AMERICAN RIVER REPORT 3/31/25
Jonathan Hubbard:
Flows: Currently holding at 1400, but could go up with next week's precip
Clarity: 4-5 ft olive green
Rating: Fair to Good
The American has actually been pretty fun for me recently. I've fished it 3 times in the last couple of weeks and have found fish from Sailor all the way to Gristmill. Down running and a few up running adults can be found from Sailor to Rossmoor; juveniles are everywhere. Last outing we hooked 1 really nice adult that gave me the adipose fin and took off, and about a dozen or more juveniles. We've found an adult on every float and ideally some more fresh springers should be on their way any day now!
The river is easy to wade at current levels so there's plenty of water to go around. Nymph anglers throw pale eggs, sucker spawn, alevins, caddis in size 12-16, worms and mays sizes 14-16. Spey folks can throw type 6 tips in the deeper, faster runs with sculpins, alevins, and fry. Go to a type 3 or lighter if you see caddis popping or fish slashing the surface for fry and throw unweighted or floating fry and caddis emergers in olive and tan. I've even seen some fish eating dries, midges, and baetis, but you'd have to be really patient and look to the seams and tailouts.
The American is always good for an adult or two, and they are going to be memorable fish if you're able to find one. Something about the spring fish right now, they pack a mean punch and take a lot of skill and a little luck to land, especially if they eat a size 16 flash back pt. If you're boating, make sure you cover water while being mindful of bank anglers, and if you're wading, work a few spots well. Everyone thinks boats have the advantage, but a seasoned walk-and-wade angler at good flows can work the water more thoroughly and find some great fish, too! Make sure you check CDEC for current flows, have fun, and be safe out there.
FISH ON!
-Jon Hubbard
AMERICAN RIVER REPORT 2/6/25
Capt. Brian Clemens: American - dropping from 3500cfs to 2500cfs between 2/6 and 2/8. (very fishable and in good condition)
The American is ready and willing for your fishy endeavor’s right now, look for it to continue to fish though the week on into next. Both swinging and bobber fishing will produce. Look for diving ducks which is the sign of alevins. Bird nests, eggs, worms, caddis will be other nymphs to try, swinging anything black and blue, pink, pink n blue, u-name-its, sculpins, euphoria’s/alevins will work well.
AMERICAN RIVER REPORT 1/13/25
Jonathan Hubbard:
Flows: 1900 cfs
Temp: 50 °F
Visibility: Olive green 4 to 6 ft of Visibility.
The American has been really fun this month! If you don't mind seeing some folks out enjoying the river with you, then this is a great time to be out there chasing the big Eel River strain steelhead. Some huge fish to 15 pounds have been landed by Fly Fishing Specialties guides and private anglers alike! It's not a numbers game, but it's definitely your best chance to hook into a massive coastal size fish without a 6 hour drive to the north coast.
Nymph anglers are finding fish off of drops and in runs on pale eggs, prince nymphs, copper johns and alevins. Two handed anglers are fishing runs with black and pink leeches, black and blue intruders, and green butt skunks. Expect company out there, but remember there will be some fresh fish pushing up when we get some more rain and some downrunners as well, so it's always worth a shot through February when the Springers start showing up!
Dennis P. Lee:
The salmon spawning closure on the lower American River ended December 31 providing anglers the opportunity to fish a section of river that have been closed for the prior two months. Most of the salmon spawning is over with only a few carcass still around the nearshore areas. Fortunately for anglers, a hatchery winter steelhead run that continues to genetically resemble the original Eel River broodstock provides winter fishing opportunities on the river. Stream flow releases have been slightly below average at a little more than 1,800 cfs and the American River Parkway provides easy shore and boat access for anglers to several miles of fishable water.
This season earlier rains discolored the water in upstream Folsom and Nimbus lakes but the river visibility is good at about 3 feet. January 1 was a very busy day on the river and a few steelhead were reported caught. Most were taken by boat anglers fishing indicators and nymphs. Popular patterns include plastic beads and eggs, wire bodied Trinity Johns and tungsten bead jig nymphs. Good flies to swing include dark flies such as the Obsidian Johnson, Egg Sucking Leech and Hobo Spey patterns. These and many other winter steelhead flies are available at Fish Fishing Specialties. Winter steelhead fishing opportunities on the American River will continue through February as the run tapers off.
Streamflows on North Coast rivers have dropped following earlier high water and may provide good winter steelhead fishing opportunities in the upcoming weeks barring additional winter storms. Anglers should check local US Geological Survey streamflow gauges for current flow conditions.
Andy Guibord:
Fished the American on Tuesday. My friend and I drifted from Sailor Bar to Sunrise under robin-egg-blue skies. We fished hard under an indicator with eggs, nymphs and worms. Water was flowing at 1800cfs with good clarity and high hopes. Only one silvery 16 inch half pounder showed mercy on our angling souls all that day as it leapt into the unusually spring like air. A lovely day
AMERICAN RIVER REPORT 10/25/24
Jonathan Hubbard: Only 6 days left to fish the American until the upper section closes through January 1st! Flows have dropped to 1500 cfs and water temps are hovering between 59 and 61 degrees. Water is clear and getting colder. Not many salmon in the system yet surprisingly, but they're slowly trickling in. Egg bite is non existent, so stick to small bugs if your indicator nymphing or tight lining. Perdigons, caddis, and mayflies have been working well when the hatches are coming off mid morning. If you prefer to swing a fly any olive or tan sculpin pattern should do the trick, and dont shy away from putting a soft hackle behind it in the morning or evening if you see caddis coming off. Most fish are hatchey fish around 18 inches with a few much larger native fish in the mix if youre lucky enough to find one. Fish up top if you don't mind company or try to find a fresh fish pushing up mid river if you prefer to have it to yourself.
