American River
Tributary of the South Fork Clearwater River
- Recommended Fishing Water
American River in Idaho County is 22.4 miles in length.
Fishing for salmon or steelhead is not permitted in river.
Recommended Game Fish
- Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii)
- Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
- Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni)
- Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss pop. 21)
Species Observed in Surveys
- Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis observed in 2023
- Catostomus sp. Catostomus observed in 2023
- Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha observed in 2023
- Cottus Cottus observed in 2023
- Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii observed in 2023
- Dace Rhinichthys observed in 2023
- Mountain Whitefish Prosopium williamsoni observed in 2023
- Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss observed in 2023
- Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi observed in 2022
- Fry Oncorhynchus observed in 2022
- Redside Shiner Richardsonius balteatus observed in 2022
- Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss pop 13 observed in 2022
- Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha observed in 2021
- Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss observed in 2017
- Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus observed in 2016
- Longnose Dace Rhinichthys cataractae observed in 2015
- Speckled Dace Rhinichthys osculus observed in 2015
- Bridgelip Sucker Catostomus columbianus observed in 2011
- Largescale Sucker Catostomus macrocheilus observed in 2010
- Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch observed in 2006
- Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss observed in 2000
- Northern Pikeminnow Ptychocheilus oregonensis observed in 1992
Fish Stocking Records
Date | Species | Quantity | General Size |
---|---|---|---|
2009/07/14 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2009/07/01 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2009/06/11 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2008/07/22 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2008/07/11 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2007/06/28 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 495 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2007/06/07 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 498 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2007/05/23 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 510 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2006/06/27 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 506 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2006/06/06 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 1,046 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2005/07/14 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 525 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2005/06/07 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 540 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2005/05/24 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 479 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2005/04/13 | Steelhead B-Run | 79,320 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2004/06/30 | Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid | 1,008 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2004/06/07 | Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2003/07/24 | Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid | 308 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2003/06/24 | Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid | 280 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2003/06/13 | Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid | 585 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2003/05/20 | Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid | 480 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2003/04/30 | Steelhead B-Run | 204,080 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2002/06/25 | Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2002/06/06 | Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2002/05/20 | Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2002/04/30 | Steelhead B-Run | 94,232 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2001/06/28 | Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid | 524 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2001/06/05 | Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid | 540 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2001/04/27 | Steelhead | 90,188 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2000/06/26 | Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid | 450 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2000/06/05 | Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid | 450 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2000/05/25 | Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid | 450 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2000/05/09 | Steelhead B-Run | 18,000 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2000/05/08 | Steelhead B-Run | 36,037 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
2000/05/05 | Steelhead B-Run | 42,150 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1999/07/02 | Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1998/07/21 | Rainbow Unspecified | 1,000 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1998/06/30 | Rainbow Unspecified | 510 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1997/07/24 | Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1997/06/30 | Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1997/06/04 | Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1996/07/02 | Rainbow Unspecified | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1996/06/06 | Rainbow Unspecified | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1996/05/20 | Rainbow Unspecified | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1995/07/26 | Domestic Kamloops | 249 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1995/07/10 | Domestic Kamloops | 249 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1995/06/28 | Domestic Kamloops | 250 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1995/06/09 | Domestic Kamloops | 250 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1995/05/24 | Domestic Kamloops | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1995/04/05 | Chinook Spring | 221,449 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1994/07/19 | Black Canyon Kamloops | 250 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1994/07/01 | Black Canyon Kamloops | 250 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1994/06/20 | Black Canyon Kamloops | 250 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1994/06/06 | Black Canyon Kamloops | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1994/05/24 | Black Canyon Kamloops | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1993/08/18 | Chinook Spring | 80 | Adults |
1993/08/16 | Chinook Spring | 240 | Adults |
1993/07/28 | Mt Lassen Rainbow | 750 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1993/07/13 | Mt Lassen Rainbow | 250 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1991/08/20 | Rainbow Unspecified | 1,500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1991/04/15 | Steelhead B-Run | 210,874 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1990/07/12 | Rainbow Unspecified | 750 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1990/06/26 | Rainbow Unspecified | 750 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1990/05/25 | Rainbow Unspecified | 500 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1989/07/01 | Rainbow Unspecified | 605 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1989/06/26 | Chinook Spring | 51,369 | Fry (0-3 inches) |
1989/06/22 | Chinook Spring | 99,401 | Fry (0-3 inches) |
1988/06/27 | Mt Lassen Rainbow | 1,150 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1988/05/25 | Mt Lassen Rainbow | 675 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1988/05/24 | Chinook Spring | 81,501 | Fry (0-3 inches) |
1988/05/12 | Chinook Spring | 113,800 | Fry (0-3 inches) |
1988/04/25 | Steelhead B-Run | 237 | Adults |
1988/04/22 | Steelhead B-Run | 155 | Adults |
1988/04/21 | Steelhead B-Run | 148 | Adults |
1988/04/20 | Steelhead B-Run | 56,885 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1987/04/17 | Steelhead B-Run | 19,167 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1987/04/16 | Steelhead B-Run | 19,264 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1987/04/15 | Steelhead B-Run | 16,496 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1987/04/14 | Steelhead B-Run | 20,200 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1986/07/21 | Rainbow Unspecified | 511 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1986/06/18 | Mt Lassen Rainbow | 498 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1986/04/23 | Steelhead B-Run | 40,889 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1986/04/21 | Steelhead B-Run | 41,867 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1986/04/17 | Steelhead B-Run | 44,078 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1986/04/14 | Steelhead B-Run | 62,473 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1986/03/27 | Steelhead B-Run | 360 | Adults |
1985/05/01 | Steelhead B-Run | 24,034 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1985/04/29 | Steelhead B-Run | 138,077 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1985/04/03 | Steelhead B-Run | 1,224 | Adults |
1984/06/12 | Rainbow Unspecified | 660 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1984/05/05 | Steelhead B-Run | 29,373 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1984/05/02 | Steelhead B-Run | 69,829 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1983/07/12 | Rainbow Unspecified | 740 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1982/07/27 | Rainbow Unspecified | 1,020 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1981/07/15 | Rainbow Unspecified | 832 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1981/06/11 | Rainbow Unspecified | 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 Spring | 33,772 | Fingerling (3-6 inches) |
1972/06/26 | Chinook Spring | 44,700 | Fry (0-3 inches) |
1972/04/18 | Chinook Spring | 65,000 | Fry (0-3 inches) |
1971/07/21 | Rainbow Unspecified | 1,025 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1971/05/26 | Rainbow Unspecified | 340 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1970/07/29 | Rainbow Unspecified | 680 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1970/06/19 | Rainbow Unspecified | 800 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1969/06/20 | Rainbow Unspecified | 2,880 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
1968/06/28 | Rainbow Unspecified | 1,365 | Catchable (6+ inches) |
Licenses and Tags
- Online
- By phone & credit card:
1-800-554-8685 - License Vendors
- IDFG Offices
Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
Fishing Rules, 2022 - 2024
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 after the second day of the season.
Special Rules
No Special Rules for American River.Find an error? Please let us know what is wrong so we can get it fixed up! Report a Problem