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Lower American River
FISHING REPORT
Updated - 10/2/24
Scroll down to links for up to the minute Stream Flows,
Lodging Information, Map and Fishing Regulations
CLICK HERE TO SEE LOWER AMERICAN RIVER ACCESS MAP
Current River Conditions: 1760 CFS (1/1/24 @ 8:30 Am)
Fishing - Fair to Good: Occasional positive reports are coming in. There aren't very many out there fishing for half-pounders so if you are a local why not spend an hour or two and see if you can swing some up. Try swinging the flat between the clay banks and Watt Ave. bridge with a size 12 green soft hackle style fly. Another spot that's looking good is the pocket water on the north side of the upper Sunrise island.
Now that things are cooliing down it won't be long until the BWO's start up. If you are an early riser you might want to head on down to the river at sun-up and see if the Trico hatch is happening yet too. Best places to check out are slow/flat water upstream from runs. Don't be fooled into thinking that the fish are going to be all dinks as some of the larger Half-Pounders are schooling with them.
Striper fishing is pretty good right now in all of the valley waters so that's always an option. There is no excuse to not be fishing right now.
If you are new to the area or live in the area but never had the chance to learn how to fish your local water, consider taking one of our orientation clinics https://www.californiaflyfishingreports.com/clinic-american-river or hireing a local guide https://www.californiaflyfishingreports.com/guide-listing
to show you the ropes
As we reported previously your best bet is to fish the side channels for juvenile Steelhead. Bring lots of different fly patterns as they are very picky. Andy Guibord guibord765@comcast.net says that he's still catching Stripers along the edges and said that even though this isn't one of the better years, he's still getting fish each time out. You will be the most successful if you fish out of a boat and be out there early too.
If you are not sure how to spot a spawning redd please view this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVIol18qVM8
Generally Recommended Flies
Swinging - Winter Steelhead: Andy Guibord recommends swinging, Wooly Buggers, Caddis Poopa/olive, Bird's Nest/olive, Slump Busters #10, Zonkers #10, Silver Hilton and Intruders. If using a two fly set up, make sure one of the flies is an egg pattern.
On Top-Half Pounders & Smolts: Cut Wing PMD #18, Hackle Stacker Baetis #18 or #20, Hackle Stacker PMD #18. PMD Parachute #16, Trico Spinner #20, Drowned Trico Spinner #20, Adams Parachute #14,16,18, Elk hair Caddis #14, 16. #18 Olive Parachute (for BWOs)
Indicator Nymphing & Swinging-Adult Steelhead & Half-Pounders/Smolts: Bird's Nests #12,#14, Egg Patterns #12, Caddis Poopah #12, #14, Micro Mayfly/olive #18, Rubber Legs/black #8-#14, Prince Nymph #12, #14, SJ Worm/tan #12, Wooly Buggers #10/black, olive, rusty.
Stripers: Clouser Minnows #1 white & turquoise/olive & turquoise/gray & turquoise and yellow & turquoise, white & gray.
Shad: Bloody Maria's, Firecrackers, American River Pinky, Green Weeney, Andy's Lipstick, Jeff's Jefe Early Riser (new) and more.
See Anadromous Run Chart at the bottom of the page
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Ever want to float the middle fork of the upper American River casting streamers for
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Lower American River
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Lower American
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HATCH CHART - LOWER AMERICAN RIVER
ANADROMOUS CHART - LOWER AMERICAN RIVER
About the Lower American River
The lower American River begins near the town of Folsom, CA (yeah, the same Folsom Johnny Cash sang about) where it flows out of Lake Natoma (Nimbus Dam) and travels 24 miles to its confluence with the Sacramento River in downtown Sacramento.
The riparian flood plane, on both sides of the river, is designated as the American River Parkway, which is one of the largest urban parks in the state. It’s a refuge from the stress of the adjacent two million person urban area. With only a short hop over a levee you find yourself in a pristine wilderness that has changed little in 150 years.
The American River hosts several runs of anadromous fish; half pounder Steelhead, winter Steelhead, (smaller and sexually immature fish), Striped Bass, and American Shad. Half pounder Steelhead appear in September and are generally spread out in the river. This is not a large run, but provide some fun fishing for these 18 to 20 inch fish.
The winter Steelhead begin to arrive in December (while the upper half of the river is closed to protect spawning Salmon) and build in numbers until February when they begin to spawn. Though a good population spawn naturally in the river’s gravel, most fish returning to the river are hatchery fish.
In April the Stripers begin to show in anticipation to their spawning in May. They feed on Steelhead. Shad and Salmon smolts that are abundant in the river at that time.
In late April the American Shad begin to arrive and build in numbers into May. Shad provide great sport for most fishermen through June though some of them actually hang around through the summer. Some Shad diehards fish dry flies for them in July.