AMERICAN RIVER-Not much change from last week. Anglers caught a few halfpounder (12 to 18 inches long) steelhead and striped bass depending on what they were concentrating on.

Seldom in recent memory has a steelhead season opened anywhere in the state to such rosy forecasts as the one now in progress on the mid- to upper Columbia and several of its tributaries.

River fishing has slowed as water levels have dropped. Rain in the forecast this week could bring more fish into the systems if there's enough rain to raise levels.

With the exception of steelhead and rainbow trout, no other fresh water game fish in Alaska attracts more fly fisher attention than do silver salmon. Silvers, or cohos, offer the fly rodder the complete package. They are large - silvers run 10 to 20 pounds with 12-pound fish more the average.