Freestone · Mixed · Northern California

Russian River

Russian River venue image
Google Places

A coastal river through the Mendocino and Sonoma wine country, dammed up top and warm in summer, but carrying a winter run of steelhead and ESA-listed coho and Chinook that are the focus of a long, patient recovery effort.

Species

A proper day on the water

Low and clear — careful approach country. Stay small, stay accurate.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for steelhead
Warm — slow
16.6°Cideal 4–13°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for steelhead
  • Temperature3628% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time8013% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity6212% weight
Conditions
Level
0.13 m
Water temp
16.6°C
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
27°C
Wind
NW 23 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1017 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings only. Trends shown where the gauge supports them.

How to fish it · for steelhead
When
Winter, when there's flow and shape after rain
Where
A coastal river through the Mendocino and Sonoma wine country, dammed up top and warm in summer, but carrying a winter run of steelhead and ESA-listed coho…
Why this works
Good — water clarity is working for you, but water temperature is the limiting factor today.
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 coastal river through the Mendocino and Sonoma wine country, dammed up top and warm in summer, but carrying a winter run of steelhead and ESA-listed coho and Chinook that are the focus of a long, patient recovery effort. This isn't a place to chase a catch count — it's a watershed where the right attitude is to read the water, note when the fish are moving, and tread lightly. The interest, when there's flow and shape after a winter rain, is the same as all these rivers: presence and timing, and a quiet respect for runs working their way back.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December