Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Klamath River
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Klamath River: what the data says
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. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Steelhead fishing at Klamath River
In spring, steelhead run shallow here, mostly 2 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 1 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 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 summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 12 ft | midday | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Klamath River
Spring chinook salmon on Klamath River hold shallow, usually 2 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. Current seam (mile 0.6) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for spring chinook salmon. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Coho Salmon fishing at Klamath River
Spring coho salmon on Klamath River hold shallow, usually 1 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 0.6), a current seam in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for coho salmon in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Small spoon, slow troll |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Klamath River
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 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. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.3): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 18.0): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 20.2): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 22.4): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 26.8): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 30.8): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 35.2): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 37.0): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 38.9): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 41.4): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 43.6): creek channel, around 9 ft
Common questions
How deep is Klamath River?
Klamath River is about 12 ft 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.
What fish are in Klamath River?
Anglers target rainbow trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead on Klamath River.
Where is the best fishing spot 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.
When is the best time to fish Klamath River?
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.
Nearby waters
Campbell Lake · Kangaroo Lake · Trinity River · Whiskeytown Lake · Sacramento River (Redding) · Lake Almanor
See how Klamath River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in California · best chinook salmon lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.