It’s a fishing day

Smith River fishing conditions · California

Today 11 am to tomorrow 12 pmSteelhead

The bite peaks at 64.

Log a trip here
Right now: 59 for steelhead, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Steelhead, 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. 59Mon
  2. 59
  3. 59
  4. 593 am
  5. 64
  6. 64
  7. 646 am
  8. 64
  9. 56
  10. 569 am
  11. 56
  12. 63
  13. 6312 pm
  14. 63
  15. 63
  16. 633 pm
  17. 63
  18. 64
  19. 646 pm
  20. 64
  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

Steelhead range 40–55°

Wind
7 mph

From the south

Flow
214 cfs

steady · +10% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:41 am

Sky
Light Rain

89% chance of rain

Air
50°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.

Steelhead

Steelhead

Oncorhynchus mykiss

64MarginalToday 11 am to tomorrow 12 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. Wet day — uncomfortable but fish still bite. 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

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

64MarginalToday 11 am to tomorrow 12 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. Wet day — uncomfortable but fish still bite. 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

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River214 cfs · steady · +10% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.09 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:41 am
  • Sunset today6:19 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 am–2:00 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

California's last major undammed river, in the far northwest corner — gin-clear and famous for trophy winter steelhead and big fall chinook draining the Siskiyou wilderness. Drifted and bank-fished. Live USGS flow near Crescent City.

Main stem open the fourth Saturday in May through Apr 30: 2 hatchery steelhead and 1 chinook a day (no more than 5 wild chinook over 22" a year), 2 cutthroat at 10" minimum. Artificial lures with barbless hooks through Aug 31, barbless hooks after; low-flow closures apply. North Coast Salmon and Steelhead Report Cards required.

Nearby

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

Klamath River45 mi · CaliforniaBest today 4 am–8 pm
74Worth the trip
Gold Beach (South Beach Park)46 mi · OregonBest today 8 am–10 am
100Go
Rogue River (Agness)53 mi · OregonBest today 8 am–8 pm
92Go
Trinity River (Lewiston)99 mi · CaliforniaBest today 11 am–8 pm
92Go
Shasta Lake111 mi · CaliforniaBest tonight 11 pm to tomorrow 11 am
74Worth the trip
Umpqua River (Elkton)127 mi · OregonBest today 1 pm–8 pm
89Go

Questions people ask

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

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Smith River?

Smith River is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Steelhead, Chinook Salmon. 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 Smith 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 Smith 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 Smith River have?

Smith River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Main stem open the fourth Saturday in May through Apr 30: 2 hatchery steelhead and 1 chinook a day (no more than 5 wild chinook over 22" a year), 2 cutthroat at 10" minimum. Artificial lures with barbless hooks through Aug 31, barbless hooks after; low-flow closures apply. North Coast Salmon and Steelhead Report Cards required.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Smith River?

state agency regulations apply at Smith 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 Smith River tidal water?

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