The transition to winter steelhead season is taking a bit longer than we had hoped. To date, though it’s still early, steelhead fishing has been slow on popular rivers like the Smith, Mad and Eel. But that will likely change soon.
Over the next few days, all the coastal rivers will see at least a couple inches of rain, along with a couple decent bump in flows. Once the rivers come around and drop back into fishable heights and color, we should start to see some better numbers of adult steelhead. The Smith is forecast to receive a couple river rises prior to the weekend but should remain in fishable shape. The Chetco could be slightly off color through the weekend but should be in prime shape by the first of next week. The other coast rivers will be a few days behind but could fish by mid-next week. The main Eel will be the last to come around and will need a solid week of dry weather once it crests on Saturday.
Weather ahead
The North Coast can expect mostly dry conditions Thursday before the rain returns Friday according to Merl Heinlein of Eureka’s National Weather Service office. “In the Smith basin, we could see 1.5 to 2 inches between Friday and Saturday,” said Heinlein. We should see similar totals in the Eel River basin. We’ll begin to dry out Sunday and it should remain dry through Tuesday morning before rain returns Tuesday evening. The 6 to 10 day outlook is showing slightly above normal precipitation amounts.”
2024 fishing license
California anglers are now able to purchase a 2024 fishing license that will take effect Jan. 1. If you purchase after Jan. 1, the license will be effective from the date of purchase for a continuous 365 days. Licenses are required for residents 16 years of age or older to take fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians, or reptiles in inland or ocean waters. The cost of a new resident sport fishing license is $61.82. A North Coast salmon report card will run you $8.64, and a steelhead report card will cost $9.72 in 2024. To purchase a fishing license, visit ca.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales. At checkout there is an additional option to enroll in auto-renewal for fishing licenses, which allows anglers to automatically purchase and receive their new license when their current one expires. For more info, visit wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/fishing.
Reduced-fee sport fishing licenses available
Reduced-cost fishing licenses are available in 2024 for $9.98 at CDFW offices (instead of $61.82) for disabled military veterans and recovering service members. For those 65 or older on reduced income, licenses are available for $9.53. For more information on all CA fishing licenses, visit wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/fishing#44521417-free–reduced-fee
Rockfish season to close Dec. 31 in the Mendo Management Area
The 2023 deepwater rockfish season in the Mendocino Management area, which runs from 40°10′ N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino) to Point Arena, will close for boat-based anglers after Saturday, Dec. 31. The nearshore season closed Aug. 31. In the Northern Management area, which runs from the California-Oregon border to Cape Mendocino (40°10′ N. latitude), the near shore season closed as of Aug. 20 and the deepwater fishery closed Oct. 16. In both management areas, rockfish is open year-round for divers and shore-based anglers.
Mad River Steelhead Derby Starts Jan. 15
The Mad River winter steelhead run is just around the corner and with it comes the annual Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen Association’s (NCGASA) Mad River Steelhead Derby. The derby will start on January 15 and will run through February 29. Anglers will have two months to catch a big hatchery steelhead, with the three largest measured in both the adult and the youth divisions eligible to win cash and prizes. Adult division payouts: 1st place: $500; 2nd place: $300, 3rd place: $150. Youth division payouts (16 years and under): $150 RMI Outdoors gift card; 2nd place: $100 RMI gift card; 3rd place: $50 RMI gift card. All the youth winners will also receive donated fishing tackle from our sponsors. Anglers who sign up for the derby will be entered to win weekly raffle prizes starting on Jan. 1. Early bird sign-ups for the derby that come in before Jan. 1 are eligible to win two free tickets to the International Sportsmen’s Expo (ISE Show) in Sacramento (Jan. 18-21). New this year is a Winner Take All Raffle Package that includes a guided river trip for two, plus crazy amounts of fishing tackle and gear. This package is currently valued at $850. Raffle tickets are $50 and only 100 tickets will be sold. There are other raffles that include several guided ocean and river trips or you can win a two-night Airbnb country home stay, located minutes away from the Mad River. These trips and stay raffle tickets are $20. Sign up online at madriversteelheadderby.com or ncgasa.org.
Mattole River opens to fishing Jan. 1
The Mattole River will open to fishing Monday, Jan. 1 from 200 yards upstream of its mouth to the confluence with Stanberry Creek. Only artificial lures may be used, and barbless hooks are required. The Mattole is also regulated by low-flow closures, with a minimum flow of 320 cfs at the Petrolia gauging station.
The Rivers:
As of Thursday morning, all North Coast rivers subjected to low-flow fishing closures were open to fishing. This includes the main stem Eel, South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mad, Redwood Creek and Smith rivers. The Department of Fish and Game will make the information available to the public by a telephone recorded message updated, as necessary, no later than 1 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as to whether any stream will be closed to fishing. The rivers can be opened at any time. The low flow closure hotline for North Coast rivers is 707-822-3164. NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2024. More information can be found here.
Mad
The Mad didn’t get much of a rise following the storm on Wednesday, though more rain is on the way that will blow it out. It’s predicted to reach 12 feet (6,170 cfs) by Saturday morning. Will be off color through mid-week. There are a few adults starting to show up and fishing should get good any time.
Main stem Eel
The main Eel was fishable through Wednesday, but it’s starting to color up from the rain. It will blow out starting Thursday and will reach nearly 32,000 cfs by Saturday evening. Depending on how much rain falls next week, it could fish towards the end of next week. To date, fishing has been slow with mostly half-pounders around. Expect that to change within the next week.
South Fork Eel
A few boats took advantage of the conditions earlier in the week and reportedly there were a few adults caught. There continues to be plenty of half-pounders around. With a couple inches of rain forecast through Saturday, the river will blow out late Friday and hit 8,700 cfs by Saturday morning. Dry conditions could have it back to fishable levels by mid-week.
Van Duzen
The Van Duzen colored up following Wednesday’s rain but flows only reached 1,200 cfs. It’s predicted to drop through Thursday and is forecast for a bigger rise Friday. Flows are predicted to peak at 5,500 cfs Saturday morning. Could drop into fishable shape late next week if it remains dry.
Smith
The Smith came up very little following Wednesday’s storm and is in great shape. The next rise, which is forecast to be much larger, should begin Friday evening and it’s projected to peak early Saturday morning at 10.6 feet (7,950 cfs) on the Jed Smith gauge. Saturday’s fishing conditions should be decent with the river starting to drop in the afternoon. It will need rain by early next week.
Southern Oregon
Steelhead are being caught throughout Southern Oregon, where anglers are dealing with rain and rapidly changing river conditions reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “The Chetco remained fishable Christmas weekend, but is rising again after heavy rain Tuesday night,” said Martin. “Forecasts indicate it should be in good shape the first week of January, when the peak season for winter steelhead begins. Plunkers are catching fish on Spin-N-Glos in the lower river, while drift boaters are picking up a few fish further upriver. Steelhead also have been caught on the lower Rogue, where boats anchor and fish MagLip plugs. The Elk and Sixes also are kicking out steelhead, and there have been some decent catches on the Umpqua system, from Scottsburg to Roseburg. Conditions should be good throughout the region after a series of storms between now and New Year’s Day.”
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 fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com.
Fishing the North Coast with Kenny Priest 