It’s a fishing day

Klamath River fishing conditions · California

Now until 5 pmSteelhead

The bite peaks at 88.

Log a trip here
Right now: 88 for steelhead, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Steelhead, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 881 pm
  2. 88
  3. 88
  4. 884 pm
  5. 74
  6. 74
  7. 747 pm
  8. 74
  9. 74
  10. 6610 pm
  11. 66
  12. 66Sun
  13. 741 am
  14. 71
  15. 71
  16. 714 am
  17. 71
  18. 64
  19. 637 am
  20. 64
  21. 64
  22. 6410 am
  23. 64
  24. 64
  25. 641 pm
  26. 64
  27. 64
  28. 644 pm
  29. 64
  30. 64
  31. 647 pm
  32. 64
  33. 64
  34. 7410 pm
  35. 74
  36. 74Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Steelhead range 40–55°

Wind
10 mph

From the west-southwest

Flow
1,280 cfs

steady · +0% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:00 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
64°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are California regulations for these waters.

Steelhead

Steelhead

Oncorhynchus mykiss

88GoNow until 5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Steelhead bite in 40–55° water, best near 48°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 2–60 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Open all year: 2 hatchery trout or steelhead a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Klamath River, I-5 bridge to the Hwy 96 bridge at Weitchpec

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on steelhead

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

53Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Chinook salmon bite in 42–58° water, best near 50°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 15–150 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Closed to chinook until Aug 15. Fall-run quota fishery: 2 chinook a day, no more than 1 over 23" until the adult quota is met, then only fish 23" or under. Quotas are set each May (2026 season shown).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Klamath River, I-5 bridge to the Hwy 96 bridge at Weitchpec

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River1,280 cfs · steady · +0% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.09 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:00 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:53 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:10 am–7:10 am
  • Major solunarTomorrow 10:30 am–12:30 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. California CDFW has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A major Northern California salmon and steelhead river, recently the site of the largest dam removal in U.S. history, which reopened hundreds of miles to migrating fish. Fall chinook and winter steelhead are the draw through the Siskiyou canyon around Seiad Valley. Conditions and seasons shift year to year as the river recovers. Live USGS flow near Seiad Valley.

I-5 bridge to Weitchpec: 2 hatchery steelhead a day all year. Chinook are closed until Aug 15, then open as a quota fishery: 2 a day, only 1 over 23" until the adult quota is met. North Coast Salmon and Steelhead Report Cards required; coho must be released.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Rogue River (Agness)64 mi · OregonBest now until 9 pm
100Go
Gold Beach (South Beach Park)72 mi · OregonBest tomorrow 1 pm–7 pmHigh Surf Advisory
75Worth the trip
Trinity River (Lewiston)81 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
100Go
Shasta Lake83 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
76Worth the trip
Umpqua River (Elkton)121 mi · OregonBest now until 9 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Klamath River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Klamath River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Klamath River?

Klamath River is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Chinook Salmon, Steelhead. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Klamath River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Klamath River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Klamath River have?

Klamath River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. I-5 bridge to Weitchpec: 2 hatchery steelhead a day all year. Chinook are closed until Aug 15, then open as a quota fishery: 2 a day, only 1 over 23" until the adult quota is met. North Coast Salmon and Steelhead Report Cards required; coho must be released.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Klamath River?

state agency regulations apply at Klamath River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Klamath River tidal water?

No. Klamath River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.