As well all know its that time of year for steelhead. Dont know about you but I have been itching for awhile, and getting a semi fix on the Feather, due to High Water on the Yuba and the American. With the Yuba at 19k on 12/20 and then 12k on 12/30 the Yuba has been blow out. But with a recent letup in the rain, I think right now is the time to hit it. Its at 4k and deer creek at 300 and droping, Fishing the edges is the key with Eggs and big and bright flys, dont forget the San Juans. Getting up top is possible, and I know some have had some great success fishing those sideshoots at these flows but its no easy walk to get up there, but can be rewarding. Watch your step and be ready to run down river when you hook up with a fish. Fishing it may be slow but this is the time when you will hook huge fish on the Yuba. Now on to my home waters, with the American flows slowing dropping over the last month starting at 32k down to 8k now, the fishing will only get better. With it finally hitting 10k the other day, I figured it was time to get the 3 man pontoon boat out and break it in. I did some fishing on the opener at upper sunrise on the A, with nothing much but a single tug swinging a bright egg sucking leech. Viz was only a foot if that. And from the sounds of it from other anglers only 1 fish was landed and it was on bait. So, so far the Ar has been crappy due to the flows. On 1/4 I took out the toon thinking that with it being just under 10k the fishing should be better. Was I wrong, the water definitely was down, the viz still crappy maybe 2 foot now, we were the only boat on the river and not a single fisherman until we hit upper sunrise where I got a tug on the opener. After a 3/4 day on the water, and having fun floating over the San Juan rapids we called it a day. Got some more time rowing the toon on the water, as well as checking out a few other spots at higher level with no fish to hand. I did happen to have a nicely colored steelhead at my feet, so I tried to pull a JT and hand the fish by the tail. He was to strong and took off when he felt my hand touch his tail.

The AR should be fishing great in about a week or so, with the flows at 8k right now and dropping slowy, it wont be to long until its at 4k where the AR has always been on fire. If you go out, watch your step. To be honest I wouldnt go out until the river hits 6k, wading will be easier, and at the time the usual spots will product.

Tight Lines
Brian