It’s a fishing day

Smith River fishing conditions · California

Sit it outno steelhead window clears the bar in 36 hours

Steelhead is the best bet here today.

High Surf Advisory until Sunday 10 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 49 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. 491 pm
  2. 49
  3. 49
  4. 494 pm
  5. 49
  6. 49
  7. 467 pm
  8. 46
  9. 46
  10. 3910 pm
  11. 39
  12. 39Sun
  13. 391 am
  14. 39
  15. 39
  16. 384 am
  17. 38
  18. 38
  19. 367 am
  20. 36
  21. 36
  22. 3910 am
  23. 39
  24. 39
  25. 491 pm
  26. 49
  27. 49
  28. 494 pm
  29. 49
  30. 49
  31. 397 pm
  32. 39
  33. 39
  34. 3910 pm
  35. 39
  36. 39Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Steelhead range 40–55°

Wind
9 mph

From the south

Flow
204 cfs

steady · -1% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:04 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

5% chance of rain

Air
62°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

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

49Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

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 the fourth Saturday in May through Apr 30: 2 hatchery steelhead a day, 4 in possession. Artificial lures with barbless hooks through Aug 31, barbless hooks after. Low-flow closures apply.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Smith River main stem

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on steelhead

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

14Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Chinook salmon is here Apr–Oct. Holds 15–150 ft down.

Keep

1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Open the fourth Saturday in May through Apr 30: 1 chinook a day, and no more than 5 wild chinook over 22" a year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Smith River main stem

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River204 cfs · steady · -1% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.08 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:04 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:57 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

California's last major undammed river, in the far northwest corner — gin-clear and famous for trophy winter steelhead and big fall chinook draining the Siskiyou wilderness. Drifted and bank-fished. Live USGS flow near Crescent City.

Main stem open the fourth Saturday in May through Apr 30: 2 hatchery steelhead and 1 chinook a day (no more than 5 wild chinook over 22" a year), 2 cutthroat at 10" minimum. Artificial lures with barbless hooks through Aug 31, barbless hooks after; low-flow closures apply. North Coast Salmon and Steelhead Report Cards required.

Nearby

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

Klamath River45 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
88Go
Gold Beach (South Beach Park)46 mi · OregonBest tomorrow 1 pm–7 pmHigh Surf Advisory
75Worth the trip
Rogue River (Agness)53 mi · OregonBest now until 9 pm
100Go
Trinity River (Lewiston)99 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
100Go
Shasta Lake111 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
76Worth the trip
Umpqua River (Elkton)127 mi · OregonBest now until 9 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

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

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Smith River?

Smith River is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Steelhead, Chinook 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 Smith 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 Smith 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 Smith River have?

Smith River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Main stem open the fourth Saturday in May through Apr 30: 2 hatchery steelhead and 1 chinook a day (no more than 5 wild chinook over 22" a year), 2 cutthroat at 10" minimum. Artificial lures with barbless hooks through Aug 31, barbless hooks after; low-flow closures apply. North Coast Salmon and Steelhead Report Cards required.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Smith River?

state agency regulations apply at Smith 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 Smith River tidal water?

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