Jonathan Hubbard:

Flows: 1900 cfs

Temp: 50 °F

Visibility: Olive green 4 to 6 ft of Visibility.

The American has been really fun this month! If you don't mind seeing some folks out enjoying the river with you, then this is a great time to be out there chasing the big Eel River strain steelhead. Some huge fish to 15 pounds have been landed by Fly Fishing Specialties guides and private anglers alike! It's not a numbers game, but it's definitely your best chance to hook into a massive coastal size fish without a 6 hour drive to the north coast. 

Nymph anglers are finding fish off of drops and in runs on pale eggs, prince nymphs, copper johns and alevins. Two handed anglers are fishing runs with black and pink leeches, black and blue intruders, and green butt skunks. Expect company out there, but remember there will be some fresh fish pushing up when we get some more rain and some downrunners as well, so it's always worth a shot through February when the Springers start showing up! 

Dennis P. Lee:

The salmon spawning closure on the lower American River ended December 31 providing anglers the opportunity to fish a section of river that have been closed for the prior two months. Most of the salmon spawning is over with only a few carcass still around the nearshore areas. Fortunately for anglers, a hatchery winter steelhead run that continues to genetically resemble the original Eel River broodstock provides winter fishing opportunities on the river. Stream flow releases have been slightly below average at a little more than 1,800 cfs and the American River Parkway provides easy shore and boat access for anglers to several miles of fishable water.

This season earlier rains discolored the water in upstream Folsom and Nimbus lakes but the river visibility is good at about 3 feet. January 1 was a very busy day on the river and a few steelhead were reported caught. Most were taken by boat anglers fishing indicators and nymphs. Popular patterns include plastic beads and eggs, wire bodied Trinity Johns and tungsten bead jig nymphs. Good flies to swing include dark flies such as the Obsidian Johnson, Egg Sucking Leech and Hobo Spey patterns. These and many other winter steelhead flies are available at Fish Fishing Specialties. Winter steelhead fishing opportunities on the American River will continue through February as the run tapers off.

Streamflows on North Coast rivers have dropped following earlier high water and may provide good winter steelhead fishing opportunities in the upcoming weeks barring additional winter storms. Anglers should check local US Geological Survey streamflow gauges for current flow conditions.

Andy Guibord:

 Fished the American on Tuesday. My friend and I drifted  from Sailor Bar to Sunrise under robin-egg-blue skies. We fished hard under an indicator with eggs, nymphs and worms. Water was flowing at 1800cfs with good clarity and high hopes. Only one silvery 16 inch half pounder showed mercy on our angling souls all that day as it leapt into the unusually spring like air.  A lovely day