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Nimbus Dam through Sacramento. Steelhead, fall kings and spring stripers in town. The river tops out around 12 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The drawn water covers 561 acres wrapped in 43.4 miles of bank, with a single island in the mix. The 13.1 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Call it 14.9 mi long by 4.4 mi wide at the broadest reach. Sacramento County claims this one. Folsom Lake sits 19 mi northeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
In spring, steelhead run shallow here, mostly 2 to 12 ft. Summer keeps them at 1 to 12 ft, and they winter in 3 to 12 ft. Current seam (mile 11.9) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for summer steelhead. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than an orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 11.9) (7 ft) | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 11.9) (7 ft) | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Nimbus Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 12 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 11.9) (7 ft) | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
When the water first warms, chinook salmon slide up into 2 to 12 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 12 ft, winter 4 to 12 ft. Start at Nimbus Dam tailrace. It's a dam tailrace holding about 10 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Nimbus Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Nimbus Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Nimbus Dam tailrace (10 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Nimbus Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Start shallow in spring: striped bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 4 to 12 ft covers summer, 4 to 12 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Nimbus Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Nimbus Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Nimbus Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Nimbus Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Nimbus Basin (10 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
14 pieces of structure are mapped here — Nimbus Basin, around 10 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for California waters are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to American River (Lower) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
American River (Lower) is about 12 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target steelhead, chinook salmon, striped bass on American River (Lower).
Current seam (mile 11.9) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For steelhead, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on American River (Lower) is regulated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check the official California regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Folsom Lake 19 mi · Franks Tract 41 mi · Big Break 44 mi · Lake Berryessa 48 mi · Suisun Bay 50 mi · Clifton Court Forebay 54 mi · Napa River 57 mi · Bethany Reservoir 58 mi · White Pines Lake 60 mi · Salt Springs Reservoir 64 mi · Snowflower 64 mi · Rucker Lake 65 mi
See how American River (Lower) stacks up: best striped bass lakes in California · best chinook salmon lakes in California · best steelhead lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.