California
American River at Fair Oaks
Current River Rating
Unavailable
Latest water observations are stale, so current conditions cannot be rated confidently.
Low confidence
Should I Go?
Not Enough Data
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is available with the current data.
Why
- Water observations are stale.
- Current water temperature is unavailable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- Not available
- Gage Height
- Not available
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Latest current reading
- Not available
Monitoring temporarily unavailable. · USGS station 11446500 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
Loading readings from the past 7 days…
Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
Loading advisory…
Weather Near Gauge
fetch failed
Historical Flow
Loading historical flow…
Fishing Overview
USGS streamgage AMERICAN R A FAIR OAKS CA (11446500). Coordinates are the USGS monitoring-location point. App-supported continuous parameters currently available: water temperature (00010), streamflow (00060), and gage height (00065). This destination is the named Lower American River Fair Oaks / Nimbus tailwater freshwater reach only. It is not Folsom Lake, not the North Fork American, and not the Sacramento River mainstem.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at American River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Lower American River public fishery at the Fair Oaks USGS gage, including the Nimbus tailwater corridor used by Sacramento-area anglers. CDFW manages salmon, steelhead, and resident freshwater fishing here. USGS 11446500 provides live water temperature, streamflow, and stage. Catalog scoring uses generic-fishing because the named reach is a mixed anadromous and warmwater public river, not a trout-only Hatch Match water. This record does not invent California CFS bands.
Target species
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
CDFW manages in-river Chinook salmon fishing on the Lower American River. Confirm current season and closures.
Striped bass
Morone saxatilis
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Striped bass are a documented Lower American / Sacramento-system companion fishery.
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Steelhead / rainbow trout are a Lower American River target below Nimbus. Catalog species ID is rainbow-trout. They are not the sole scoring identity; this mixed reach stays generic-fishing.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Tailwater
Sacramento County regulated tailwater below Nimbus Dam at the Fair Oaks gauge. Summer water is a mixed urban tailwater, not a constant spring creek.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public fishing access exists along the Lower American River Parkway. Catalog coordinates are the USGS gage point, not a verified put-in pin.
Stocking information
Chinook salmon and steelhead are CDFW-managed anadromous fisheries. Resident trout and striped bass are present. Confirm current official planting and in-river notices.
Official sources
Salmon, steelhead, and striped-bass rules change. Verify current CDFW inland and anadromous regulations before fishing this reach.
Hatch Match
Loading hatch suggestions…
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Sacramento, California
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Sacramento
Management Category
Mixed anadromous / freshwater river
Regulation Scope
American River at Fair Oaks freshwater gauge reach
Regulation Summary
California Department of Fish and Wildlife freshwater and anadromous regulations apply on the Lower American River. Confirm current seasons, gear, salmon/steelhead rules, and any in-river closures before fishing.
Target Species
Chinook Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Striped Bass
Access, Parking, and Regulations
Loading access and regulations…
