Spring Steelhead on the American River
March 22, 2001
The mere mention of steelhead fishing often conjures up images of storm-gray skies and furious rain that defies gravity and falls sideways; glacial wind that bores though as many layers of Gore-Tex and Polar Fleece that you care to throw in its path; benumbed digits incapable of tying the most simple fishing knots; long hours spent on the water without a shred of evidence that even a single fish exists in the river and high, turbid water that seems to ooze, rather than flow, along its streambed. Winter steelhead fishing is definitely not for the faint of heart nor the weekend warrior. It’s serious stuff that requires dedication (some may call it stupidity).
Well, the good news is: it’s not winter anymore! And that means that it’s time to hit the American River for it’s wonderful spring steelhead. March and early April is the prime time to chase these guys, and in general, you can expect warm, sunny days, no fishing pressure and some beautiful chrome steelhead that fight like they’re possessed. So, put away the battery operated socks, the arctic parka and the 5 mm neoprene waders and bust out the SPF 30 and some cool Bermuda shorts and hit the water! As a one-hit wonder band once sang: “The future’s so bright, you gotta wear shades…”
Spring Run
Not a lot is known about our spring steelhead because very few people pursue them or are even aware of their existence. And that’s just fine with me. Lately, the only other anglers I’ve seen out on the water have been osprey, mergansers, kingfishers, egrets and herons. So, the data I have on these springers is all from personal experience. Here’s what I can tell you:
These fish are smaller than their winter-run cousins and average 3-5 pounds, with the occasional steelie up to 8 pounds mixed in. They arrive in the American in late February and the fishing peaks in late March and early April, though I have taken them into May. The springers show up in beautiful shape — bright silver and full of fight.
Their eggs are very underdeveloped this time of year, which leads me to believe that they plan to spend quite some time in the river prior to spawning. Winter steelhead are hell-bent on procreation, so they hit the river, do their thing and get outta Dodge as quickly as possible. Winter fish will occasionally eat when they’re in the river, but they have enough body fat to subsist on without having to. Spring steelies, on the other hand, tend to ascend the river at a more leisurely pace and start to act a lot like resident rainbow trout. They’ll take up residence in an area and actively feed for a while before they move upriver. Last season, I caught the same steelhead twice in a span of about a week — both times, he was in the same exact spot. All clients’ accusations about me having “pet” fish in the river aside, that steelie obviously had found a comfortable spot to hang out and feed and wasn’t in a big hurry to run up the river.
Where to Look
Because water temperatures tend to be around 52-54 degrees in the American this time of year, the spring steelhead are very active and have high metabolism. That means they are aggressive biters and put on quite an aerial show when hooked. In these temperatures, you’ll find them in the “meaty” portions of the current. They like to hold at the heads of swift riffles, where the surface is choppy. Particularly in low, clear flows (like we currently have), the fish will seek out areas with a broken surface, which provides them with cover. Choppy flats and riffles that are peppered with boulders, logs and/or sandstone ledges will also attract fish. In the spring, these fish get pretty structure-oriented, so it helps to start thinking a little bit like a bass fisherman.
Springers hold throughout the river, so any fast, choppy water you encounter from the Paradise Beach Flats to the runs immediately above and below the Nimbus Fish Hatchery is likely to hold fish this month.
Hooking Up
Since the weather this time of year is often sunny and bright, you’ll want present the fish with smaller, more subtle offerings than you would in the winter. Small, light pink Glo Bugs, mini crawlers, fingernail-sized chunks of roe and small spinners all work well. Lately, there have been some mayfly hatches in the afternoons and a few caddis around as well, various nymphs have been working well. Try Bird’s Nests, Hare’s Ears and A.P.’s I’ve also been hooking fish on No. 6 leeches in purple and black.
Gearing Up
To allow spring steelhead to show off their true colors, scale down your gear. I like to use No. 5-6 weight rods when fly fishing and 7-foot spinning rods rated for 4- to 8-pound line when throwing bait or lures. Six to 8-pound test line is about right for these guys. We don’t really have any population size estimates for the spring run, so it’s a good idea to release them. Have some fun battling them, snap a quick photo and let ‘em go so they can spawn. Good luck!
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