California Fishing Reports ยท Central Valley Region
The Lower American runs through Sacramento along the American River Parkway, with steelhead and resident trout close to the city.
Looking for the latest Lower American River report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Lower American River (Sacramento).
Current flows
Wind forecast
Lower American River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The Fair Oaks gauge reads around 1,400 cfs and clear.
Salmon are spawning. Egg patterns and small nymphs are working, and winter steelhead are on the way.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Lower American, bring: Egg #10-14, Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-16, Zebra Midge #18-20, Woolly Bugger #6-8, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Lower American River details
| Access | Access along the American River Parkway at Sailor Bar, Sunrise and other sites. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 100 ft |
| Nearest town | Sacramento, California |
| Best season | Fall through spring |
| Fish | Steelhead, salmon and resident trout |
| Regulations | Special rules apply for steelhead and salmon. Check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations for the current rules. A California sport fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 3X to 4X tippet |
| Camping | Camping near Folsom Lake |
| Kids | Partly. Easy access, big river. |
| Good to know | Busy in summer with rafters. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Steelhead.
Spring
Late steelhead and caddis.
Summer
Warm and busy.
Fall
Salmon eggs.
How to get there
Access sites are along the American River Parkway in Rancho Cordova and Fair Oaks.