American River Fishing Regulations
Yakima County, Washington · 2026 size limits, bag limits, and seasons
American River is a river in Yakima County, Washington. It has its own fishing regulations, set separately for 3 sections of the river. These rules replace Washington's statewide limits on this water.
Map of American River
American River limits by species (2026)
From Hwy. 410 Bridge at river mile 5.4 to Mesatchee Creek Trail river crossing at river mile 15.8
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only; Barbless; Single Point Hook; No Bait | – | – | Year-round |
| – | – | Jul 16 – Sep 15 · Closed | |
| All Game Fish | – | – | May 23 – Jul 15, Sep 16 – Oct 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-July 15 |
From Mesatchee Creek Trail river crossing at river mile 15.8 upstream
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only; Barbless; Single Point Hook; No Bait | – | – | Year-round |
| All Game Fish | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31 |
From mouth to Hwy. 410 Bridge at river mile 5.4
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only; Barbless; Single Point Hook; No Bait | – | – | Year-round |
| All Game Fish | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31 |
– means no limit is listed for this water. Rules not shown here follow Washington's statewide regulations.
Plan your American River trip
American River fishing: common questions
Do Washington statewide fishing rules apply on American River?
Where American River has its own rule for a species, that rule replaces the statewide limit. For species not listed on this page, Washington's statewide regulations apply. Regulations are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; confirm with the official 2026 regulations before keeping a fish.
Other Washington waters with special regulations
- Yakima River · Benton
- Columbia River
- Wind River · Skamania
- Drano Lake · Skamania
- Naselle River · Pacific
- Roosevelt Lake · Ferry/Grant/Lincoln/Okanogan/Stevens
- Cowlitz River · Cowlitz/Lewis
- Green River · Duwamish
- Grays River · Wahkiakum
- Nisqually River · Pierce/Thurston
- Nooksack River · Whatcom
- Humptulips River · Grays Harbor
Take American River rules on the water
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