Freestone · Mixed · Northern California

Salmon River

Salmon River venue image
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The Cal Salmon, a wild Klamath tributary running cold and clear out of the Marble Mountain and Trinity Alps country, and one of the most important strongholds left for spring-run Chinook in the state.

Species

A proper day on the water

River steady at a fishable height. A proper day for it.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for steelhead
Warm — slow
14°C est.ideal 4–13°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for steelhead
  • Temperature7128% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity6512% weight
Conditions
Level
0.70 m
Water temp
14.4°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
24°C
Wind
W 12 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1018 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
Autumn and winter for steelhead; spring-run Chinook are off-limits and fragile
Where
The Cal Salmon, a wild Klamath tributary running cold and clear out of the Marble Mountain and Trinity Alps country, and one of the most important strongholds…
Why this works
Good — water clarity 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 and tribal regulations — strict spring-run Chinook protections; barbless, wild-fish release; reach/seasonal closures apply
  • ESA-listed coho and Chinook present: do not target listed fish; release unharmed; respect all closures.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Cal Salmon, a wild Klamath tributary running cold and clear out of the Marble Mountain and Trinity Alps country, and one of the most important strongholds left for spring-run Chinook in the state. That fact sets the tone for everything. It's gorgeous wilderness water, but it's also a river where the recovering runs come first, full stop — ESA-listed coho and Chinook hold here, and the spring-run Chinook in particular are a fragile, precious thing. We name what's present and when it tends to move, read the conditions, and otherwise leave the place to the fish. Honor tribal regulations and closures.

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