American River Striper Report 6/13/2025
The American River is a year round anglers’ paradise. It meanders through Sacramento County from the mouth at Discovery Park all the way to Nimbus Dam. Anadromous gamefish like Steelhead, American Shad, Chinook Salmon, and Striped Bass make yearly migrations into the river.
Striper fishing on the American River is good. Most fish that are being caught are “schoolies” ranging from one to eight pounds. The potential for a double digit sized fish is highly possible. Being on a watercraft like a drift boat, raft, or a power drifter is the preferred way to fish. Having a motor on the boat is a bonus. There are some wading spots that make striper fishing possible. The best hours are in the early morning when the sunlight is at a low angle to the water. Pro tip: start fishing before the sun rises.Having the right setup is key. Eight weight rod with a reel with a solid drag is the norm on the American River. Having different lines is helpful if one wishes to fish different depths. Rio Outbound Short sinking lines are recommended. The F/H/I and the I/5/7 sinking densities are preferred. F/H/I density is used when stripers are chasing bait in the shallows right at sunrise. The I/5/7 density is best when working deeper. Using a stout leader is better for turning over large flies and handling these strong fish. The shop recommends using the Scientific Anglers Absolute Streamer Leader with an additional three feet of Scientific Anglers Absolute Clear Tippet in 16 pound test. Use flies that look like juvenile trout, shad, or just something with chartreuse on it. Recommended flies are:
As of now, striper fishing on the American River has not hit its prime. When American Shad starts to thin out, stripers will start concentrating on any prey that is available. The season starts to wind down towards the end of August, so there is plenty of fishing to be had.
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