This was my first trip to American and what a day it was. I had a little trouble finding the public launch, but after driving around the sharp turn before the gravel road, I saw a very welcome sign. Leaving the gates of the public launch was a tanker followed by another plain pick-up. It was stocking day I guess, picked the perfect time to show up. As I unloaded the boat, I could see fish surfacing everywhere. I trolled my usual (black woolly bugger w/green flash)right from the launch and boom, line blew up. Caught 5 fresh stockers(catch/release) within the first 5 mins. There weren't bad size, averaging 10"-12", but they were more "nibbling" than "biting" and didn't put up much fight once hooked. Decided to leave them be and head for deeper waters to try some new kokanee gear. Went to the north/northwest side of the island and dropped it to about 30'. It was gusty and made it difficult to maintain any speed/direction. I ended up getting a few bites, one or two mean attacks, and 1 nice sized rainbow, but no kokes. After my failed kokanee attempt, I decided to troll (back to bugger)back by the boat launch on my way to little american. Got a few more of the stockers as I passed the launch, and oddly enough, a few largemouth in the shallow areas. The action finally peaked out once I got into little american. Had some nice hook ups with a few larger rainbows and cutties using a #2 fire tiger needlefish with a little corn. Had both rods goin(2-rod endorsement), one with the bugger and one with the needlefish and had constant action between the two. Overall, I caught 3 small bass, 8 or 9 average stockers, 6 over 15" and the one with the kokanee gear was a little more than 17". It was definitely a good day. Would have been a 5 star day, but the wind was a little rough at times, and I feel like I was cheating showing up as they stocked it. It does make me feel a little better that all my biggest came the farthest from the launch(1 north of the island and the other 6 in little american). I have heard that there are many bigger in this lake, can anyone confirm? I originally came today in hopes of getting either a kokanee(I've still yet to catch one) or a monster. I was also told that there are some nice sized native steelhead in little american, anyone know anything about this? PM me if you have any tips/tackle and/or hotspots for those fat lunkers. Any help is much appreciated. Tight lines!

Slammin8er

6/13/2012 8:24:00 PM

Nice job, thanks.
Bill's boat house is a great place for info.

gfakkema

6/13/2012 8:59:00 PM

I was wondering about that. I've heard of Bill's and passed by it after I missed the launch. I didn't know if it was a "private" type of place or a store or a place to launch. Might have to stop by next time I head that direction.

Toni

6/13/2012 9:18:00 PM

Thank you for the report. There are big trout in there. Early in the season a bass guy told me he saw 3 trout about 3 foot long while he was bass fishing. I have heard of a 27 incher by the boat launch. There is a report and picture on American Lake report from a year or 2 ago that the fish was close to 2 feet. AS to native steel, I am not sure about that.
If you get a kokanee it will be BIG. I haven't heard of any small ones. This could be bad news fro next year.

Racer

6/13/2012 10:23:00 PM

I took a 22" triploid out of the lake last week on a needlefish so there are some lunkers in there.

salmonbarry

6/13/2012 11:02:00 PM

there are definitely big fish in American. If you look at my post from April 2nd I landed a 22" fat rainbow on fire tiger needlefish over by the VA hospital. I have heard of some 10lbers be landed as well over the years so they are in there it is just a big, deep lake so there is a lot of room for them to roam. good luck and I know how that wind can be a bear out there!

Mike@Bills

6/13/2012 11:37:00 PM

There are very large Bows in American and have pictures to prove it. These fish are not mine but fish that others have caught. I have personally seen a 10 pounder come out and know a guy who got a 15 pounder. I know lots of hot spots and info on the lake like Slamin8er said. Racer 620 gave some good info with the needlefish I tried it yesterday and was killing the trout. This year I am willing to try almost anything. This is a tough year to start Koke fishing because the Kokes have decided to disapear!!!!!!! On another not I dont know everything about the lake but I do not believe that there is any steelhead in the lake. I have heard of cutthroat but again never seen one so can not verify.

gfakkema

6/14/2012 12:59:00 AM

I will head back soon for those lunkers. The #2 fire tiger needle fish was killing it today, producing my biggest and fightiest. I wasn't using any weight to drop it down, just flat lining and it worked pretty well. I might put a little bit of weight on it next time to try and get in down a little more. About the steelies... I have an article from fishing and hunting mag that says that there are many steelies in little american that like salmon sized spinners and bigger stickbaits, getting up to 15 or more pounds. Seemed kind of weird to me that such big fish would want to hang out in such a (relatively) small area. I tried for a bit, but didn't really produce anything beside some big bows. Might have to stop by Bills and ask around a little.

skyler71222

6/14/2012 8:21:00 AM

Great post. Im headed out tomorrow and will def be using this information.

Mike@Bills

6/14/2012 9:33:00 AM

If you stop by bring the article about the steelhead I would like to read that.

Mike@Bills

6/14/2012 9:46:00 AM

The problem I have about the steelies is that little american is hooked to american so it seems it would be hard to say that there is steelies in little american and not american, there is nothing to keep them down there. I think it would be awesome if they were there I would be down there in about 5 minutes.

gfakkema

6/14/2012 12:50:00 PM

Me too! I will definitely bring the article. It is an article that covers almost all the fish, cutties, bows, kokes, steelies, smallies and their hotspots and preferred tackle. It says that little american is great for cutties and steelies, but I was only hooking decent bows and a couple cutties/hybrids. I too just don't understand what would keep them in little american, seems so small. I didn't see anyone else head down that way all day though, maybe they like the calm, tackle-grabby area that little am offers. The article is a little vague, but I am really interested in catching something of size (20"+) on my ultralight set-up. Next time I head down to that area, I will stop by Bills with the article and hopefully get some inside info. Thanks Mike!

Mike@Bills

6/14/2012 5:46:00 PM

look forward to seeing you gfakkema

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