Freestone · Mixed · Northern California

Eel River

River Livet venue image
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A big, moody North Coast river that runs heavy with sediment — when the Eel blows out after a storm it goes the color of chocolate milk and takes its sweet time coming back, so patience is half the skill here.

Species

About as good as it gets

River high but settled. Fish are looking up — bigger flies, confident takes.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for steelhead
Ideal
12°C est.ideal 4–13°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for steelhead
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity5512% weight
Conditions
Level
2.99 m
Water temp
11.9°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
18°C
Wind
NW 19 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1021 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for steelhead
When
Winter, fishing the long drop as the heavy color clears
Where
A big, moody North Coast river that runs heavy with sediment — when the Eel blows out after a storm it goes the color of chocolate milk and takes its sweet…
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • CDFW steelhead regulations — barbless, wild-fish release; reach/seasonal and low-flow closures apply
  • ESA-listed coho and Chinook present: do not target listed fish; release unharmed.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

A big, moody North Coast river that runs heavy with sediment — when the Eel blows out after a storm it goes the color of chocolate milk and takes its sweet time coming back, so patience is half the skill here. It's a winter steelhead river with ESA-listed coho and Chinook in the system, and there's hope on the way: the old Potter Valley diversion dams are slated for removal, which would give the upper watershed back to the fish. For now you read the drop, wait for the color to clear, and fish lightly out of respect for runs that are still finding their feet.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December
Other water nearby · 2