Freestone · Mixed · Northern California, US

Klamath River

Wide view of the Klamath River flowing through a forested canyon in Siskiyou County, California, with evening sunlight through pine trees

A river that got its life back.

Tomorrow · Slow going — pick your moments
October Caddis Pupa
Forecast · Tomorrow
Slow going — pick your moments
Slow going — pick your moments and do not force it.
45% projected
Today's fly
October Caddis Pupa
October Caddis Pupa
Conditions on the water · Tomorrow
Live gauge
Level
Rising
0.73 m
Lifting fast
Water temp12.5°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather13°C
WindN 8 km/h
Pressure1013 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.2 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Steelhead
Ideal
13°C est.ideal 4–13°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Steelhead
When
Late summer into autumn for half-pounders as the river drops and cools
Where
A river that got its life back.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Likely species
Mayflies
Caddisflies
terrestrials
Hatch timeline · tomorrowPeak at 12pm

12pm(now) — Mahogany Dun

Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 43%
Also:Reed Smut26%
Peak emergence window5 food groups active

Peak activity at 12pm — Mahogany Dun (Mahogany Dun, Peak emergence window)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

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Evidence
Records-basedModerate confidence

Based on species-occurrence records, not local invertebrate surveys.

Through the year
0–3 scale · September 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
Brown DunHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2
Mahogany DunHatch
2
2

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

Ranked for today
Steelhead fly box
SH
Silver HiltonTop
12–16 · Fly
A dependable searching pattern for these waters.
BB
Brindle Bug
14–16 · Nymph
Search the runs and pockets, dead-drift near the bottom.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • CDFW and tribal regulations; rules are evolving with post-dam-removal recovery — verify before fishing
  • ESA-listed coho/Chinook: do not target; release unharmed.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 2
Scott River
30 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Shasta River
53 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Wide view of the Klamath River flowing through a forested canyon in Siskiyou County, California, with evening sunlight through pine trees
    Evening light on the Klamath River, Siskiyou County
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

A river that got its life back. The four lower dams came out in October 2024, and for the first time since 1964 more than 400 miles of the Klamath are open again — the salmon and steelhead are already finding their way home, which is a thing worth sitting with for a minute. Historically this was the half-pounder steelhead river, those bright young fish that come back small and willing. It still carries ESA-listed coho and Chinook, and on a watershed in recovery the right move is to fish lightly. It's a big river that warms and colors in summer; the time to go is autumn, as the flows drop and cool. Honor the tribal regulations and the recovering runs.

  • Mixed
Conservation note

ESA-listed coho and Chinook on a watershed in active recovery after the 2024 dam removals — fish are recolonizing water they haven't seen in sixty years. We give you presence, run-timing and conditions, nothing more: no catch score on listed fish, no targeting. Respect the tribal regulations and give the recovering runs room.

Water quality · US Clean Water Act
  • Aquatic life: Impaired
  • Recreation: Impaired
What this classification means

Recreation: Bacteria/pathogen advisory — mind wading cuts and immersion.

EPA ATTAINS assessment unit 'Klamath River HU, Middle HA and Lower HA, Scott River to Trinity River' (CAR1053107519990610152950), 2024 Integrated Report. Aquatic Life use: Not Supporting. Listed impairment causes: Temperature, Sediment, Nutrients, Oxygen Depletion. This is a Clean Water Act assessment-unit classification (the US analogue of WFD), not a live reading.

Status is for the Clean Water Act assessment unit covering this reach.

EPA ATTAINS (Clean Water Act) · CAR1053107519990610152950

Why this score · for Steelhead
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time4513% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity5812% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 January → 31 December
Related guides
Euro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts