2024 American River Steelhead Salmon Fishing Report and Access River Maps
American River Fishing Reports
Fishing Map and Fishing Report of the American River
See video for awesome street level view of
Where to fish the American from shoreline
How to fish
American River, shad, stripers, steelhead, salmon
local hunting ranches and hunting clubs
The American River flows from the Sierra Nevada to the Folsom Lake/Nimbus Dam. Known as the Upper American River, this is a native trout area to fish. We cover that in another fishing map.
The Lower American River, however has fishing for migratory steelhead, Chinook salmon, stripers, and shad. Steelhead fishing is very good, and is basically year round.
Winter:
Winter runs are the big boys –Steelhead fishing in the American River reaches the high point December through March, the fish are the largest of the various runs, average of 8 pounds, and get over 15.
During the Spring returns are "half pounder" steelhead, smallish fish to 15 inches
Fall American steelhead, a little bit bigger though they can be much larger, starting in September.
Access:
Just north of Highway 50, there are lots of points of access from the just about any exit off the highway. Hazel Avenue is the closest to the tail water near the Folsom Dam,