The Salmon River is a freestone river in California.
The nearest USGS gauge on the same stream system is shown, labelled.
Salmon River 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 Salmon River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Salmon River with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Salmon River 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 Williams CreekThe Trinity Wild and Scenic River below Lewiston, California (BLM). Photo: Bureau of Land Management, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Williams Creek.
California · about 26 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Eight Mile CreekThe upper Sacramento River at Castle Crags State Park. Photo: Nathan Jongewaard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Eight Mile Creek.
California · about 27 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Harrington CreekThe McCloud River just below Middle Falls. Photo: Sergey Yarmolyuk, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Harrington Creek.
California · about 28 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Buck CreekThe Sacramento River in Redding, California. Photo: RoyalMayfair, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Buck Creek.
California · about 31 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Prescott ForkThe 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 Prescott Fork.
California · about 31 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Quartz CreekPit River Falls near Fall River Mills, California. Photo: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Quartz Creek.
California · about 32 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
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.
No shop nearby 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 Salmon River.
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 “Salmon River”, 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.
Limited data: Normal flow for the date: no water temperature here
No water temperature here.
At SALMON R A SOMES BAR CA (USGS 11522500). No gauge on Salmon River. Nearest: SALMON R A SOMES BAR CA (5.2 mi away), on the river it flows into. Salmon River's own flow is not measured. Provisional USGS data
USGS 11522500 · NWS SBRC1
No gauge on Salmon River. Nearest: SALMON R A SOMES BAR CA (5.2 mi away), on the river it flows into. Salmon River's own flow is not measured.
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 3:30 PM PST · provisional USGS data
Below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 4:30 PM PDT to Nov 5, 3:30 PM PST; ranging 165 to 185 ft³/s; latest 172 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 3:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 PM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 PM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 5, 11:30 AM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 5, 10:30 AM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 5, 9:30 AM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 5, 8:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 5, 7:30 AM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 5, 6:30 AM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 5, 5:30 AM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 AM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 AM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 AM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 PM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 PM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 PM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 PM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 PM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 PM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 PM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 PM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 PM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 PM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 PM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 PM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 PM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 PM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 PM PST | 178 | 1.6 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 PM PST | 178 | 1.6 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 PM PST | 178 | 1.6 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 PM PST | 178 | 1.6 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 PM PST | 178 | 1.6 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 PM PST | 178 | 1.6 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 AM PST | 178 | 1.6 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 AM PST | 178 | 1.6 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 AM PST | 182 | 1.61 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 AM PST | 182 | 1.61 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 AM PST | 182 | 1.61 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 AM PST | 182 | 1.61 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 AM PST | 182 | 1.61 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 AM PST | 182 | 1.61 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 AM PST | 182 | 1.61 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 AM PST | 182 | 1.61 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 AM PST | 182 | 1.61 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 AM PST | 185 | 1.62 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 PM PST | 185 | 1.62 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 PM PST | 185 | 1.62 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 PM PST | 185 | 1.62 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 PM PST | 185 | 1.62 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 PM PST | 185 | 1.62 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 PM PST | 185 | 1.62 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 PM PST | 182 | 1.61 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 PM PST | 182 | 1.61 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 PM PST | 182 | 1.61 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 PM PST | 178 | 1.6 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 PM PST | 178 | 1.6 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 PM PST | 178 | 1.6 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 AM PST | 175 | 1.59 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 AM PST | 172 | 1.58 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 AM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 AM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 AM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM PST | 168 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 AM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 PM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 PM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 PM PDT | 165 | 1.56 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 PM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 PM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 PM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 PM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 PM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 AM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 AM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 AM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 AM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 AM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 AM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 AM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 AM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 AM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 AM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 AM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 AM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 29, 11:30 PM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 29, 10:30 PM PDT | 172 | 1.58 |
| Oct 29, 9:30 PM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 29, 8:30 PM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 29, 7:30 PM PDT | 168 | 1.57 |
| Oct 29, 6:30 PM PDT | 172 | 1.58 |
| Oct 29, 5:30 PM PDT | 172 | 1.58 |
| Oct 29, 4:30 PM PDT | 172 | 1.58 |
Normal for Nov 5: 209–639 ft³/s (middle half of 103 years of record). Now: 172 ft³/s, below normal.
Below normal for this date. 172 ft³/s is between the 10th and 25th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 103 years of record (1912–2026): 10th 157, 25th 209, median 348, 75th 639, 90th 1,360 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 118 ft³/s, highest 2,860 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 1.57 ft stage, 168 ft³/s at Nov 5, 2:30 PM PST (NWS gauge SBRC1; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 12:30 PM PST. Highest point: 1.57 ft, 168 ft³/s on Nov 5, 1:00 PM PST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 1.57 ft | 168 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 1.56 ft | 165 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 1.56 ft | 165 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 1.55 ft | 162 ft³/s |
| Mon, Nov 9 | 1.54 ft | 159 ft³/s |
| Tue, Nov 10 | 1.53 ft | 156 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 Salmon River, 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, 3:59 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 Williams CreekThe Trinity Wild and Scenic River below Lewiston, California (BLM). Photo: Bureau of Land Management, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Williams Creek.
California · about 26 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Eight Mile CreekThe upper Sacramento River at Castle Crags State Park. Photo: Nathan Jongewaard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Eight Mile Creek.
California · about 27 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Harrington CreekThe McCloud River just below Middle Falls. Photo: Sergey Yarmolyuk, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Harrington Creek.
California · about 28 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Buck CreekThe Sacramento River in Redding, California. Photo: RoyalMayfair, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Buck Creek.
California · about 31 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Prescott ForkThe 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 Prescott Fork.
California · about 31 mi
Heritage Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Quartz CreekPit River Falls near Fall River Mills, California. Photo: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Quartz Creek.
California · about 32 mi
Orleans, California
Guest ranch · 7.4 mi
