Troutline

Smith River

California·North Coast·41.79° N, 124.08° W

The Smith is California's last major undammed river, and it holds the state's largest remaining run of wild winter steelhead. There is no hatchery program -- every fish you hook is wild, born in the river's gravel, and they average 8-12 pounds with occasional specimens over 20. The water clarity is startling, often exceeding 20 feet of visibility when conditions are stable, which makes the Smith both visually spectacular and tactically demanding. These fish can see you, your leader, and your fly line from a long way off.

The Smith fishes best on the drop -- two to four days after a rain event, when flows are falling from the 3,000-5,000 CFS range and the water transitions from green-tinted to its characteristic blue-green clarity. Below 800 CFS in the main stem, flows are too low; above 10,000 CFS, it's blown out. Timing your trip around weather is everything. The mainstem from the forks downstream offers broad gravel bars and deep pools suited to both wading and drift boats, while the Middle and South Forks provide tighter canyon water. Traditional swinging with sink-tip lines and large intruder-style flies works, but nymphing under an indicator produces more consistent hook-ups in the clear water.

The Smith flows through old-growth redwood forests in Del Norte County near the Oregon border, designated as a National Wild and Scenic River across 305 miles. US-199 provides good road access, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is right on the river. But this is remote country -- Crescent City is the nearest real town, six hours from San Francisco, and the area gets 80-plus inches of rain annually. Winter steelhead fishing here means full rain gear, cold-water wading equipment, and a willingness to drive through serious weather for a shot at a 10-pound wild fish in one of the most pristine settings left on the West Coast.

Species

SpeciesAbundanceBest SeasonSizeNotes
Winter SteelheadAbundantDec-Mar6-20 lbsCalifornia's premier wild winter steelhead run. Peak January-February. All wild, no hatchery fish.
Coastal Cutthroat TroutCommonJun-Oct8-14"Found throughout system, especially upper forks. Sea-run fish enter lower river in fall.
Chinook Salmon (fall run)ModerateOct-Dec15-40 lbsModest but consistent fall run. Fishing allowed in tidewater and lower river per regulations.
Coho SalmonRareNov-Jan6-12 lbsFederally listed as Threatened. Catch-and-release only where legal.
Juvenile Steelhead / Half-PoundersCommonJul-Oct6-16"Juvenile steelhead provide summer fly fishing opportunity. Half-pounders return in summer/fall.
Ideal wading flow800–3,000 CFS
Blow-out>10,000 CFS
Ideal water temp45–58°F

Winter (Dec-Mar) for prime steelhead -- fish the dropping flows between storm systems. Fall (Oct-Nov) for October Caddis, cutthroat, and early steelhead. Summer (Jun-Sep) for cutthroat trout on the forks.

Sections

5 sections on this river

North Fork Smith

WadeSteelhead · Cutthroat · Rainbow Trout

Drains the northern watershed along the Oregon border. Moderate-gradient freestone with good gravel substrate. More accessible than the Middle Fork via North Fork Road (County Road 305) from US-199 near Gasquet. The river extends further north into Oregon beyond the map overlay — fishable water continues upstream.

Best for: Winter steelhead in lower reaches. Cutthroat trout. Swinging and nymphing. Less pressure than the mainstem.

Lower Mainstem — Hiouchi to Tidewater

Wade & FloatSteelhead · Salmon

Broad river flowing through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park with deep emerald pools, long glides, gravel bars, and classic steelhead holding water. Exceptional water clarity often exceeding 20 feet. US-199 and South Fred Haight Drive provide access. Ruby Van Deventer County Park.

Best for: Wild winter steelhead (Dec-Mar, avg 8-12 lbs). Fall Chinook salmon. Swinging flies and nymphing deep runs. Drift boats in winter, wadeable at summer flows.

Middle Fork Smith

WadeSteelhead · Cutthroat · Rainbow Trout

Deep serpentine canyon with green-tinged water from the unique geology. Plunge pools and tight runs. Forest roads and Middle Fork Gorge Trail provide limited foot access. Much of the drainage is remote and roadless. The fork extends further east into the wilderness beyond the map overlay.

Best for: Cutthroat trout and juvenile steelhead. Winter steelhead in lower reaches. Adventure fishing for self-reliant anglers seeking solitude.

Middle Mainstem — Gasquet to Hiouchi

Wade & FloatSteelhead · Cutthroat · Rainbow Trout

The North and South Forks converge near Gasquet to form the mainstem, transitioning from canyon water to a broader valley approaching Hiouchi. Emerald pools, fast riffles, and large boulders through old-growth redwood groves. Patrick Creek Lodge area is a well-known access point. US-199 follows the river.

Best for: Winter steelhead and summer cutthroat trout. Nymphing and swinging soft hackles. Excellent holding water at tributary confluences.

South Fork Smith

WadeSteelhead · Cutthroat · Rainbow Trout

Major tributary draining the Siskiyou Wilderness. The most pristine fork with clear, cold water flowing through remote canyon. South Fork Road (County Road 427) provides some access. Upper reaches require hiking from Gordon Creek and other trailheads.

Best for: Summer cutthroat trout on dry flies and small nymphs. Juvenile steelhead. Winter steelhead in lower reaches. Extreme clarity and wilderness solitude.

Regulations

Current fishing rules and restrictions

Steelhead season typically fourth Saturday in November through March 31. Effectively catch-and-release since all steelhead are wild (no hatchery program). Barbless hooks required.

  • Barbless hooks required for steelhead and salmon
  • All steelhead effectively must be released (no hatchery program means no clipped fish)
  • Coho salmon: no retention, federally listed
  • Steelhead Report Card required
  • North Coast Salmon Report Card required for salmon fishing

The Smith has NO hatchery supplementation. All steelhead are wild. The river fishes best on the 'drop' -- 2-4 days after a rain event when flows are falling and water is transitioning from green-tinted to clear.

Source: California DFW Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations. Regulations change annually — verify before fishing.

Access & Logistics

Getting there, fly shops, and lodging

Getting There

Crescent City, CA

6 hrs from San Francisco, 6.5 hrs from Portland OR, 2 hrs from Medford OR

Guide Services

Camping & Lodging

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Campground. Panther Flat Campground (USFS). Patrick Creek Lodge & Historic Inn. Motels in Crescent City.

Be prepared for rain (80+ inches annually). US-199 can be affected by slides and flooding in winter. Cell service spotty to nonexistent in canyon sections.

Fishing data compiled from state wildlife agency regulations, USGS water data, NOAA, and regional fly fishing resources. Regulations change annually — always verify current rules with your state fish & wildlife agency before fishing.

More in California

View all 21 rivers

North Coast

Eel RiverCA

A wild North Coast river system in Mendocino and Humboldt counties, famous for winter steelhead runs through remote canyon country.

Russian RiverCA

A Sonoma County fishery with seasonal steelhead and resident trout, flowing through wine country from Ukiah to the coast.

Other regions

East Walker RiverCA

A trophy brown trout fishery flowing out of Bridgeport Reservoir through scenic Eastern Sierra ranchland.

Fall RiverCA

A world-class spring creek fishery in Shasta County, known for large rainbow trout in gin-clear water.

Feather RiverCA

The tailwater below Oroville Dam in Butte County is a productive trout and steelhead fishery with consistent year-round flows.

Hat CreekCA

A storied Northern California spring creek, offering technical dry fly and nymph fishing for rainbows and browns.

Hot CreekCA

A geothermally-warmed spring creek near Mammoth Lakes with outstanding dry fly fishing for trophy browns and rainbows.

Klamath RiverCA

A major river system flowing from Klamath Falls, Oregon through Northern California canyon country, with seasonal steelhead, salmon, and native redband trout.