American River Skunk 1-9

Low clouds
1700 CFS

I launched at Sailor Bar at 11 and took out at San Juan at sunset.  I spent most of the day backplugging my favorite holes with an assortment of quickfish and other plugs.  Near sunset my line slammed forward, but I lost the fish after less than a 15 second fight .  All of the fishermen I talked to were going home empty.

I also met two friendly DFG wardens who clarified some of the murky American river regulations for me.

All in all a good day on the river.  I will go out again on Monday.

Great looking water!  Thanks for the report and pictures Adam.

I think come Monday you'll have the fish on board Adam. Good luck tomorrow.

Jedmo

River looks nice. Hope you score tomorrow.
Thanks for the report.

Al

Way to keep on trying, and thanks for the pics.   

Looks like fun , By the way how did your Kayak repair go?

Adam -

Way to stick with it. Those rapids look  to me.

Scott

Very cool report want to fish one of the rivers when I come up but dont think ill be able to squeeze much in.

Nice looking water.  sorry for the miss, hope you get em' next time.
allan

Those rapids look   to me.

With that particular rapid on a 15 ft kayak the trick is to keep the bow out of the eddy while the stern is in the fast water  .  There is a nice play-wave when the water is higher.  Even at 1700cfs, there was a playboater out there (you can see him taking a break in one of the eddies).

With that particular rapid on a 15 ft kayak the trick is to keep the bow out of the eddy while the stern is in the fast water 

The easiest way through it is stay to the far left. Running the left side of the rapid, half way through drag your paddle and make a hard left back into the calm water.Theres some what of a back flow current on the left which will actually allow you to sit right next to the rapids and fish without anchoring up. Its great for striper fishing since they sit under the shelf right in front of the clay.

Adam,
I admire your persistence.  Good luck tomorrow.

The easiest way through it is stay to the far left. Running the left side of the rapid, half way through drag your paddle and make a hard left back into the calm water.Theres some what of a back flow current on the left which will actually allow you to sit right next to the rapids and fish without anchoring up. Its great for striper fishing since they sit under the shelf right in front of the clay.

With a short kayak or higher water I agree with you, however, under current conditions with a 15 foot yak I must respectfully disagree. I tried that method when I fished the opener (with a 12 foot SIK w/out much of a keel) and had my stern swept by the fast water as my bow entered the back flow.  I would have probably lost it had I been in a longer SOT with more of a keel.  The best way I have found under current conditions (I ran this 6 times last week) is to ride out the fast water to the left.

With a short kayak or higher water I agree with you, however, under current conditions with a 15 foot yak I must respectfully disagree.

The best advice is to run it how ever the individual feels comfortable. I was just offering up some of my knowledge to those on here who dont have have that much experence with the American. I've ran those rapids for 15+ years in 15ft kayak down to a 8ft and from 700 cfs to 4000 cfs my personal preference is stay left and into the calm water.

 

  There is a nice play-wave when the water is higher.  Even at 1700cfs, there was a playboater out there (you can see him taking a break in one of the eddies).

Right around 2000 -2200 cfs is the best for the stationary wave anything above 3000 cfs you get blown out. The summer time we get the short SOT and hang with the SIK and surf it all day long its one heck of a work out.

Cool, I'm out there in my playboat during the spring/summer.  Lets surf it together sometime.