American River Shad Fishing Report – May 2, 2026
Sacramento Area Fly Fishing Report | Northern California Shad Fishing
Flows: 3,390 cfs
Water Clarity: Clean & Green
The American River shad run has officially begun, and early season fly anglers are already finding success throughout the lower river. While the peak of the run is still ahead of us, there are solid numbers of fish moving into the system and enough action to make it worth breaking out the shad rods, sink tips, and Bloody Maria fly boxes.
We recently fished the American River from Sailor Bar to Gristmill and found shad spread throughout the river system. Fishing wasn’t lights out yet, but there were consistent hookups and several quality hen shad in the mix, a great sign for what’s shaping up to be another strong Sacramento-area shad season.
Current flows remain on the higher side at 3,390 cfs, so fish are holding in softer water along tailouts, gravel bars, inside seams, and riffled walking-speed currents. Anglers targeting American River shad should focus on transitional water with moderate depth and current speed. Both indicator fishing and swinging flies produced grabs throughout the day.
Productive flies included:
- Bloody Marias
- Lance’s Caddis
- Bright attractor patterns
- Small flashy shad flies in pink, orange, chartreuse, and purple
As always with shad fishing, experimenting with fly color and presentation can make a big difference from hour to hour.
The beautiful spring weather has made for excellent conditions on the water, and there are even reports of a few late-season steelhead still hanging around the system.
For anglers looking to experience one of Northern California’s most underrated fisheries, now is the perfect time to start planning American River shad fishing trips before the main push of fish arrives. Over the next several weeks, fishing should continue to improve as more shad enter the Sacramento River system and migrate upstream into the American River.
