelhead exhibit a behavior commonly referred to as "skying" when they are close to the area where they will spawn. The behavior consists of the fish rising snout first out of the water and exposing its head and back. The fish will do this several times in rhythmic fashion much like a rise pattern. It has something to do with the fish homing back to its natal stream. It sounds strange, but according to biologists it is a common behavior. This may be what we were confusing with a rise since there were bugs on the water each time we witnessed it, or maybe those steelhead were really eating mayflies! I don't know but I thought you guys might find it interesting anyways.
chuck

Emerger · Senior Member

That is interesting. I saw something else that was strange. Several fish at the head of the chute would raise their head clear of the water, far enough out of the water that their pectoral, and sometimes their dorsal, fins were exposed, and shake their head violently. They were acting as if they were hooked but they weren't. Any idea what that's all about?

brian clemens · Senior Member

i will be bringing my dry flies just incase tomorrow and friday. but the mayfly hatch is hella cool. the birds come out, and the fish come up. would love to catch a steelie on a dry. that would be so cool. any ideas on the size of fly and what one to use. maybe an adams

Emerger · Senior Member

I couldn't tell you exactly what mayfly it was but I did notice that it was a brownish green. Cappy got a good look at them, maybe he could help you to ID it. I'd say around #16 for the size.

Packrat · Senior Member

Emerger wrote:

That is interesting. I saw something else that was strange. Several fish at the head of the chute would raise their head clear of the water, far enough out of the water that their pectoral, and sometimes their dorsal, fins were exposed, and shake their head violently. They were acting as if they were hooked but they weren't. Any idea what that's all about?

They could have been digging a redd or even actually spawning. That's a likely place a tail out or head of riffles.

brian clemens · Senior Member

the ones that me and chuck saw where in the hole, and that back eddie. i have seen movement above the tail out, about 20ft above, where the do the porpuse thing, and they do the jaws fine out the water. i think its pretty cool when they do that.

hey cappy, what you think about a good fly to try out there if there is a good mayfly hatch tomorrow.

Emerger · Senior Member

Packrat wrote:

�
Emerger wrote:

That is interesting. I saw something else that was strange. Several fish at the head of the chute would raise their head clear of the water, far enough out of the water that their pectoral, and sometimes their dorsal, fins were exposed, and shake their head violently. They were acting as if they were hooked but they weren't. Any idea what that's all about?

�

They could have been digging a redd or even actually spawning. That's a likely place a tail out or head of riffles.
�

Whatever it was it was pretty cool to see that kind of fish behavior smile

JT · Senior Member

If you're going to try to match the hatch, I would use a #16-18 rusty spinner.� Don't be afraid to fish it subsurface.� I've caught fish on spinner patterns in the entire water column.� You can fish�them from the surface to the�bottom.

brian clemens · Senior Member

sweet thanks jt. to bad i dont have spinners that big, only sizes for putah.

shon42073 · Senior Member

Last year on putah i saw some pretty crazy behavoir, Just like what you saw Emerger, But even more so, The fish would just explode like they are hooked, I even saw a fish run into the bank and beach itself. I have an opinion on why but that dosen't matter. The mayfly's were about #16 to 18 with a green body. Better have that dry fly ready Brian, Mayfly hatches tend to be short, intense, and concentrated, From what I have noticed anyways. Not sure if I'll make it tomorrow but I'll try, probably around 1 or so. Those big steelies will surely straighten out a hook that size biggrin

.

-- Edited by thecaptain at 16:30, 2008-02-12

-- Edited by thecaptain at 16:53, 2008-02-12

JT · Senior Member

Two weeks ago, there were quite a few bwo duns coming off the water.� This week the spinners were out in full force.� The duns are usually olive in color, but the spinners are a rusty-brown.

Packrat · Senior Member

thecaptain wrote:

Last year on putah i saw some pretty crazy behavoir, Just like what you saw Emerger, But even more so, The fish would just explode like they are hooked, I even saw a fish run into the bank and beach itself. I have an opinion on why but that dosen't matter. The mayfly's were about #16 to 18 with a green body. Better have that dry fly ready Brian, Mayfly hatches tend to be short, intense, and concentrated, From what I have noticed anyways. Not sure if I'll make it tomorrow but I'll try, probably around 1 or so.

-- Edited by thecaptain at 16:30, 2008-02-12

I've seen browns on the Feather actually chase smaller fish up and over dry boulders, scared the poo out of me the first time it happened right next to me.

Bugger · Senior Member

I was looking�for mayflies images, found this site with great pics of actual Northern California mayflies:
http://www.pbase.com/michellemahood/mayfly_family&page=all

timmosazz · Senior Member

Wow bugger those pics are great. Almost like taking a sample at the water. Thanks for sharing those. What do you guys think about some sort of stone pattern for the steelies? I know that the yuba holds Skwala stones which to me look like a stimulator pattern for a dry. It sound like all you are seeing is maysfly though. What do you think?

ChucktheDuck · Senior Member

There are no stones on the lower American, but that doesn't mean a big rubber legged stone nymph is out of the question!! Schafer 3D's work good out there although the biggest I've used is a 12. As far as dry flies go you'll have to give it a try to see if it will work, but the only thing I know about fishing for steelies w/ a dry involves using big bushy deer hair flies like alaskan bombers and skating them on the surface to get an agressive response. Don't know how well that would work with a #18 sparkle dun!!!
chuck

mx19 · Senior Member

packrat....what part of the feather did you see browns...I have fished low and high flow and above the 20 bridge...anything around those spots...

brian clemens · Senior Member

i had no idea there were browns in the feather, i could see them in the yuba but never the feather, thats nice to know. are these parts anywhere near the after bay, low or high flow