The Fish Sniffer

(Hornbrook) While the weather has been bright and sunny lately, water temperatures continue to be cold on the upper section of the Klamath River.

“The fish are sluggish because of the cold water, so you have work your lures and baits slowly to catch fish,” said Scott Caldwell of SC Guide Service.

Caldwell and his son, Conner, made a short afternoon drift on the upper Klamath that yielded two wild steelhead in the 2 lb. class and some smaller trout. “We worked Hot Shots from below the Iron Gate Fish Hatchery to the Klamathon Bridge,” said Caldwell.

Futhern downriver in the Seiad Valley area of the river, anglers are hooking a adult few steelhead up to 5 pounds and half pounders while using plugs, roe and Glo Bugs.

On the Klamath and other California rivers, some rain is needed to color up and warm the water temperature, resulting in improved steelhead fishing.

Meanwhile, for the second year the Iron Gate Fish Hatchery in Hornbrook hasn’t spawned any steelhead, although anglers have reported large numbers of half pounder and adult steelhead  throughout the system. “We’ve checked our trap once a week and haven’t seen one steelhead this spawning season,” said Jerree Orr from the hatchery.