Fish Report

This June the mid-Klamath saw flows that peaked over 40,000 CFS – the highest point in three years!  Our peak flows usually occur in late December/ early January, but we had one of the rainiest Mays on record, and in early June a rain-on-snow event brought the river to record levels.  Though the river turned muddy for several days, spring flushes like these are good for clearing the river of algal mats and adding nutrients and course woody debris into the system.  Ideally these high spring flows combined with cooler than normal weather will keep water temperatures lower and more ideal for the fall run.

Rafting & Fishing Guides

We work with expert whitewater rafting and drift boat guides who can show you the river from a whole new perspective.  Our local guides can put together a whitewater rafting trip with full lunch (everything from mild to wild); or take you on a driftboat to the best fishing spots around.  These local guides live and work on the Klamath River and know it intimately from years of experience.   We can either arrange  trips for you or you can use the links below to contact Wally Watson of Klamath River Outfitters.

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Fishing on the Klamath River

The Mid-Klamath boasts a multitude of snow melt tributaries flowing out of the Marble, Siskiyou and Trinity Wilderness areas that provide the river with vital, cold water; offering some of the finest, yet least-known steelhead fishing on the West Coast.  In sharp contrast to the "shoulder to shoulder" experience of the river mouth, seasoned anglers will be refreshed to find entire stretches of the Mid-Klamath River to themselves, and it's a great area for beginners as the chances are high of hooking fish.  Opportunities abound for fly-fishing, bait and lures.  You can fish from our own stretch of river bar, choose several nearby river access points, or take a drift boat tour.

Sandy Bar Ranch, swimming, hiking, biking, raftering, kayaking

Despite modern day challenges facing salmon bearing streams everywhere, the Klamath River remains one of the West Coast's primary salmon and steelhead fisheries.  The 10,000,000 acre Klamath basin once supported the largest run of Chinook salmon in the continental US.  Today the river is more famous for it's steelhead, particularly the abundant "half-pounder" run that enters the river in late summer/ early fall.   Half-pounders are sexually immature steelhead 13 - 18 " long and about 2.5 - 3 pounds that spend a short time in the ocean and return early to their natal streams.  These bright, muscular fish are known for their lively fight and attract anglers from all over the country.  While steelhead can be found in the river just about any time of the year, the half pound run usually enters the river in late July and arrives in our area a few weeks later.  Adult steelhead of 3 - 10 pounds follow, extending the season on through the winter and into spring, depending on weather conditions.

Late summer and fall is harvest season on our ranch and a great time to partake in the abundance of our fresh organic produce.  By late September the garden is brimming with fresh veggies ready for the grill, vine ripened tomatoes, cukes, and a wide variety of fruit, including peaches, plums, grapes, berries apples and more.