Freestone · Mixed · Northern California

Smith River

Smith River venue image
Google Places

The last major undammed river in California, and it shows — the Smith comes up like a freight train after a coastal storm and then drops and clears faster than seems decent, running that famous jade-green over white bedrock.

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
11°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 activity5412% weight
Conditions
Level
1.56 m
Water temp
11.2°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
16°C
Wind
NW 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1022 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 river on the drop as it clears to green
Where
The last major undammed river in California, and it shows — the Smith comes up like a freight train after a coastal storm and then drops and clears faster…
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

The last major undammed river in California, and it shows — the Smith comes up like a freight train after a coastal storm and then drops and clears faster than seems decent, running that famous jade-green over white bedrock. It's the classic North Coast winter steelhead river, big bright fish on a watershed that still works the way a watershed should, and it carries ESA-listed coho and Chinook besides. So the whole game here is reading the drop: you watch the gauge, you wait for the green, and you fish it on the way down. Respect the listed runs and fish lightly.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December