Comments on: Los Angeles River Steelheading!

By: R

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:50:06 +0000

True story… 1984 Hayward Ca. My dog was barking at something in the drainage creek that ran along our apartments early in the morning. Thinking it was one of Haywards finest chasing someone through the complex I looked out of my window and to my surprise a 18 inch chrome hen was shooting upstream in 6 to 7 inches of water..to where?? Who the hell knows? I still wonder to this day if she ever made it or ended up as a main course and a fish tale at some losers dinner table.

By: Jim Ross

Jim Ross — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:56:13 +0000

There were steelies in the river in 1948 before it became a storm drain. An old friend of mine (since gone) fished it when he was a kid. I have seen old photos.

Would be nice.

By: Drew Stephens

Drew Stephens — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 06:41:15 +0000

Darn haha I was actually getting exited about fishing here until i saw the driftboat in like 2 inches of water kinda made me think but i do know that there are big carp you can catch with a fly rod and apparently there are stripers too i am really wanting to go try to catch a striper or whatever else there is in there does anyone have any tips or secret spots good to fish at?

By: JD

JD — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 02:32:32 +0000

It’s an old April Fools story…

By: Bentley

Bentley — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:02:41 +0000

Dude! Desperate for copy or what?
Tell a funny guide story, you know ya got a few! Craig

By: broke somewhere on the feather river

broke somewhere on the feather river — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:42:47 +0000

Damn, I was getting ready to fish the concrete creek thru Hayward and San Lorenzo as i know for a fact that just 50 years ago there were a few Stealhead in this creek and thought they might be back……Great story though….

By: JD

JD — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:51:17 +0000

Uh, April Fool’s Joke…see above…

By: james doerner

james doerner — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:42:21 +0000

i dont know what to believe. please me email me the truth. I love steelhead fishing and am currently catching some monster lake michigan browns and steelhead on the naval base that i am stationed at in illinois. I am a southern cali native in rancho cucamonga and if what you say is true i want some of the action. My cousin brian is a flyfishing guide in northern california and he got me hooked on steelhead fishing years ago. also please email me your guide contact number if possible if its not some april fools joke. thanks

By: JD

JD — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 05:04:29 +0000

Of course, it was an April Fool’s gag! You guys should see the magazine article in Salmon Trout Steelheader…driftboats and the works in the LA. :)

And nice article, Joe. Yep, the LA used to be home to some very good steelhead runs “back in the day.” I’ve read many accounts of the LA elite heading down there to catch steelies before the thing was turned into a concrete drainage ditch.

These days, there are still remnant populations in a few Southern California streams, probably most notably, Malibu Creek. For more info on Malibu Creek, click HERE.

By: Joe Linton

Joe Linton — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:46:07 +0000

There were Steelhead in the LA River historically – see my write-up about that here:
http://lacreekfreak.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/fish-in-the-los-angeles-river/

Though I agree with the last comment in thinking that your entry is an April Fools joke.