Starting March 1 of this year, anglers can now also fish the Rubicon River and the north, middle and south forks of the American and all of their tributaries year round, due to a change in Department of Fish and Game regulations. A zero limit and artificial lures only rule will apply to these rivers from November 16 though the last Saturday in April. The regulations on the river revert to a bag limit of 5 fish per day with 10 in possession from the last Saturday in April through November 15.

The DFG has designated the Rubicon as a “Wild Trout Stream” from its confluence with the Middle Fork American River” upstream to Hell Hole Reservoir. The section of Rubicon from Ellicotts Crossing to Ralston Afterbay is 20.3 miles long and is a class V section of whitewater.

Most of the fishing occurs near Ellicotts Bridge and along the trail upstream to Parsley Bar and upstream of the Ralston Powerhouse. Although designated as a wild trout fishery, there are no special regulations on the water except during the off-season.

“The lack of roads into the area and the rugged nature of the river valley tend to keep angler use low,” according to the DFG. “The river contains healthy populations of brown and rainbow trout but seemingly few of trophy size.”

The last two years for which statistics on angling pressure and catch rates are available are 2003 and 2004. In 2003, the 23 anglers fishing the Upper Rubicon at Ellicott reported catching a total of 32 brown trout and 94 rainbow trout. The anglers fished a total of 91 hours, taking 5.5 fish per rod and 1.4 fish per hour. The majority of fish were released. During the same year, 7 anglers reported catching 3 brown trout and 43 rainbow trout on the lower Rubicon. They fished a total of 21.5 hours, averaging 6.6 fish per trip and 2.1 fish per hour. During 2004 only 4 anglers reported fishing both Rubicon stretches. They caught a total of 12 brown trout and 9 rainbows. They fished a total of 15.5 hours, catching 5.3 fish per angler and 1.35 trout per hour.

The lower watershed from Long Canyon Creek to Ralston Afterbay has seen a drop in fish populations in recent years because of habitat problems in the watershed, according to Bill Carnazzo, fly fishing guide and board member of the Upper American River Foundation (UARF).

“I have seen a dramatic decline in the fishery corresponding with the decline in benthic macro invertebrates (aquatic insects over the past 10 year,” said Carnazzo. “This decline in invertebrates is caused by siltation in the watershed. However, the fishing is still good if you’re willing to walk away from the major access points.”

This siltation is caused by erosion resulting from a number of different uses, most prominently by culverts that aren’t being cleared annually of woody debris, causing blowouts on the downstream side of culverts, confirmed Bill Templin, coordinator of UARF.

“There is heavy erosion in Long Canyon, a tributary to the Rubicon, where Middle Meadows is located,” said Bill Templin. “There is a lot of highly erodable glacial till in this canyon. The silt is washed downriver into the Rubicon, covering rocks and impacting aquatic invertebrates and spawning gravels. The typical fish is 10 to 12 inches, with trout in the 12 to 14 inch range spicing up the catches. Carnazzo’s largest-ever fish on the river was an 18 inch brown.

On a short afternoon jaunt on March 24, Carnazzo reported catching and releasing an 11 inch rainbow while using a stonefly nymph in the Rubicon above Ralston Powerhouse. Grant Fraser, fellow fishing guide and foundation board member, reported catching five rainbows ranging from 10 to 14 inches the same day. The top patterns for catching the fish in the river are stonefly and mayfy nymphs and stick caddis patterns. The best dry flies are attractor patterns such as Royal Wulffs. In the stretch of river at Ellicotts and above, Carnazzo recommended using elk hair caddis patterns also.

Three agencies – the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA), PG&E and SMUD – operate hydroelectric projects in the Rubicon watershed. The recent relicensing settlement between SMUD and state and federal agencies will greatly increase minimum flows in the Upper Rubicon – and help enhance the wild rainbow and brown fishery. The agreement will also create pulse flows on the Rubicon. These flows simulate natural springtime runoff and maintain the river ecology by flushing sediment and debris, improving water temperature and quality and creating habitat.

The seven year relicensing process has just started for the hydroelectric projects of PCWA. Conservationists like Carnazzo and Fraser are hoping to negotiate flows and habitat improvements in the stretches of river controlled by PCWA similar to or better than those negotiated during the SMUD relicensing process.

Ralston Afterbay Reservoir harbors quality brown and rainbow trout to 5 pounds. The best fishing takes place below the Ralston powerhouse when the powerhouse is running. The water, diverted through a tunnel from the Middle Fork of the American River at Interbay, rushes into the reservoir, bringing with it insects, crayfish and other forage. This triggers a feeding frenzy by trout below the powerhouse at times.

“You can really nail the fish at Oxbow when the powerhouse is on,” said Bill Templin, coordinator of the UARF. “However, the fishing can be slow when the powerhouse is off. You’re always taking a chance when you go to fish below the powerhouse, since water agencies are not allowed under California law to tell when they plan to release water.”

He likes to fish crickets with split shot for trout below the powerhouse, but also fishes Wooly Buggers and other flies on a fly rod. The reservoir from Ralston Powerhouse to the dam is open to a bag limit of five trout year round.

On the reservoir near the dam, anglers fish Power Bait, Crave Bait, nightcrawlers and Kastmasters for wild browns and rainbows. Trolling with nightcrawlers or Rapalas and minnow imitation lures from a small aluminum boat or kayak can also effective.

Dan Teeter, U.S. Forest Service district fishery biologist, made a snorkel survey of the reservoir, as part of the PCWA reclicensing process, to look at fish habitat and entrainment when Ralston was at minimum pool last summer. “I saw between 35 and 40 rainbow trout ranging from 10 to 16 inches long and 8 to 10 browns to 20 inches,” he observed. “The water was very clear and the fish were holding at the places in water column where you would expect them.”

Expect solitude on Ralston Afterbay during the winter, spring and fall. However, you can expect lots of people in the recreation area during the hot summer months when the Middle Fork below the dam becomes a magnet for white water boaters.

The DFG discontinued planting this reservoir because of low return to the creel, so the fishery now is wild and self-sustaining. Although a limit of five trout is allowed, anglers are advised to catch and release the majority of the fish to keep this population healthy.

Rubicon River/Ralston Afterbay Reservoir Facts

Location and facilities: The Rubicon River from Ellicotts Crossing to Ralston Powerhouse is located in the Georgetown Ranger District of the Eldorado National Forest. Ralston Afterbay Reservoir and the Middle Fork of the American River are situated on the dividing line between the Tahoe and Eldorado National Forests, This is a remote area of the American River watershed, accessed by the winding Mosquito Ridge Road, that has no stores, gas stations, restaurants or other facilities.

Picnic and Day Use: Ralston Picnic Area -This five unit site is located at the confluence of the North Fork of the Middle Fork and the Middle Fork American River, two miles down from Mosquito Ridge Road and 12 miles from Foresthill. Nearby is Ralston Afterbay, the commercial rafter put-in area below the dam, and several areas for casual gold panning. This site is generally accessible year-round. Vault toilets are on site.

Placer Big Trees: This five unit site is adjacent to the Placer Big Trees Grove, the northernmost grove of Giant Sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum. The site is accessible whenever the road is open, generally late May to early November, about 25 miles east of Foresthill on Mosquito Ridge road.

Upper American River Foundation (UARF): This is a newly formed (2006) watershed foundation modeled after the Henry’s Fork Foundation. The group is a member-based organization founded to conserve and protect the unique qualities of the Upper American River watersheds in Placer and El Dorado Counties. The objectives of this group include identifying issues that need to be resolved and developing funding that will be needed to help resolve them so future generations will continue to be able to enjoy the experiences that we have enjoyed during our lifetimes in this area. The approach will include working with existing resource-management agencies, private land owners, and other stakeholders to increase everyone's level of appreciation and understanding of the abundant resources in this area and how they need to be managed as one big inter-related system. This group will be very active in regional decision-making and policy. Relationships built within the framework of this foundation will strive for full understanding of individual interests and regulatory management in the watershed to address watershed issues with mutual respect for all stakeholders.

Contact for UARF: Bill Templin, Watershed Coordinator, North Fork American River Watershed, http://arwg.net P.O. Box 743 ,Carmichael, CA 95609-0743, 916-601-9954, wtemplin@surewest.net

Guide Services: Bill Carnazzo, Spring Creek Guide Service, 5209 Crestline Drive, Foresthill CA 95631, 530-367-5209 (home office), 916-295-9353 (cell), Grant Fraser, Sierra Fly Fishers, 13396 Lincoln Way. Auburn, CA 95603, Phone: 530-823-6968.