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The Klamath from the Oregon line toward the coast. A major steelhead and salmon river with a strong fall run. The river tops out around 12 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Klamath River maps at 5,342 acres behind 153.8 miles of shoreline. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 15) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. The basin spans about 44.7 mi end to end and 14.6 mi across at its widest. Siskiyou County claims this one. Campbell Lake sits 14 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: steelhead in 2 to 12 ft. The depth story barely changes: 1 to 12 ft through summer, 3 to 12 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Current seam (mile 0.6), a current seam in the 7 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: an orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 12 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Spring chinook salmon on Klamath River hold shallow, usually 2 to 12 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 4 to 12 ft in summer, 4 to 12 ft once it turns cold. Put Current seam (mile 0.6) first on the milk run — a current seam near 7 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Early season coho salmon use the shallows, holding in 1 to 12 ft. Even in summer they hold at 4 to 12 ft; winter keeps them in 4 to 12 ft. Put Current seam (mile 0.6) first on the milk run — a current seam near 7 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Come spring, look for rainbow trout tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Through summer count on 3 to 12 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 0.6): a current seam around 7 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Klamath River carries 35 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1), about 9 ft down.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for California waters are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Klamath River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
Klamath River is about 12 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target steelhead, chinook salmon, coho salmon, rainbow trout on Klamath River.
Current seam (mile 0.6) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For steelhead, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Klamath River is regulated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check the official California regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Campbell Lake 14 mi · Squaw Lakes 21 mi, OR · Kangaroo Lake 37 mi · Howard Prairie Lake 49 mi, OR · Rogue River 56 mi, OR · Fish Lake 59 mi, OR · Lake of the Woods 63 mi, OR · Fourmile Lake 66 mi, OR · Trinity River 73 mi · Shasta Lake 77 mi · Agency Lake 80 mi, OR · Whiskeytown Lake 82 mi
See how Klamath River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in California · best chinook salmon lakes in California · best steelhead lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.