It looks like this year’s winter is refusing to end, but unfortunately, the winter steelhead season will. Enough rain will fall over the next few days to keep just about all of the coastal rivers high and off-color, essentially washing away the last weekend of steelhead season.

As of Thursday, all of the coastal rivers, most of which were still off color, were back on the rise and headed towards blowout status. Only the quick-clearing Smith will have a shot at being fishable this weekend. Humboldt rivers, including the Mad, South Fork Eel, Van Duzen and Redwood Creek, are all toast as far as green water goes.

As we look back on the season, it was another wet one. The fishing this year was slightly better than the last couple, so things are looking up. And the last drought year of 2022 is now three years behind us, so we should see the steelhead numbers begin to build.

But as one season comes to a close, more will soon open. As the calendar nears April, it’s time to change gears and look toward the next angling opportunity. The rockfish (April 1 for deep water) and Pacific halibut openers are right around the corner and the California halibut will hopefully show up in Humboldt Bay. It’s also time to think about spring salmon on the lower Rogue River. There’s redtails to be had from all the local beaches, and the lagoons are full of trout. It’s been a wet and wild steelhead season, but I for one am ready for a little sunshine.

Steelhead rivers openings/closures
After Monday, March 31, the South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek, Mattole and Chetco rivers will all be closed to fishing.

The main stem Eel, from its mouth to the South Fork, is open to fishing all year.
From the mouth to Fulmor Road, only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used from April 1 through Friday, May 23, 2025. Only barbless hooks may be used from May 24 through Mar. 31, 2026.

From Fulmor Road to the South Fork, it’s open all year. From April 1 through Sept. 30, only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. Only barbless hooks may be used from Oct. 1 through Mar. 31, 2026.

The main stem of the Smith will remain open through the end of April from its mouth to the confluence with the Middle and South forks.
The Middle Fork will also remain open through April from its mouth to Patrick’s Creek.
The South Fork is open through April as well, from its mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tryon) bridge and Craig’s Creek to Jones Creek. Only barbless hooks may be used from Sept. 1 through Apr. 30. The bag limit remains the same at two hatchery steelhead per day.

Sections of the Klamath and Trinity rivers are open to fishing but are subject to in-season changes. More information can be found here.

Eel River steelhead returns
Over the past two weeks, March 10-23, a total of 26 adult steelhead and two subadult steelhead were observed moving upstream through the fishway at Cape Horn dam according to Andrew Anderson, an Aquatic Biologist with PG&E. The season total for upstream migrating adult steelhead now stands at 334 (female 155, male 104, unknown adult 75). The last time the Van Arsdale Reservoir saw more than 300 steelhead was back in 2019. This count doesn’t reflect the entire population; it only includes the fish who travel over 150 miles to make it to the fish ladder at Cape Horn Dam. Many salmonids spawn in tributaries downstream. For more information, visit www.eelriver.org/the-eel-river/fish-count/.

Upcoming salmon meetings
April 9-15: PFMC April Meeting in San Jose, CA. The Council will adopt final regulatory measures for analysis by Salmon Technical Team. Final adoption of recommendations to the National Marine Fisheries Service will also occur and is tentatively scheduled for April 15.

April 16-17: CDFW Meeting in Sacramento, CA. The Commission will receive an update on 2025 ocean salmon sport fishing regulations, with the public invited to ask questions or provide input.

Cal Poly Humboldt looking for summer surfperch anglers
The Cal Poly Humboldt Department. of Fisheries Biology is looking to hire two students to help hook and line sample for surfperch in six Humboldt and Mendocino beaches from May to October, six days a month, four to eight hours per day, including three two-day trips. The Pay is $17 per hour. Applicants need to have their own gear. To apply, send CV and cover letter to noah.gabay@Humboldt.edu by April 15. Or for more information, visit www.facebook.com/HumboldtFishBio.

Englund Marine saltwater seminar coming this Saturday
On Saturday March 29, Eureka’s Englund Marine will host a saltwater seminar at the Englund Marine store located at 590 W. Waterfront Dr. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Guest speakers include Captain Del “Tuna Dog” Stephens, Scott Fordice of Lowrance, and Matt Dallum with an update from HASA. Additionally, there will be reps from Star brite boat products and CDFW. More information will be available at https://www.englundmarine.com/pages/seminars.html.

The Rivers:
Mad, South Fork Eel, Van Duzen and Redwood Creek
All are on the rise, or soon will be, and won’t drop back into fishable prior to the season closing after Monday, March 31.

Main stem Eel
The main Eel is high and off color and will back on the rise Thursday afternoon. It’s predicted to reach 30,000 cubic feet per second Friday night. After a break in the rain Saturday where flows will drop to roughly 17,000 cfs, Sunday and Monday’s storm will again push flows above 30,000 cfs early Tuesday morning. It will take at least a couple weeks of dry weather to drop it back into fishable shape. It starts to fish once it drops to right around 5,000 cfs.

Smith
The Smith was at 11.6 feet at Jed Smith gauge Thursday at noon, but is forecast for a big rise later in the day. It’s predicted to reach nearly 16 feet by Friday morning before dropping all day Saturday and most of Sunday. It should be fishable Sunday before more rain will likely blow it out for Monday and Tuesday. Looking at the 10-day ensemble forecast, it predicted to be above 11 feet all week.

Southern Oregon rivers
The Chetco has been high and muddy for much of March, and will be blown out again this weekend reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Monday is the final day of the season,” said Martin. “Fishing was hit and miss most of the season, with the majority of the fish smaller adults, less than 6 pounds. Most anglers have already turned their attention to spring salmon on the Rogue, where action should pick up substantially after this current rise in flows. April and early May tend to produce the best fishing for hatchery springers. A few fish were caught earlier this week.”

Brookings ocean report
According to Martin, the ocean out of Brookings has produced good lingcod and rockfish action when boats can get out. “This weekend looks fishable, as long as the bar crossing isn’t too rough. High flows on the Chetco could make for rough conditions on Saturday. Sunday has a smaller swell. Halibut season opens May 1.”

Kenny Priest operates Fishing the North Coast, a fishing guide service out of Humboldt specializing in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com.