American River Upper California

General Description:

The American River begins its journey in the high Sierra Nevada Mountains, on the west side of Lake Tahoe, in the El Dorado and Tahoe National Forests.  The Upper American River, which is a trout fishery, flows for 150 miles to the Folsom Dam.  Trout fishing is allowed around the year, but it becomes catch and release for part of the year.  The Lower American River, which features steelhead and salmon runs, is covered in another stream description.

The Upper American River has some readily accessible water, as well as some that flows through difficult to access canyons, meaning the fishing ranges from easy to very difficult.

Nearby US 50 allows decent access to the South Fork of the Upper American River, which is stocked with trout by the state of California.  Pulloffs along the road, except in the canyon portion of the river, provide numerous opportunities to stop and fish many sections of the river.

The Middle Fork of the Upper American River, which features primarily stocked trout below the dam on French Meadows Reservoir and primarily stream-bred trout above the reservoir, is somewhat more difficult to access, due to the canyon through which it flows.  A road provides access to the portion above the reservoir, and the portion immediately downstream from the reservoir can be accessed from the dam.  The remote and lightly fished Rubicon River tributary to the Middle Fork, which is a wild trout stream up to the Hell Hole Reservoir, provides very good possibilities for brown and rainbow trout.

The most difficult of the three forks to access is the North Fork, which is nestled inside a canyon with walls as high as 4000 ft above the river.  Furthermore, much of the water is so rough and tumble that only experts are even able navigate it by whitewater raft.  This wild, freestone tributary can only be fished by utilizing difficult canyon trails.

Fly Fishing the Upper American River:

The fly fishing equipment you use for the Upper American River will depend on which of the three branches or the Rubicon River tributary you are fishing.  You may experience anything from easy, roadside access, all the way to backcountry hiking, depending on which stream you are fishing.

Recommended Fly Fishing Equipment & Rigging 

American River Trout Flies:
We recommend our "Perfect Fly" Trout Flies. We have specific imitations of every important insect that hatches on the Upper American River. The trout can become selective during several of the aquatic insect hatches. If you haven't already done so, we invite you to try our "Perfect Flies". We have many satisfied anglers that have used them on the Upper American River. We are confident you'll be glad you did. They are the most realistic and effective imitations of aquatic and terrestrial insects you can purchase.

Spring:
Before and after the the spring runoff, sections of the Upper American River provide good fishing opportunities.
Summer:
The best trout fishing of the year occurs in the summer on the Upper American River.
Fall:
When the water isn't too warm or low, early fall on the Upper American River produces excellent fishing.
Winter:
The Upper American River does have some decent fishing in the winter, provided there isn't excessive snow