It’s a fishing day

Klamath River fishing conditions · California

Today, 4 am–8 pmChinook salmon

The bite peaks at 74.

Log a trip here
Right now: 54 for chinook salmon, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Chinook salmon, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 54Mon
  2. 54
  3. 61
  4. 613 am
  5. 74
  6. 71
  7. 716 am
  8. 71
  9. 74
  10. 749 am
  11. 74
  12. 74
  13. 7412 pm
  14. 74
  15. 74
  16. 743 pm
  17. 74
  18. 74
  19. 746 pm
  20. 74
  21. 64
  22. 649 pm
  23. 64
  24. 64
  25. 64Tue
  26. 64
  27. 64
  28. 643 am
  29. 64
  30. 64
  31. 646 am
  32. 64
  33. 64
  34. 649 am
  35. 64
  36. 64
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Chinook salmon range 42–58°

Wind
14 mph

From the west

Flow
1,270 cfs

steady · +0% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:37 am

Sky
Rain

96% chance of rain

Air
44°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are California regulations for these waters.

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

74Worth the tripToday, 4 am–8 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Chinook salmon bite in 42–58° water, best near 50°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 15–150 ft down.

Keep

no harvest

Open. Keep fish within the limits. California: salmon may be taken only on the river reaches and dates listed in the special regulations; every other inland water is closed to salmon. Klamath, Trinity and Central Valley seasons are set each spring and can close in-season, and a North Coast Salmon Report Card is required on the Klamath, Trinity and Smith.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · California

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

Steelhead

Steelhead

Oncorhynchus mykiss

74Worth the tripToday, 4 am–8 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Steelhead bite in 40–55° water, best near 48°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 2–60 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. California: a steelhead is any rainbow trout over 16" in anadromous water. Hatchery fish only (adipose fin clipped); wild (intact-fin) steelhead must be released. 2 hatchery trout or steelhead a day where open, 4 in possession. Seasons and gear are set reach by reach, and a Steelhead Report Card is required.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · California

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on steelhead

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River1,270 cfs · steady · +0% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.08 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:37 am
  • Sunset today6:15 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarSunday 11:50 pm–1:50 am
  • Minor solunarToday 8:00 am–9:00 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:20 pm–2:20 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. California CDFW has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A major Northern California salmon and steelhead river, recently the site of the largest dam removal in U.S. history, which reopened hundreds of miles to migrating fish. Fall chinook and winter steelhead are the draw through the Siskiyou canyon around Seiad Valley. Conditions and seasons shift year to year as the river recovers. Live USGS flow near Seiad Valley.

I-5 bridge to Weitchpec: 2 hatchery steelhead a day all year. Chinook are closed until Aug 15, then open as a quota fishery: 2 a day, only 1 over 23" until the adult quota is met. North Coast Salmon and Steelhead Report Cards required; coho must be released.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Smith River45 mi · CaliforniaBest today 11 am to tomorrow 12 pm
64Marginal
Rogue River (Agness)64 mi · OregonBest today 8 am–8 pm
92Go
Gold Beach (South Beach Park)72 mi · OregonBest today 8 am–10 am
100Go
Trinity River (Lewiston)81 mi · CaliforniaBest today 11 am–8 pm
92Go
Shasta Lake83 mi · CaliforniaBest tonight 11 pm to tomorrow 11 am
74Worth the trip
Umpqua River (Elkton)121 mi · OregonBest today 1 pm–8 pm
89Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Klamath River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Klamath River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Klamath River?

Klamath River is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Chinook Salmon, Steelhead. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Klamath River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Klamath River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Klamath River have?

Klamath River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. I-5 bridge to Weitchpec: 2 hatchery steelhead a day all year. Chinook are closed until Aug 15, then open as a quota fishery: 2 a day, only 1 over 23" until the adult quota is met. North Coast Salmon and Steelhead Report Cards required; coho must be released.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Klamath River?

state agency regulations apply at Klamath River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Klamath River tidal water?

No. Klamath River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.