Freestone · Mixed · Northern California

South Fork American River

Middle Fork American River venue image
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The big rafting river through the gold-country canyon at Coloma, which means summer days here belong to the boats and the fishing belongs to the early morning and the cooler edges of the year.

Species

About as good as it gets

Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for rainbow trout
Ideal
18°C est.ideal 10–18°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for rainbow trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity8518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity6612% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
17.5°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
31°C
Wind
W 11 km/h
Light breeze
Pressure
1014 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • CDFW general trout season; some reaches open all year — verify
  • Summer flows are shaped by upstream releases and rafting demand.
Directions
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About this water

The big rafting river through the gold-country canyon at Coloma, which means summer days here belong to the boats and the fishing belongs to the early morning and the cooler edges of the year. It's a freestone with some hydro influence up top, holding wild rainbows in the pocket water and tailouts. Once the runoff drops out you can fish a dry-dropper or swing soft-hackles, and the trout will look up for caddis and attractors. In high summer it warms, so do your fishing early and dodge both the heat and the flotilla.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • TroutLast Saturday in April → 15 November
Other water nearby · 3