American River

Tributary of the South Fork Clearwater River

  • Recommended Fishing Water

American River in Idaho County is 22.4 miles in length.

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Fishing for salmon or steelhead is not permitted in river.

Facilities

Motor Restriction
No
Boat Ramp
No
Dock
No
Toilet
No
Campground
No
ADA Access
Yes

Recommended Game Fish

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
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Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
2009/07/14 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/07/01 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/06/11 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/07/22 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/07/11 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/06/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 495 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/06/07 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 498 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/05/23 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 510 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/06/27 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 506 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/06/06 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,046 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/07/14 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 525 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/06/07 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 540 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/05/24 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 479 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/04/13 Steelhead 79,320 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/06/30 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,008 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/06/07 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/07/24 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 308 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/06/24 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 280 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/06/13 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 585 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/05/20 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 480 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/04/30 Steelhead 204,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/06/25 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/06/06 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/05/20 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/04/30 Steelhead 94,232 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/06/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 524 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/06/05 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 540 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/04/27 Steelhead 90,188 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/06/26 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 450 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/06/05 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 450 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/05/25 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 450 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/05/09 Steelhead 18,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/05/08 Steelhead 36,037 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/05/05 Steelhead 42,150 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/07/02 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/07/21 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/06/30 Rainbow Trout 510 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/07/24 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/06/30 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/06/04 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/07/02 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/06/06 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/05/20 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/07/26 Rainbow Trout 249 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/07/10 Rainbow Trout 249 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/06/28 Rainbow Trout 250 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/06/09 Rainbow Trout 250 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/05/24 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/04/05 Chinook Salmon 221,449 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/07/19 Rainbow Trout 250 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/07/01 Rainbow Trout 250 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/06/20 Rainbow Trout 250 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/06/06 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/05/24 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/08/18 Chinook Salmon 80 Adults
1993/08/16 Chinook Salmon 240 Adults
1993/07/28 Rainbow Trout 750 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/07/13 Rainbow Trout 250 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/08/20 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/04/15 Steelhead 210,874 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/07/12 Rainbow Trout 750 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/06/26 Rainbow Trout 750 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/05/25 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/07/01 Rainbow Trout 605 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/06/26 Chinook Salmon 51,369 Fry (0-3 inches)
1989/06/22 Chinook Salmon 99,401 Fry (0-3 inches)
1988/06/27 Rainbow Trout 1,150 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/05/25 Rainbow Trout 675 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/05/24 Chinook Salmon 81,501 Fry (0-3 inches)
1988/05/12 Chinook Salmon 113,800 Fry (0-3 inches)
1988/04/25 Steelhead 237 Adults
1988/04/22 Steelhead 155 Adults
1988/04/21 Steelhead 148 Adults
1988/04/20 Steelhead 56,885 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/17 Steelhead 19,167 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/16 Steelhead 19,264 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/15 Steelhead 16,496 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/14 Steelhead 20,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/07/21 Rainbow Trout 511 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/06/18 Rainbow Trout 498 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/04/23 Steelhead 40,889 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/21 Steelhead 41,867 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/17 Steelhead 44,078 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/14 Steelhead 62,473 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/03/27 Steelhead 360 Adults
1985/05/01 Steelhead 24,034 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/04/29 Steelhead 138,077 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/04/03 Steelhead 1,224 Adults
1984/06/12 Rainbow Trout 660 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/05/05 Steelhead 29,373 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/05/02 Steelhead 69,829 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/07/12 Rainbow Trout 740 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/07/27 Rainbow Trout 1,020 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/07/15 Rainbow Trout 832 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/06/11 Rainbow Trout 350 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/05/28 Steelhead 100,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/05/27 Brook Trout 4,984 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1973/04/03 Chinook Salmon 33,772 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/06/26 Chinook Salmon 44,700 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/04/18 Chinook Salmon 65,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1971/07/21 Rainbow Trout 1,025 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/05/26 Rainbow Trout 340 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/29 Rainbow Trout 680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/06/19 Rainbow Trout 800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/20 Rainbow Trout 2,880 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/06/28 Rainbow Trout 1,365 Catchable (6+ inches)
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

Fishing Rules, 2025 - 2027

All Waters Open All Year

Except as modified in Special Rules
Fishing is not allowed within the posted upstream and downstream boundary of any fish weir or trap.

Daily Bag Limits

The following daily bag limits apply to all waters within each region except as modified in the Special Rules. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit.

Special Rules

No Special Rules for American River.
Clearwater Region Bag Limits
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

  • In rivers and streams, no bag, length or possession limits
  • In lakes and reservoirs, limit is 6, both species combined

Brook Trout

  • Brook Trout limit is 25
  • Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules - if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for Brook Trout

Bull Trout

  • Bull Trout - catch-and-release

Kokanee

  • Kokanee limit is 25

Salmon (ocean-run)

  • Spring and summer Chinook Salmon seasons and limits are set by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission and issued in separate brochures
  • Seasons and limits for fall Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon can be found here
  • Sockeye Salmon fishing is prohibited. Defined as ocean-run Oncorhynchus nerka longer than 14 inches in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding above Mosquito Flat Dam), and the Clearwater River drainage (excluding that portion above Dworshak Dam and lakes)
  • Fishing for salmon is prohibited unless a salmon season is specifically opened for that water

Steelhead (ocean-run)

  • Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than 20 inches in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and reservoirs), and the Clearwater River drainage (excluding that portion above Dworshak Dam, and lakes)
  • Fishing for steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically opened for that water. See fishing regulations for details

Sturgeon

  • Sturgeon - catch-and-release
  • Sturgeon must not be removed from the water and must be released upon landing
  • Barbless hooks, sliding swivel device to secure a weight, and a lighter test line to secure weight to sliding swivel device are required. See fishing regulations for details

Tiger Muskie

  • Tiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches

Trout includes Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, and trout hybrids (e.g. Tiger Trout)

  • In rivers and streams, trout limit is 2, all species combined
  • In lakes, reservoirs, ditches and canals, trout limit is 6, all species combined
  • Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately

Walleye (Stocked illegally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.)

  • No bag, length, or possession limits. Harvest is encouraged

Whitefish

  • Whitefish limit is 25
  • Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules - if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for whitefish

Protected Nongame Fish includes Pacific Lamprey and Sand Roller

  • May not be harvested or possessed

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, length, or possession limits
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