California

Month by month

• Hatch
• Fish run
• Season or closure

• American grannomSecondary source April to SeptemberHatch · California trout streams (statewide) · [1] California Fly Fisher
• Golden stoneflySecondary source May to JulyHatch · California trout streams (statewide) · [1] California Fly Fisher
• Green drakeSecondary source May to JulyHatch · California trout streams (statewide) · [1] California Fly Fisher
• Pale morning dunSecondary source May to AugustHatch · Most California trout streams · [1] California Fly Fisher
• Saddle-case caddisSecondary source May to SeptemberHatch · California trout streams (statewide) · [1] California Fly Fisher
• SalmonflySecondary source May to JuneHatch · California trout streams (statewide) · [1] California Fly Fisher
• Spotted sedgeSecondary source May to OctoberHatch · California trout streams (statewide) · [1] California Fly Fisher
• Hex (Hexagenia limbata)Secondary source June to JulyHatch · California trout streams (statewide) · [1] California Fly Fisher
• Little yellow stoneflySecondary source June to SeptemberHatch · California trout streams (statewide) · [1] California Fly Fisher
• Sulfur dun (Epeorus)Secondary source June to AugustHatch · California trout streams (statewide) · [1] California Fly Fisher
• TricoSecondary source June to OctoberHatch · California trout streams (statewide) · [1] California Fly Fisher
• October caddisSecondary source October to NovemberHatch · California trout streams (statewide) · [1] California Fly Fisher
• Winter steelhead run (hatchery operations) January to FebruaryFish run · American River, Nimbus Fish Hatchery, California · [2] California Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Spring-run Chinook March to JulyFish run · Lower Klamath River and Trinity River, California · [3] California Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Fall-run Chinook August to OctoberFish run · Klamath estuary to Trinity River Hatchery, California · [3] California Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Coho salmon (angling for coho prohibited in California) October to DecemberFish run · Trinity River Hatchery, California · [3] California Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Fall salmon run (hatchery operations) November to DecemberFish run · American River, Nimbus Fish Hatchery, California · [2] California Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Steelhead November to MarchFish run · Trinity River Hatchery, California · [3] California Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Year-round fishing season (new in 2026) all yearSeason or closure · Merced, South Fork Merced and Tuolumne rivers, Yosemite National Park · [4] National Park Service (Yosemite National Park)

What each source says

The source's own words behind every row, so you can see exactly where the months come from.

• American grannom, California trout streams (statewide) (April to September): The American Grannom (Brachycentrus): April through September.[1]
• Golden stonefly, California trout streams (statewide) (May to July): The Golden Stonefly (Calineuria and Hesperoperla): May through July.[1]
• Green drake, California trout streams (statewide) (May to July): The Green Drake (Drunella grandis and Drunella dodsi): May, June, and July.[1]
• Pale morning dun, Most California trout streams (May to August): The Pale Morning Dun ... May through August on most streams.[1]
• Saddle-case caddis, California trout streams (statewide) (May to September): The Saddle-Case Caddis (Glossosoma): May through September.[1]
• Salmonfly, California trout streams (statewide) (May to June): The Salmonfly (Pteronarcys): May or June.[1]
• Spotted sedge, California trout streams (statewide) (May to October): The Spotted Sedge (Hydropsyche): May through October.[1]
• Hex (Hexagenia limbata), California trout streams (statewide) (June to July): The Hex (Hexagenia limbata): June and July.[1]
• Little yellow stonefly, California trout streams (statewide) (June to September): The Little Yellow Stonefly (Alloperla and Isoperla): June through September.[1]
• Sulfur dun (Epeorus), California trout streams (statewide) (June to August): The Sulfur Dun (Epeorus): June thru August.[1]
• Trico, California trout streams (statewide) (June to October): The Trico (Tricorythodes): June through October.[1]
• October caddis, California trout streams (statewide) (October to November): The October Caddis (Dicosmoecus): October or November.[1]
• Winter steelhead run (hatchery operations), American River, Nimbus Fish Hatchery, California (January to February): The steelhead trout run occurs in winter, with hatchery operations taking place from January through February.[2]
• Spring-run Chinook, Lower Klamath River and Trinity River, California (March to July): Trinity River spring-run Chinook salmon enter the Lower Klamath River in late March and April and proceed up the Trinity River. They arrive in the upper river any time from the middle of May to the first part of July.[3]
• Fall-run Chinook, Klamath estuary to Trinity River Hatchery, California (August to October): Trinity River fall-run Chinook salmon enter the Klamath estuary from mid to late August and will arrive at the hatchery in early October.[3]
• Coho salmon (angling for coho prohibited in California), Trinity River Hatchery, California (October to December): Trinity River coho salmon appear at the Trinity River Hatchery about mid-October and spawning extends through December. While providing for a popular fishery in other areas of the Pacific Northwest, recreational angling for coho salmon in California is prohibited.[3]
• Fall salmon run (hatchery operations), American River, Nimbus Fish Hatchery, California (November to December): The salmon run occurs in fall, with hatchery operations taking place from the beginning of November through mid-December.[2]
• Steelhead, Trinity River Hatchery, California (November to March): Steelhead arrive at the hatchery from about the first of November through March.[3]
• Year-round fishing season (new in 2026), Merced, South Fork Merced and Tuolumne rivers, Yosemite National Park (all year): These regulations apply to the Merced River, South Fork Merced River, Tuolumne River and All Tributaries (inland streams). Only artificial lures or flies with barbless hooks may be used Season: Year-Round (new in 2026)[4]

Use it on the water

Pick flies with the fly finder, check an insect with the fly identifier, and read the flow and temperature on each water page before you go.

• California watersWater pages

Sources

Every fact on this page is our paraphrase of the page cited beside it, read on the date shown. Rules and seasons change: check the agency's current regulations before you fish.

1. California's Golden 15 Hatches, by John R. Gantner (June 1, 2010) California Fly Fisher, read Nov 3, 2026.
2. Nimbus Fish Hatchery California Department of Fish and Wildlife, read Oct 24, 2026.
3. Species Raised at Trinity River Hatchery California Department of Fish and Wildlife, read Oct 24, 2026.
4. Fishing - Yosemite National Park National Park Service (Yosemite National Park), read Oct 24, 2026.

Other regions

• Northern Rockies8 rows
• Pacific Northwest10 rows
• Southwest and Colorado8 rows
• Alaska8 rows
• Driftless19 rows
• Catskills and the Northeast17 rows
• Southern Appalachians27 rows
• Ozarks3 rows
• Great Lakes10 rows