Headline News from Northern California & Southern Oregon

Winter on the Upper Klamath River, Siskiyou County
Anglers drift-fish this river daily in fall and winter often in widely fluctuating weather.


 


Green Rivers and Fresh Fish Give Steelheaders Plenty of Options
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, MARCH 5, 2026



If you’re looking to do some late-season steelhead fishing this weekend, you’ll have a few pretty good options. To the north, both the Smith and Chetco rivers are in good shape and should provide some solid action, especially the Chetco. Closer to home, the South Fork Eel and Van Duzen are both green and shaping up to be excellent options through...
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Southern Oregon Rivers Fishing Report
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, FEBRUARY 27, 2026



“The Chetco is dropping back into shape with prime conditions expected this weekend after cresting at nearly 28,000 cfs earlier this week,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Flows were down to 15,000 cfs on Wednesday and should be near 5,000 cfs sometime Friday. Steelhead fishing was decent before the big rains and melting snow pushed the Chetco well over...
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Smith River Fishing Report
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, FEBRUARY 27, 2026

Smith River

The Smith dropped back into plunkable/driftable shape Thursday, with the river sitting at just above 12 feet at the Jed Smith gauge. Conditions look excellent for the weekend with the height hovering around 10 feet. The big rise earlier in the week should pull some fresh fish in from the ocean as well as push some downers from their spawning...
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Van Duzen Fishing Report
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, FEBRUARY 27, 2026

Van Duzen River

The Van Duzen peaked at over 21,000 cfs Tuesday but dropped back down to under 3,000 cfs as of Thursday morning. Depending on snowmelt, it could be down to a fishable level by the second week of March.
South Fork Eel River Fishing Report
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, FEBRUARY 27, 2026

Eel River - South Fork

South Fork Eel The South Fork Eel surpassed action/monitor stage Tuesday evening, peaking at over 52,000 cfs at Miranda. It’s been dropping quickly since and is back down below 12,000 cfs as of Thursday morning. The 10-day ensemble shows the river dropping to a fishable flow by mid-next week. Above Benbow will be the first area to turn green. ...
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Main Stem Eel River Fishing Report
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, FEBRUARY 27, 2026

Eel River

Main stem Eel The main stem Eel was down to 65,500 cfs after reaching 190,000 cfs at Scotia Wednesday morning. It doesn’t look like it will drop down to a fishable flow for at least a couple of weeks, possibly by mid-March. ...
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