Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3903 Jan 17-31 2020 | Page 17

VOL.39 • ISS. 3 MAP FEATURE Jan 17-31, 2020 15 Lower American River Facts Location: The 23 miles of the American River from Nimbus Dam to its junction to the mouth are located in the heart of the Sacra- mento metropolitan area. The entire river is accessible to bank anglers and boaters, since it is located in the beautiful American River Parkway. The parkway is located in a protected greenbelt that cuts Sacramento County in half. It features a paved bicycle and running trail, many rest areas and access from most neigh- borhoods adjacent to the river parkway. Fishing Season: The section from Discovery Park to the SMUD powerline at the Southwest Boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park is open year round to fishing for all except for salmon. The river above the SMUD powerline to the U.S. Geological Survey gauging station cable crossing about 300 yards downstream from the Nimbus Hatchery fish rack site is open to fishing to steelhead and other fishing other than salmon from January 1 through October 31. The salmon fishing season is set at the Fish and Game Commis- sion meeting every spring. In 2019, the salmon season ran from July 16 to December 31 except for the small section of river from the Jibboom Street Bridge to the mouth that closed on December 16. Review the California Fresh Water Sport Fishing Regulations Booklet for bag and possession limits, hook restrictions and additional restrictions: Day Use: The entrance fee for vehicles under 22 feet in length is $5.00, except on summer holiday weekends when the fee is $8.00. The fee for trailer or vehicle 22 or more feet in length is $10.00 except for summer holiday weekends when the fee is $13.00. Annual Fees: Vehicle (private or commercial – $50.00 Motorized watercraft and trailer plus vehicle pass – $100.00. Boat launching: Concrete boat ramps are available at Discovery Park, Howe Avenue, Watt Avenue and Sunrise. Unimproved gravel launching is available at Gristmill, Ancil Hoffman, Rossmoor and other areas on the river. The fee for non-motorized watercraft is $3 (plus vehicle fee) and the fee for motorized watercraft is $5 (plus vehicle fee). Park information: www.sacparks.net, Sacramento County Department of Regional Parks, Recreation and Open Space Administration, 3711 Branch Center Rod, Sacramento, CA. 95827. For General Parks, Golf and Rangers Information, call (916) 875-6961. Fishing Information: Fisherman’s Warehouse, Sacramento, (916) 362-1200; Elkhorn Outdoor Sports, Rio Linda, (916) 991-5298; Sacramento Pro Tackle, (916) 925-0529. Guided Fishing Trips: Jerry Lampkin, T.N.G. Motor Sports Guide Service, (530) 320-0994. Art of Citrus Heights shows off a bright steelhead that he fooled with a spoon on the American River on January, 2020. Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff. water pumping facilities. Steelhead on the American have an interesting history. The completion of Nimbus Dam in 1955 and Folsom Dam in 1956 prevented salmon and steelhead from reaching most of their historic spawning areas in the main river and Trout ~ Kokanee ~ Salmon ~ Shad the river’s north, OFFICIAL SPONSOR middle and south forks and tribu- taries. The Bureau 240 different of Reclamation, the size/color 18 Proven combinations! agency that built Kokanee/Trout Dodgers! the dams, built and funds the Nimbus Fish Hatchery to mitigate for the loss of spawning habitat. However, after just a few hundred of the original strain of American River 82 YEARS of Catching TROUT & KOKANEE steelhead returned 100% Made in the USA to the hatchery each Without a DICK NITE... You’re Not Fishin’ Right! spring in the first few years after the www.dicknite.com • fs@dicknite.com dams were built, produce their goal of 430,000 eggs. In contrast, the hatchery saw a record low run during the peak of the drought in 2015, just 155 fish. The high flows during 2017 certainly helped get the fish down the river past predators and the Delta the CDFW decided to introduce Eel River just as the steelhead season. strain steelhead from the Mad River Fish For example, in 2001, I had one of Hatchery to create a more substantial one of my best spring shore fishing trips run of fish. The original run of steelhead March 31 while wading at Rossmoor, didn’t even start appearing at the hatchery landing 7 bright steelhead, keeping one until March. The fish were spawned at beautiful adult fish. I have also caught the hatchery during the months of March, steelhead on shad jigs in the spring. The April and May. late Randy Buffington used to find some It is the Eel River-strain of steelhead of his best steelhead action in the lower that comprise the majority of steelhead in river in September, catching them at times the river, although fishermen still believe while drifting pike minnows for stripers. there is a remnant run of American River There are plenty of half pounders – steelhead that still returns in the spring steelhead in the 12 to 18 inch range - in from March through May to spawn. the river at this time. Doug MacPherson One guide, Barry Watson, used to target of Sacramento and other anglers reported summer run steelhead on the American catching and releasing steelhead in the River and ran ads for those trips from 12 to 14 inch range while drifting night- 1985 to 1988. He would average 1 to 3 crawlers in the Riverbend Park Area fish per trip, with the fish ranging from before the opener of the upper river. 2 to 3 pounds and going up to 8 pounds. Let’s hope more adult steelhead move One bright 8 lb. fish caught in April once into the river in coming months so we adorned a Fish Sniffer cover. can see a repeat of last year’s great action The biggest trout or steelhead caught on when the river was fishable. the American was a 24 pounder caught and released by an angler fishing below the hatchery in February of 2002, but a few fish in the 19 to 20 pound lb. class were reported in the 1980s and 1990s. Most adult steelhead caught this time of year are in the 6 to 10 lb. range, though larger fish are hooked every year. There is a run of 2 to 8 lb. fish that moves up the river in March, with fishing sometime Rod Durrett traveled from Placerville to battle this beautifully colored lasting into May steelhead on opening day on the American River below the hatchery. Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff.