Mattole River

Northern California — Lost Coast / Petrolia, UScoastal_rain_rivermixedSalmon river

Remote Lost Coast steelhead and salmon recovery water. The Mattole should be a careful conditions/context page rather than a promotional hotspot: it rises and falls with rain, closes under low-flow rules, and deserves a light-touch angler message.

Species

Steelhead (catch-and-release wild fish)

Best window

Winter steelhead when open and dropping after rain

Methods

  • •Light-pressure winter steelhead swinging
  • •Short-session fishing only when flows are safely open
  • •Reading rain pulses and colour

Recommended flies

Stu's Mini-IntruderHoh Bo SpeySculpzilla

Seasons

trout

1 September – 30 April

Low-flow restrictions apply; verify CDFW status before fishing.

Tactical notes

Remote, sensitive water. Keep this page conservation-led and avoid hotspot language.

Regulations

CDFW low-flow threshold is 320 cfs at Mattole River near Petrolia; check current status before travelling.

Live conditions and predictions for this water are not yet available.