It’s a fishing day

Russian River (Guerneville) fishing conditions · California

Sit it outno steelhead window clears the bar in 36 hours

Water is 57°, above the 40–55° steelhead like.

Coastal Flood Advisory until Friday 4 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 21 for steelhead, sit it outTap 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. 211 pm
  2. 21
  3. 19
  4. 194 pm
  5. 9
  6. 9
  7. 97 pm
  8. 9
  9. 9
  10. 910 pm
  11. 9
  12. 9Sun
  13. 91 am
  14. 9
  15. 9
  16. 94 am
  17. 9
  18. 9
  19. 97 am
  20. 9
  21. 9
  22. 910 am
  23. 9
  24. 9
  25. 91 pm
  26. 9
  27. 11
  28. 194 pm
  29. 9
  30. 9
  31. 97 pm
  32. 9
  33. 9
  34. 910 pm
  35. 9
  36. 9Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
57°F

Steelhead range 40–55°

Wind
3 mph

From the southwest

Flow
205 cfs

steady · -2% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:06 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
72°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

21Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

57°
30°40–55° · ideal 48°65°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Above steelhead's active range (40–55°F) — fish move deep. Holds 2–60 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Open all year: 2 hatchery steelhead a day, 4 in possession. Artificial lures with barbless hooks only Apr 1–Oct 31; barbless hooks Nov 1–Mar 31. Closed within 250 ft of Healdsburg Memorial Dam; low-flow closures apply.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Russian River main stem below the East Branch

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on steelhead

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

–Not scoredNo targeting

No targetingClosed to targeting. Release any you hook at once.

Water

57°
32°42–58° · ideal 50°68°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside chinook salmon's active range. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 15–150 ft down.

Keep

no harvest

Closed to targeting. Release any you hook at once. The Russian is not open to salmon: chinook may not be taken and must be released unharmed.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Russian River main stem below the East Branch

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

–Not scoredNo targeting

No targetingClosed to targeting. Release any you hook at once.

Water

57°
34°44–58° · ideal 53°68°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside coho salmon's active range. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 10–120 ft down.

Keep

no harvest

Closed to targeting. Release any you hook at once. Coho (silver) salmon may not be taken in any California water; an incidentally hooked coho must be released unharmed immediately.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · California

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct. More on coho salmon

The water

  • Water temperature57°F
  • River205 cfs · steady · -2% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.08 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:06 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:45 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:40 pm–4:40 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 am

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

The Sonoma County river that drains the wine country to the Pacific — historically a major steelhead and salmon run, now a barbless, conservation-focused fishery. Winter steelhead are the draw; chinook and coho are protected. Live USGS flow and temperature near Guerneville.

Main stem below the East Branch: open all year, 2 hatchery steelhead a day. Artificial lures with barbless hooks Apr 1–Oct 31; barbless hooks Nov 1–Mar 31. Salmon may not be taken, so release chinook and coho. Low-flow closures apply; Steelhead Report Card required.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Clear Lake37 mi · CaliforniaBest today 4 pm–5 pm
78Worth the trip
Lake Berryessa38 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
68Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Russian River (Guerneville)?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Russian River (Guerneville)?

Russian River (Guerneville) is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon. 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 Russian River (Guerneville)?

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 Russian River (Guerneville) 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 Russian River (Guerneville) have?

Russian River (Guerneville) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Main stem below the East Branch: open all year, 2 hatchery steelhead a day. Artificial lures with barbless hooks Apr 1–Oct 31; barbless hooks Nov 1–Mar 31. Salmon may not be taken, so release chinook and coho. Low-flow closures apply; Steelhead Report Card required.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Russian River (Guerneville)?

state agency regulations apply at Russian River (Guerneville). 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 Russian River (Guerneville) tidal water?

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