American River - Where to go?

I wanted to Hit the American River early this afternoon.  Where is the best place to put in for shad and maybe Stiper.  I've been in the salt water and some heavy current in the Delta but never taken my kayak on the river before. I was thinking of putting in around 160/Northgate and working East.
Any advice would be great, or if you see me OTW say hi.
Thanks

I have never had much luck in that area. I like from Paradise beach up to the Ancil Hoffman power lines. I usually put in at Gristmill, Watt, or Howe.

Ryan

Thanks Team_C.  I didn't make it out yesterday (mom had to work late so daddy detail called).  She gave me this evening off, so i'll be hitting Grismill for shad around evening - 5pm or so.
Can i use Sabidi (3 hooks) with Barbs or is barbless only, anyone know?

Barbed/barbless depends on where you fish on the American. Hazel to the Ancil Hoffman power lines is the barbless section. Power lines to the mouth is the barbed. The American has a lot of specific rules so read the regs carefully. I don't think you can use a sabiki rig in freshwater but have never specifically looked for it. Again read the regs or contact DFG.

Ryan

Thanks Ryan

I was mostly figuring how to handle my Tarpon 140 in that river,  That water is really moving and she's still a little stout.  Wow, i put in and started up stream next to some fly fisherman ... after about 3 minutes of paddeling he was still next to me (with a perplexed look).  So I put it into overdrive and made it about 300 yards and figured that was enough.  Played with my anchor rig and got that working well.   
I just made it back home with a big fat Goose Egg.  But lots of shore fishermen nailed em.  I ran into a couple NCKA fellas ... Mr. Matt, and ? (sorry im bad with names, possibly FishBall?)  Thanks for the advice on where to put in.  Wife's birthday presend of wheels is proving to be AWSOME.  and I got hear a good story about Ricci and why you dont' screw with shore fishermen.

l

Good meeting you bro....glad you enjoyed the paddle....that was striper slayer also...look forward to fishing with you sometime!
Matt

Thanks Team_C.  I didn't make it out yesterday (mom had to work late so daddy detail called).  She gave me this evening off, so i'll be hitting Grismill for shad around evening - 5pm or so.
Can i use Sabidi (3 hooks) with Barbs or is barbless only, anyone know?

I don't know the # of hook rule for the American below Hoffman.  However, placing a weight below a hook is Illegal in the American, so that kinda rules out sabiki rigs.

Hey Night_hawk,

Sounds like your on my same learning curve.  I've got the Tarpon 140 as well and trying to get some river experience.  Yesterday evening I dropped in at the Watt boat launch and played in the little cove a while testing the way the Tarpon handles going upstream.  Felt a lot better once I made a couple of circuits and was able to cut through even the fast current.  Made it behind the island right out front which actually creates a strong eddy and lull spot for quite a while behind the island.  The two side currents get moving though.  I did get a quick slap of reality when I was out towards the end of the lull area and had to answer a text message.  By the time I had finished the text message I was in the current full bore and I had already past the next little cove which was my back up exit point(there is a fairly well beaten path that can get you back to the bike path.)  By the time I got the phone put away and on the paddle I was in a long narrow stretch which caused the current to pick up even more.  I ended up doing like you paddling like hell for a few minutes, looking up and seeing the same scenery, while you are slowly drifting back as you are looking up and now ball busting paddling forward.  Finally, I moved all the way to the edge and was able to make progress.  I hugged the shoreline back up to the lull area, paddled back to the center, and then my swimbait got smacked by something really nice.  I was in the lull spot so I was able to fight the fish while the kayak just drifted back towards the island.  I got the brilliant idea to be a movie star and try to film the action with my iphone which ended up almost dropping my phone, not keeping tension on the line, losing the fish, and getting about 9 frames of video of the butt of my pole.  What a dumbass.  No more of that crap. Anyways, after that the sun was setting so I paddled up to the front of the island and then parallel paddled keeping the nose upriver across the current and back into the bay where the launch is.  I as well got to test out my anchor system.  Still needs work.  But I got the jist of what needs to be fixed and how to do a better job next time.

Maybe I'll see you on the water some time.  We can have a race to see who can get 10 yards up river.

If you go to the bottom of the American River, you might find any number of Naoaki's donated rods.

If you go to the bottom of the American River, you might find any number of Naoaki's donated rods.

Hey Adam Shhhh when the river drops to a decent level to dive I'm on it...... it wouldn't be the first rod or reel I have found in the  American River.

Actualy last I heard some boaters found a bag of spin'n'glows and a tackle box floating in the delta somewhere so who knows the rod might be there as well.

Speaking of losing gear on the American -    the river has claimed my wedding ring, pair of glasses, a kayak and my beloved Winston fly rod.     But i was just happy to come up for air and walk out of there with my life.

It's a beautiful river, but one i will always treat with respect.

If you go to the bottom of the American River, you might find any number of Naoaki's donated rods.

Hey Adam Shhhh when the river drops to a decent level to dive I'm on it...... it wouldn't be the first rod or reel I have found in the  American River.

Actualy last I heard some boaters found a bag of spin'n'glows and a tackle box floating in the delta somewhere so who knows the rod might be there as well.

I did lose some a bag of spin-n-glow & tackle box w/ bunch of small lures...
The rod that I lost was Basspro float'n'fly rod w/ micro reel.  "Float" my a$$...

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I  fly fished at Watt Ave today (Thursday) for a couple hours and landed 6 shad, below the bridge (wading from shore). Have fun.

I  fly fished at Watt Ave today (Thursday) for a couple hours and landed 6 shad, below the bridge (wading from shore). Have fun.

Awesome!    Thats the kind of report i love to hear!   Shad are one of my favorite fish.     

Hey Guys, I have never fished this section of river, but I have spent probably as much time as anyone kayaking on it. I do a lot of upriver paddles in my sea kayak surfing waves as I go. If there is any interest, I would love to put on a down river clinic sometime for the kayak fishing community. There is so much you can do on that river once you learn how to use the currents. I would be willing to trade for some Striper Fishing lessons  Here is a video of me surfing my sea kayak in the San Juans.