Craigs Creek is a freestone river in California, listed as Heritage Trout Water by California Department of Fish and Wildlife / California Fish and Game Commission.
The nearest USGS gauge on the same stream system is shown, labelled. 1 shop nearby are listed here.
Craigs Creek is a freestone river in California.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Craigs Creek: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Craigs Creek with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Craigs Creek in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.
Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Coon CreekThe Trinity Wild and Scenic River below Lewiston, California (BLM). Photo: Bureau of Land Management, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Coon Creek.
California · about 2 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Hurdygurdy CreekThe upper Sacramento River at Castle Crags State Park. Photo: Nathan Jongewaard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hurdygurdy Creek.
California · about 5 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Rock CreekThe McCloud River just below Middle Falls. Photo: Sergey Yarmolyuk, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Rock Creek.
California · about 8 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Quartz CreekThe Sacramento River in Redding, California. Photo: RoyalMayfair, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Quartz Creek.
California · about 11 mi
Steelhead / salmon waterRepresentative photo · not Smith RiverThe Fall River Dam and the pool behind it at the lower end of the Fall River, near Fall River Mills, California. Photo: Astronomy1, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Smith River.
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not South Fork Smith RiverPit River Falls near Fall River Mills, California. Photo: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Fork Smith River.
California · about 11 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.
On the Designated Heritage Trout Waters (Fish and Game Commission) list (California Department of Fish and Wildlife / California Fish and Game Commission, read 2026-10-16). All waters with this designation
On the Designated Wild Trout Waters (Fish and Game Commission) list (California Department of Fish and Wildlife / California Fish and Game Commission, read 2026-10-16). All waters with this designation
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
No guide within 40 miles yet.
The hatch and season chart for this water's region.
12 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From California Fly Fisher (secondary sources: an angling organisation or magazine, not an agency).
American grannom (April to September) · Golden stonefly (May to July) · Green drake (May to July) · Pale morning dun (May to August) · Saddle-case caddis (May to September) · Salmonfly (May to June) · and 6 more on the chart
None of our destination hubs is within 40 miles in a straight line. The trip planner builds a trip around the water itself: the guides and shops listed within 40 miles of it, its gauges and its nearest towns and airports.
No hub within 40 miles
A wade-fishing checklist for big western trout rivers: a 9 ft 5–6 weight outfit, nymph, dry and streamer setups, waders, boots and a wading staff, with estimated prices by tier and where to buy.
9′ rod, 5–6 weight, floating line · Rainbow and brown trout, whitefish
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Craigs Creek.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: a point on the mapped channel of “Craigs Creek”, halfway along its length in California, from the USGS high-resolution hydrography (NHDPlus HR), read 4 Nov 2026. It marks the water, not a particular access or reach. Water type is our own classification.
Caution: Low water: go quiet and stealthy
No water temperature here.
At SMITH R NR CRESCENT CITY CA (USGS 11532500). No gauge on Craigs Creek. Nearest: SMITH R NR CRESCENT CITY CA (6.3 mi away), on the river it flows into. Craigs Creek's own flow is not measured. Provisional USGS data
USGS 11532500 · NWS CREC1
No gauge on Craigs Creek. Nearest: SMITH R NR CRESCENT CITY CA (6.3 mi away), on the river it flows into. Craigs Creek's own flow is not measured.
What the agencies suggest
Approach the stream carefully and with a low profileIowa Department of Natural Resources
Fishing upstream will usually spook fewer fish than working downstreamIowa Department of Natural Resources
Deep pools and undercut banks provide refuge during sunny days and low waterMinnesota Department of Natural Resources
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 12:45 PM PST · provisional USGS data
Much below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 1:45 PM PDT to Nov 5, 12:45 PM PST; ranging 204 to 234 ft³/s; latest 207 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 12:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 5, 11:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 5, 10:45 AM PST | 204 | 4.3 |
| Nov 5, 9:45 AM PST | 204 | 4.3 |
| Nov 5, 8:45 AM PST | 204 | 4.3 |
| Nov 5, 7:45 AM PST | 204 | 4.3 |
| Nov 5, 6:45 AM PST | 204 | 4.3 |
| Nov 5, 5:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 5, 4:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 5, 3:45 AM PST | 204 | 4.3 |
| Nov 5, 2:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 5, 1:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 5, 12:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 PM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 AM PST | 207 | 4.31 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 PM PST | 214 | 4.33 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 PM PST | 214 | 4.33 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 PM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 PM PST | 214 | 4.33 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 PM PST | 214 | 4.33 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 AM PST | 214 | 4.33 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 AM PST | 214 | 4.33 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 AM PST | 214 | 4.33 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 AM PST | 214 | 4.33 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 AM PST | 214 | 4.33 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 AM PST | 210 | 4.32 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 AM PST | 214 | 4.33 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 AM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 AM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 PM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 PM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 9:45 PM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 PM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 PM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 6:45 PM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 5:45 PM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 4:45 PM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 3:45 PM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 2:45 PM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 PM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 PM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 AM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 AM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 9:45 AM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 AM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 AM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 6:45 AM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 5:45 AM PDT | 214 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 4:45 AM PDT | 217 | 4.34 |
| Oct 31, 3:45 AM PDT | 217 | 4.34 |
| Oct 31, 2:45 AM PDT | 217 | 4.34 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 AM PDT | 217 | 4.34 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 AM PDT | 217 | 4.34 |
| Oct 30, 11:45 PM PDT | 217 | 4.34 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 PM PDT | 217 | 4.34 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 PM PDT | 217 | 4.34 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 PM PDT | 217 | 4.34 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 PM PDT | 217 | 4.34 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 PM PDT | 217 | 4.34 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 PM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 PM PDT | 217 | 4.34 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 PM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 PM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 1:45 PM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 12:45 PM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 11:45 AM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 AM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 AM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 AM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 AM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 AM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 AM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 AM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 AM PDT | 221 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 AM PDT | 224 | 4.36 |
| Oct 30, 1:45 AM PDT | 224 | 4.36 |
| Oct 30, 12:45 AM PDT | 224 | 4.36 |
| Oct 29, 11:45 PM PDT | 227 | 4.37 |
| Oct 29, 10:45 PM PDT | 227 | 4.37 |
| Oct 29, 9:45 PM PDT | 227 | 4.37 |
| Oct 29, 8:45 PM PDT | 227 | 4.37 |
| Oct 29, 7:45 PM PDT | 227 | 4.37 |
| Oct 29, 6:45 PM PDT | 227 | 4.37 |
| Oct 29, 5:45 PM PDT | 227 | 4.37 |
| Oct 29, 4:45 PM PDT | 231 | 4.38 |
| Oct 29, 3:45 PM PDT | 231 | 4.38 |
| Oct 29, 2:45 PM PDT | 231 | 4.38 |
| Oct 29, 1:45 PM PDT | 234 | 4.39 |
Normal for Nov 5: 354–2,610 ft³/s (middle half of 95 years of record). Now: 207 ft³/s, much below normal.
Much below normal for this date. 207 ft³/s is below the 10th percentile of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 95 years of record (1932–2026): 10th 236, 25th 354, median 905, 75th 2,610, 90th 6,000 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 188 ft³/s, highest 53,700 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (+0% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 4.31 ft stage, 207 ft³/s at Nov 5, 11:45 AM PST (NWS gauge CREC1; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 12:33 PM PST. Highest point: 4.92 ft, 454 ft³/s on Nov 8, 4:00 PM PST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 4.3 ft | 204 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 4.3 ft | 204 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 4.29 ft | 201 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 4.92 ft | 454 ft³/s |
| Mon, Nov 9 | 4.7 ft | 355 ft³/s |
| Tue, Nov 10 | 4.61 ft | 318 ft³/s |
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines CDFW uses are 67°F.
This gauge is on our page for Craigs Creek, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 1:16 PM PST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Coon CreekThe Trinity Wild and Scenic River below Lewiston, California (BLM). Photo: Bureau of Land Management, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Coon Creek.
California · about 2 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Hurdygurdy CreekThe upper Sacramento River at Castle Crags State Park. Photo: Nathan Jongewaard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hurdygurdy Creek.
California · about 5 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Rock CreekThe McCloud River just below Middle Falls. Photo: Sergey Yarmolyuk, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Rock Creek.
California · about 8 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Quartz CreekThe Sacramento River in Redding, California. Photo: RoyalMayfair, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Quartz Creek.
California · about 11 mi
Steelhead / salmon waterRepresentative photo · not Smith RiverThe Fall River Dam and the pool behind it at the lower end of the Fall River, near Fall River Mills, California. Photo: Astronomy1, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Smith River.
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not South Fork Smith RiverPit River Falls near Fall River Mills, California. Photo: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Fork Smith River.
California · about 11 mi
