2026 regulation year
American River 2026 — California Fishing Regulations
California statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
American River carries a special-regulation overlay on top of California's 2026 fishing rules — covering Chinook salmon. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
Per-species rules on American River
Catch-and-release on most reaches when run is small
Official source
California Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes the authoritative 2026 California fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.