This is Jeff Ching with the latest Specialty’s Underwater Fishing Report for Monday, December 1. Current conditions on the Lower American River show flows at 920 CFS and a water temperature of 56 degrees. These stable early winter conditions set the stage for the first waves of steelhead that typically begin showing later in December, although the bite remains slow for now.
Fishing on the lower river has been challenging, with only a handful of half pounders reported and no confirmed adult steelhead yet. Large numbers of smelt are currently present throughout the system, and their activity has made it difficult for anglers to keep them off the hook. Despite the pressure from baitfish, swinging a brown woolly bugger and fishing a size 12 TNT PMD has produced the only consistent results during the past week. These patterns continue to imitate the river’s natural food sources and can be effective in low, cool early season flows.
Anglers should be aware that the upper section of the river remains closed above the Ancil Hoffman power lines. This annual closure protects spawning salmon and the upstream habitat and will remain in effect until the designated reopening date later in the winter season.
Although fishing is currently slow, conditions suggest that the first adult steelhead should begin appearing within the next couple of weeks. As water temperatures stabilize and fish begin to transition into their early winter movements, anglers can expect improving action as December progresses. Now is the time to stay prepared, monitor flows, and take advantage of early morning swing sessions when the river is quiet.
