Fishing Notes:
Steelhead offer year round fishing on the American, but the top fishing is in the winter and spring. Drift boaters back troll with plugs, side drift roe and nightcrawlers and fly fish with a variety of patterns. Shore anglers find success while drifting roe, nightcrawlers, Glo Bugs and Puffballs, as well as while tossing out Little Cleos and spinners.
Striped Bass provide the best action from mid-March through October. Casting Pencil Poppers and other top water lures can be very productive at dawn and dusk, while fishing with minnows, sardines and crayfish works throughout the day. This stretch of river kicks out stripers in the 30 to 40 pound range every year.
American Shad show in the river in early May and provide good action through the first two weeks in July. Fish jigs, darts and flies on light spinning gear and fly rods in the runs and holes.
King Salmon draw large numbers of anglers to the American every year. Boaters work Flatfish, Kwikfish and other lures, while shore anglers and waders toss out salmon roe and spoons. The salmon fishing is generally best from late September through mid-November.
Largemouth Bass reward anglers fishing in the cuts and backwaters along the river. Throw out Senkos, jigs, crankbaits and finesse plastics around brush and structure in the summer and early fall.

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