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American River

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

California, United States

4.2·3062 catches

Top fish species at American River

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American River fishing reports

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American shad

length · weight

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recently logged catches
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American shad

length · weight

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recently logged catches
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American shad

20 in · 2 lb

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recently logged catches
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American shad

length · weight

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recently logged catches
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American shad

length · weight

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recently logged catches
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American shad

length · weight

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General info

American River is a stream located in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is most popular for fishing Striped bass, Chinook salmon, and Rainbow trout.

Location

38°36′24.6″N 121°18′37.8″W
Directions

Official website

www.rivers.gov

Amenities

When are Striped Bass biting on American River?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at American River. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at American River, CA

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in California can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

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Local laws and licenses

California fishing license

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Reviews of American River

4.2
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60 ratings

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Cities nearby

Carmichael

2.0 miles away

Arden-Arcade

3.8 miles away

Rancho Cordova

3.9 miles away

Fair Oaks

4.5 miles away

Rosemont

4.7 miles away

North Highlands

5.6 miles away

Foothill Farms

5.9 miles away

Citrus Heights

6.2 miles away

Orangevale

7.4 miles away

Antelope

8.0 miles away

Sacramento

9.0 miles away

Rio Linda

9.0 miles away

Vineyard

9.2 miles away

Florin

9.9 miles away

Folsom

10.0 miles away

Lemon Hill

10.1 miles away

Parkway

10.7 miles away

Roseville

11.3 miles away

Granite Bay

13.0 miles away

West Sacramento

13.4 miles away

Elk Grove

13.8 miles away

Rocklin

14.3 miles away

Rancho Murieta

14.6 miles away

El Dorado Hills

14.9 miles away

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FAQ about American River fishing

the American River is a stream located in Sacramento County, California, United States. Its coordinates are:
38°36′24.6″N 121°18′37.8″W
.
Find the best fishing spots on the American River by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
The most common species in the American River are:
The latest American River fishing reports are:
According to fishing regulations at the American River, some of the species in season this June include: Chinook salmon, Lingcod, Pacific halibut, Cabezon, and Copper rockfish. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .

Fishing in California requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Options include daily, annual, or combination licenses for residents and non-residents, purchasable online or at sporting goods stores.

In California, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16. There is no universal senior exemption. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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