UTERSteelhead fishing in California freshwater
In California freshwater, steelhead peak October–March and are around September–April, spawning in March, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Smith, Eel and Klamath winter steelhead; the American River.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Steelhead in California freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryPeakSmith, Eel and Klamath winter steelhead; the American River.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchSpawning
- AprilLeaving
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyNot here
- AugustNot here
- SeptemberArrivingKlamath and Trinity half-pounders.
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish steelhead near Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, Clear Lake, Lake Oroville
The Delta's tule-lined sloughs, Clear Lake's trophy bass, the foothill spotted-bass reservoirs, the Sacramento's salmon and striper runs, the Sierra's trout streams and high lakes, and the southern reservoirs' Florida-strain giants.
What to use for steelhead
- Salmon eggs (roe)A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters.
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Ghost shrimpThreaded on a #4 to 1/0 baitholder hook on a Carolina rig in the surf or the bay — the surfperch, corbina and sturgeon bait.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 38–62°F water, best at 44–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch steelhead in California freshwater?
Peak season is October–March, with fish spawning in March (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Steelhead are in California freshwater September–April. January: Smith, Eel and Klamath winter steelhead; the American River.
Where do steelhead hold in California freshwater?
Look on river, creek / stream, lake — around Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, Clear Lake, Lake Oroville, Bullards Bar, Lake Shasta, Eastern Sierra.
What is the best bait for steelhead in California freshwater?
Live bait: salmon eggs (roe), nightcrawlers, ghost shrimp. Salmon eggs (roe): A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for steelhead in California freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.
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