John Rickard, Wild Water Fly Fishing

As the cold weather comes in, so do the Winter fish. Its time to break out the big guns and the good jackets. So far in our region mother nature has been fair with a good mix of heavy rain followed by some nice Winter sunshine. The Klamath remains in great shape below the dam and tributaries are running clear at the moment. We’ve been spending some time on the...

Russian River January 17th, fishing steelhead in Monte Rio, 24 inch native Steelhead, 4 PM. MDRP guide

Garcia & Gualala River: Should be coming into shape this weekend

North Coast: I suspect we will see the South Fork of the Eel come into shape this weekend. I have not heard a good report all week..

North Coast: Most rivers have come into shape and are quickly head back to their low water conditions from before the rain. We fished the SF Eel with some  success.

Guala and Garcia are below the low flow closure and are closed to fishing. The Russian river should be fishable with flies.

Rivers are coming into shape. Bait guys are getting fish. I am headed up this weekend and will know more shortly. We are on the brink of the water being clear enough for flies right now on most rivers.

It’s early yet for the north coast Steelhead scene but the early rains seem to be a good sign. The rivers are still swollen from the rain. The Trinity and Klamath are going to have a lot of fish in the systems.

Klamath River Levels
Little River Level
Mad River Level
Redwood Creek Level
Salmon River Levels
Smith River Levels
Trinity River Level
Van Duzen River Level

The graph below is a forecast of Eel River flows which are expected to be well over 100,000 CFS.

Be looking to the Russian River as the flows drop for some good fishing.

There are new low flow restrictions in effect for the central coast. The Russian low flow cut off is 300 cfs. Point Arena south to Russian is 150 cfs cut off and The Garcia is triggered of the Navarro gauge at 200 for some reason….

The mouth of the Gualala opened this week.