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Lower American River
FISHING REPORT
Updated - 3/6/26
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
CLICK HERE TO SEE PDF OF SPECIAL REGS BOOKLET
Current River Conditions 1450 CFS (3/6/26 @ 8:30 am)
and clear
Fishing Report-Fair to Good:
Flows have come down even more makiing most sections of the river very wadeable. Even though most of the Eel River strain fish are on their way to the Pacific, other spring spawning Rainbows are taking their place. This is actually one of the most pleasant times on the river each year. There are still plenty of steelhead smolts in the river too. Watt Avenue is a good place to catch them. Alevan patterns and egg patterns are still working for swinging and nymphing. Their might be a BYO hatch so be prepared. Give some thought to adding a green caddis larva pattern your nymphing set up.
If you are unsure how to spot spawning redds click on link below
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 Hook in 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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Lower American River
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Lower American
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Book a Guide
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.