American River

Tributary of the South Fork Clearwater River

  • Recommended Fishing Water

American River in Idaho County is 22.4 miles in length.

Interactive Map
 Download KMZ
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
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)
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

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.
Clearwater Region Bag Limits
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

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

Brook Trout

  • Brook Trout limit is 25

Bull Trout

  • Bull Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release

Kokanee

  • Kokanee limit is 25

Salmon 

  • Spring and summer Chinook Salmon seasons and limits are set annually 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 limit is 0 and fishing for or targeting Sockeye Salmon is illegal
  • Fishing for or targeting salmon is prohibited unless a salmon season is specifically opened for that water

Steelhead (ocean-going)

  • Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than twenty (20) inches in length 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)
  • Seasons and limits for steelhead can be found here
  • Fishing for or targeting steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically opened for that water 

Sturgeon

  • Sturgeon limit is 0, catch-and-release
  • Sturgeon must not be removed from the water and must be released upon landing
  • Barbless hooks are required
  • Use of a sliding swivel device to secure a weight, and a lighter test line to secure weight to sliding swivel device is 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
  • Does not include Bull Trout and Brook Trout which are listed separately

Whitefish

  • Whitefish limit is 25

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, size or possession limit
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