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This is a great time of year for a fall trip to the
Klamath River, when anadromous salmon and steelhead
make the voyage back to their birth river.
This is a great time of year for a fall trip to the
Klamath River, when anadromous salmon and steelhead
make the voyage back to their birth river.
The mouth of the Klamath is referred to by surfers as
a spot called “Food Chains.” As the river pours into
the ocean, pelicans bomb schools of anchovies, salmon,
sea lions and harbor seals fight for survival; and we
all know the “landlord” — a great white shark — could
not be too far off.
Inside the river’s lagoon, the Yurok Tribe sets gill
nets to capture salmon for the commercial market and
subsistence use. If salmon make their way through the
maze of gill nets, they begin the journey upriver.
I fished the Klamath River this past weekend with my
brother Joe Baxter and good friend Jimmy Davis. We
made the scenic drive and stayed at Jimmy’s house in
McKinleyville, also the manufacturing location for Mad
River Manufacturing, where Jimmy makes and distributes
his hand-crafted Fish Pills and Mad River Worms. After
we toured his manufacturing plant — and drooling over
shelves of fishing products — we made a plan for the
next days of fishing.
We fished the lower Klamath both days and had fun, but
fishing was tough. A combination of low fish returns
and the majority of adult salmon being caught in the
nets brought on low scores.
When we fished the Klamath Glen area, we managed a
couple nice salmon. We had our best success drifting
salmon roe and a red Fish Pill.
Salmon and steelhead fishing will remain steady
through the end of October. The key to success here is
to time your trip during a run and follow the fish up
the Klamath River and Trinity River systems. Also be
sure to have a current regulation book and a Klamath
salmon punch card.
There are great campgrounds along both rivers and the
weather is beautiful there during the fall.
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