+/- 100 fish in one day!

[49erbassman]

That scenery is amazing. I dream of fishing places like that more for the scenery than anything else. Had to show those pics to my wife

[dirty530]

The bass were hitting everything that hit the water at sunrise. Sometimes three fish would jump for the same lure and when I reeled in quickly to avoid catching smaller fish - causing the lightweight rooster tail to drag across the surface of the water - the bass and others hiding behind rocks would jump for it. It was my first time catching anything on a roostertail too! It was cool to use the lure as a spinner and as top water and watch the wake in back of the lure.

I had to jig REAL slow to entice any bites.

Using barbless is hard because you want a great place to set the hook - which can be hard with a nibble - yet you don't want to gut hook the fish by waiting too long. I used a barbless long shank hook and it worked perfectly, especially since the bass were smaller. It almost resembles a plastic-worm hook but about half the size. I google mapped deeper pools but after I caught 100 and walked a good ways down rugged terrain, I decided to call it a day. And I only spent 3hours or so.. I'm sure if I got there earlier and walked down even further and spent all day I could probably catch 300, no joke. Imagine ridiculous pods of 10-15 fish in the 3/4-2lb range all up and down the river.

This area is super difficult - almost impossible - to access but it's very rewarding, not only with quantities of fun fishing but some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever experienced.

[Marv]

you're on fire!!! Those bass look like a smallmouth x red eye spot hybrid. Either way great day of fishing. Thanks for posting.

[BIG_ONE]

Partially correct about it being a regular 5 bag limit until the trout season ends. Although - Section 4.5 American River. And I'm assuming 530 is from El Dorado...


Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations - Waters with Special Regulations

[Owlman2]

Well...there is a section on the AR that is only barbless and artificial with zero bag limit. If I'm not mistaken, this section is up on the Placer, El Dorado, Amador, and Alpine County. Basically any AR stretch above Folsom Lake. Not too sure if there are anymore AR section that this artificial, barbless, and zero bag limit sits on.

My understanding is that the upper forks of the AR are artificial lure-catch/release only in the winter time when regular trout season ends. Other than that I think "normal" rules currently apply.

The AR is barbless hooks only from the fish hatchery downstream for a ways....I think to Ancil Hoffman park....but I never fish there so not sure.

But at any rate, he was not on the AR in those pictures. Like I said, the shoreline is not steep enough.

[BIG_ONE]

Well...there is a section on the AR that is only barbless and artificial with zero bag limit. If I'm not mistaken, this section is up on the Placer, El Dorado, Amador, and Alpine County. Basically any AR stretch above Folsom Lake. Not too sure if there are anymore AR section that this artificial, barbless, and zero bag limit sits on.

[Owlman2]

Those fish my friend, are Red Eye Bass and they are not very common - might be why they made that section of the AR a "no keep" zone. If I'm not mistaken on the identification...

I agree they are Red Eye Bass...(one might be a smallmouth)...but I don't think he was on the AR....I thought he said he was avoiding the AR? At any rate all the upper stretches of the AR run through very deep canyons....which aren't apparent in the pictures.

I guess 530 doesn't want the river named...so I won't...but if he was fishing where I think he was I can say access to the area is very difficult....

[O.mykiss hunter]

Wow, those fish look awesome!

[James Vang]

lol... no... lol

[BIG_ONE]

that's awesome brother. i dream of days like that. beats my personal best of 52.

Does catching over 1000 bass in a day counts?...all of them were 3-4 inchers. Literally close my eye fishing for them without casting. LOL.