— pulling live conditions from USGS —
Browse every tracked river, A–Z

Live wading and fishing conditions for 55 California rivers

Every river below is monitored through its USGS streamflow gauges, refreshed every 15 minutes and rated in plain language for wading safety. Select a river for the live dashboard with current flow, trend, weather and community reports.

Lower Sacramento River

The big cold tailwater below Shasta and Keswick dams at Redding — a year-round wild-rainbow factory that also carries fall Chinook and winter/spring steelhead, plus stripers in the lower reaches. This is a drift-boat and big-water fishery: flow is entirely dam-controlled out of Keswick, so releases and clarity, not rain, set the day. Treat the numbers as boat/wade-edge safety and generation cues, not a wading maximum.

Region: Sacramento Valley · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Sacramento R A Keswick Ca, Sacramento R Ab Bend Bridge Nr Red Bluff Ca

Live Lower Sacramento River conditions →

Trinity River

The premier Northern California steelhead and salmon river — a cold tailwater below Lewiston Dam running through the Trinity Alps to Hoopa, restored under a landmark flow program. Fall Chinook and winter/spring steelhead are the draw, with a strong wild-and-hatchery mix; the upper river is a fly-friendly tailwater, the lower canyon bigger drift water.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Trinity R A Lewiston Ca, Trinity R A Douglas City Ca, Trinity R A Hoopa Ca

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Upper Sacramento River

The classic wadeable freestone above Shasta Lake, tumbling through Dunsmuir and the Castle Crags canyon — a wild-rainbow river that famously rebounded after the 1991 Cantara spill. Pocket water, plunge pools, and railroad-canyon access make it a quintessential Northern California trout stream, and it fishes cold and clear on snowmelt-and-rain flows rather than dam releases.

Region: Shasta & Cascades · Fish for: Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Sacramento R A Delta Ca

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American River

Two rivers in one — the Lower American below Nimbus Dam is a metro Sacramento tailwater famous for fall Chinook, winter/spring steelhead, half-pounder trout, and spring shad, while the North Fork above Auburn is a wild trout and smallmouth freestone in a granite canyon. The lower river is dam-controlled drift-and-wade water; frame stage as boat/wade-edge safety.

Region: Sacramento Valley · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: American R A Fair Oaks Ca, Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca

Live American River conditions →

Truckee River

The river out of Lake Tahoe running northeast to Nevada — a tough, rewarding wild brown and rainbow fishery with recovering native Lahontan cutthroat, tumbling through town water at Truckee and canyon reaches toward Farad. Flow is a mix of Tahoe-dam releases and tributary snowmelt; the fish are big and the wading is technical.

Region: Sierra Nevada · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Truckee R Nr Truckee Ca, Little Truckee R Bl Boca Dam Nr Truckee Ca, Truckee R A Farad Ca

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Yuba River

The Lower Yuba below Englebright Dam is one of California's finest wild-trout tailwaters — self-sustaining rainbows plus wild steelhead and fall Chinook, all on a gravel-bar river restored from its hydraulic-mining past. Upstream, the North Yuba is a wadeable freestone trout stream. The lower river is dam-influenced drift-and-wade water.

Region: Sacramento Valley · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Steelhead · USGS gauges: Yuba R Nr Marysville Ca, N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca

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Hat Creek

California's original catch-and-release wild-trout showcase — a spring-fed, weed-lined tailwater and meadow stream below the Hat Creek powerhouses near Cassel. The famous Wild Trout Area is smooth, technical spring-creek water demanding a delicate presentation; upstream freestone and campground reaches fish more forgivingly.

Region: Shasta & Cascades · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Hat C Nr Hat Creek Ca

Live Hat Creek conditions →

Klamath River

A big, storied salmon and steelhead river running from the Oregon line to the Pacific — half-pounder steelhead in fall are a signature, along with fall Chinook. With the lower dams removed, the river is in a historic recovery; conditions are a mix of upper-reservoir releases, tributary inflow, and rain, and it fishes as big drift-and-swing water.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Klamath R Bl Iron Gate Dam Ca, Klamath R A Orleans, Klamath R Nr Klamath Ca

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East Walker River

A legendary Eastern Sierra tailwater below Bridgeport Reservoir, running out of California into Nevada — famous for big, wary wild brown trout in a high-desert canyon. Flow is entirely release-controlled out of Bridgeport, and the 'miracle mile' below the dam fishes best on stable, moderate summer releases; too little water cooks it, too much blows it out.

Region: Sierra Nevada · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: E Walker Rv Nr Bridgeport, Ca

Live East Walker River conditions →

Smith River

California's last major undammed river and its clearest — the Smith drops back into shape faster than any coast stream and grows the state's biggest wild winter steelhead and trophy fall kings. Fish it on the drop after a storm; the jade-green water demands light gear and stealth.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Smith R Nr Crescent City Ca

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Merced River

The river of Yosemite Valley — a spectacular granite-canyon freestone tumbling past Half Dome and El Capitan, holding wild rainbows and browns in its pool-and-pocket water. It's pure snowmelt: raging and off-limits in the spring runoff, then dropping into a clear, wadeable trout stream through summer and fall. Below the park it becomes a foothill bass and salmon river.

Region: Central Valley & Foothills · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Merced R A Happy Isles Bridge Nr Yosemite Ca, Merced R A Pohono Bridge Nr Yosemite Ca

Live Merced River conditions →

Russian River

A Sonoma and Mendocino County river with a dual identity — winter steelhead and fall Chinook when the rains come and the mouth opens, and an excellent low-water summer smallmouth and pikeminnow float the rest of the year. It's rain-and-release influenced below Coyote and Warm Springs dams, and the reaches near Cloverdale, Healdsburg, and Guerneville carry the fish.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Russian R Nr Cloverdale Ca, Russian R A Hacienda Bridge Nr Guerneville Ca

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Eel River

A classic North Coast winter steelhead river running through the redwoods to the sea, with the South Fork and main stem both holding fish. It's a rain-driven system that comes into shape as storms drop and clear — timing the drop after a freshet is everything — and summer brings smallmouth and pikeminnow to the low, warm reaches.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Sf Eel R Nr Miranda Ca, Eel R A Fort Seward Ca, Eel R A Scotia Ca

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Pit River

A rugged, powerful freestone-and-hydro river draining the volcanic northeast, famous for big wild rainbows and notoriously grabby wading between the PG&E powerhouses. Flow is a mix of natural water and hydro diversions, so the reach and the powerhouse schedule matter; the wading is treacherous and studded felt or a staff is standard kit.

Region: Shasta & Cascades · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Pit R Nr Canby Ca, Pit R Bl Pit No 1 Ph Nr Fall River Mills Ca

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Kern River

A river of two worlds — the upper Kern and its South Fork above Lake Isabella carry wild rainbows and, in the high Kern Plateau headwaters, native California golden trout, while the lower Kern below Isabella through Bakersfield is a warmwater bass, catfish, and carp river. The upper reaches are snowmelt freestone; the lower river is release-and-irrigation controlled.

Region: Sierra Nevada · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, California Golden Trout · USGS gauges: Sf Kern R Nr Onyx Ca, Kern R A Enos Park Foot Br Nr Bakersfield Ca

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Little Truckee River

A blue-ribbon tailwater between Stampede and Boca reservoirs — small water that fishes big, with dense insect hatches and stout, well-fed rainbows and browns. A technical, rewarding wade fishery a short drive from Truckee.

Region: Sierra Nevada · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Little Truckee R Bl Boca Dam Nr Truckee Ca, Little Truckee R Ab Boca Res Nr Truckee Ca

Live Little Truckee River conditions →

Stanislaus River

A Sierra-foothill river below Goodwin Dam running to the San Joaquin — a fall Chinook and steelhead river restored under managed flows, with smallmouth, largemouth, and stripers in the lower warmwater reaches. Knights Ferry and the reaches down to Ripon are the access; flow is release-controlled, so frame stage as boat/bank safety.

Region: Central Valley & Foothills · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon, Striped Bass · USGS gauges: Stanislaus R A Ripon Ca

Live Stanislaus River conditions →

Hot Creek

One of California's most famous spring creeks — a rich, weedy meadow stream near Mammoth Lakes with heavy hatches and educated wild trout in the catch-and-release interpretive section. Technical, sight-fishing water at its best on light tippet.

Region: Sierra Nevada · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Hot C A Flume Nr Mammoth Lakes Ca

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Mad River

A dependable Humboldt winter steelhead river with a hatchery run that keeps the lower river busy from December into spring. The reaches below the hatchery and around Blue Lake hold fish through the season; upper flows come off Ruth Lake.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Mad R Nr Arcata Ca, Mad R Ab Ruth Res Nr Forest Glen Ca

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Putah Creek

A cold tailwater below Monticello Dam near Winters — a wild-trout catch-and-release fishery with surprisingly big, well-fed rainbows in clear, weedy runs an hour from Sacramento. Technical, rewarding water with heavy hatches.

Region: Sacramento Valley · Fish for: Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Putah C Nr Winters Ca, Putah C Nr Guenoc Ca

Live Putah Creek conditions →

San Joaquin River

The great southern valley river draining to the Delta — a big, warm, slow-moving bank-and-boat fishery for striped bass, largemouth, catfish, and carp, with smallmouth and native Sacramento pikeminnow in the current. This is not a wade stream: treat stage as bank-fishing and boating safety, and know the reach is a managed, diversion-heavy river.

Region: Central Valley & Foothills · Fish for: Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: San Joaquin R Nr Vernalis Ca

Live San Joaquin River conditions →

East Fork Carson River

A classic Eastern Sierra trout river below Markleeville — planted rainbows and wild browns in the canyon and popular float-and-fish water downstream. Accessible along Highways 89 and 4 with good roadside pullouts.

Region: Sierra Nevada · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: E Fk Carson Rv Blw Markleeville Ck Nr Markleeville

Live East Fork Carson River conditions →

Tuolumne River

A major San Joaquin tributary — the lower river below La Grange holds fall Chinook and steelhead and a resident trout reach below the dam, while the valley reach toward Modesto adds smallmouth and warmwater fish. A restoration-focused salmon river.

Region: Central Valley & Foothills · Fish for: Chinook (King) Salmon, Steelhead · USGS gauges: Tuolumne R Bl Lagrange Dam Nr Lagrange Ca, Tuolumne R A Modesto Ca

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Salmon River

A wild, roadless-feeling Klamath tributary — 'the Cal Salmon' — with clear water, a deep canyon, and wild spring Chinook and winter steelhead. A special place fished lightly by those who make the drive to Somes Bar.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Salmon R A Somes Bar Ca

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West Walker River

A scenic Eastern Sierra freestone tumbling out of the Sierra through Leavitt Meadow and down along Highway 395, planted heavily and holding wild and holdover trout. A popular, accessible summer wade fishery in the Walker canyon.

Region: Sierra Nevada · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: W Walker Rv Nr Coleville, Ca, W Walker Rv Blw L Walker Rv Nr Coleville, Ca

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Clear Creek

A restored Whiskeytown tailwater near Redding with cold, clear year-round flows, wild rainbows, and reintroduced spring Chinook and steelhead. The lower reach below the dam is a genuine trout-and-steelhead fishery within minutes of town.

Region: Shasta & Cascades · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Steelhead · USGS gauges: Clear C Nr Igo Ca

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Van Duzen River

The Eel's largest tributary is a scenic freestone steelhead stream that comes into shape quickly and offers uncrowded winter fishing around Bridgeville and Grizzly Creek Redwoods. A wild-fish river best on the drop.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Lahontan Cutthroat · USGS gauges: Van Duzen R Nr Bridgeville Ca

Live Van Duzen River conditions →

Scott River

A Klamath tributary in Siskiyou County's Scott Valley with a wild fall Chinook and winter steelhead run through a scenic canyon below Fort Jones. Flows swing with irrigation and rain — fish it on the drop.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Scott R Nr Fort Jones Ca

Live Scott River conditions →

Upper Truckee River

Lake Tahoe's largest tributary, winding through meadows above South Lake Tahoe before entering the lake. A wadeable trout stream with resident rainbows and browns plus lake-run fish in fall — much of it flows through public parkland.

Region: Sierra Nevada · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Upper Truckee Rv At South Lake Tahoe, Ca, Upper Truckee Rv At Hwy 50 Abv Meyers, Ca

Live Upper Truckee River conditions →

Navarro River

A Mendocino coast steelhead river running through redwoods to the sea at Navarro-by-the-Sea. A short, weather-driven winter season on wild fish — fish it on the drop when the sandbar breaches and fish push in.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Coho (Silver) Salmon · USGS gauges: Navarro R Nr Navarro Ca

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Mill Creek

A wild, undammed Sacramento tributary off Mount Lassen with a rare protected run of spring Chinook and wild steelhead, plus wild trout up in the canyon. A special watershed fished lightly and carefully.

Region: Sacramento Valley · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Mill C Nr Los Molinos Ca

Live Mill Creek conditions →

Butte Creek

The Central Valley's premier spring-run Chinook stream, flowing off the Lassen foothills through Chico and the canyon above. A protected wild-salmon watershed with steelhead and canyon trout — fish it lightly and know the closures.

Region: Sacramento Valley · Fish for: Chinook (King) Salmon, Steelhead · USGS gauges: Butte C Nr Chico Ca

Live Butte Creek conditions →

Mattole River

A remote Lost Coast river with a wild winter steelhead and salmon run and a passionate local restoration community. It blows out and clears quickly; time it on the drop and fish it lightly.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Mattole R Nr Petrolia Ca, Mattole R Nr Ettersburg Ca

Live Mattole River conditions →

Gualala River

A Sonoma–Mendocino coast steelhead river with a big gravel lagoon at the mouth and forks that clear at different rates. A wild-fish winter fishery best timed on the drop.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Coho (Silver) Salmon · USGS gauges: Sf Gualala R Nr The Sea Ranch Ca, Nf Gualala R Ab Sf Gualala R Nr Gualala Ca

Live Gualala River conditions →

West Fork Carson River

A small, pretty meadow-and-canyon trout stream flowing down through Hope Valley and Woodfords, planted through summer and lined with willows. A friendly, accessible wade fishery along Highways 88 and 89.

Region: Sierra Nevada · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: W Fk Carson Rv At Woodfords, Ca

Live West Fork Carson River conditions →

Battle Creek

A spring-fed Sacramento tributary below Coleman Fish Hatchery near Cottonwood, central to Central Valley salmon and steelhead restoration. The reach below the hatchery concentrates fall Chinook and steelhead in season.

Region: Sacramento Valley · Fish for: Chinook (King) Salmon, Steelhead · USGS gauges: Battle C Bl Coleman Fish Hatchery Nr Cottonwood Ca

Live Battle Creek conditions →

Deer Creek

A wild Sacramento tributary off the Lassen foothills near Vina, one of the last strongholds of wild spring-run Chinook, with wild steelhead and canyon trout above. A treasured, closely regulated watershed.

Region: Sacramento Valley · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Deer C Nr Vina Ca

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Carmel River

A Central Coast steelhead river flowing off the Ventana Wilderness through Carmel Valley to the sea. Dam removal has reopened miles of habitat and the wild winter run is rebuilding — a protected, weather-driven fishery best on the drop.

Region: Central Coast · Fish for: Steelhead, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Carmel R Nr Carmel Ca, Carmel R A Robles Del Rio Ca

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Redwood Creek

The stream through Redwood National Park's tall-tree groves carries a wild winter steelhead and fall salmon run to the sea at Orick. A protected, weather-driven fishery on wild fish.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Redwood C A Orick Ca, Redwood C Nr Blue Lake Ca

Live Redwood Creek conditions →

Shasta River

A spring-fed Klamath tributary through the Shasta Valley with historically strong fall Chinook and steelhead runs. Much of it crosses private ranchland, so access is limited — fish the public reaches and mind the regs.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Chinook (King) Salmon, Steelhead · USGS gauges: Shasta R Nr Montague Ca, Shasta R Nr Yreka Ca

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San Lorenzo River

A redwood-canyon steelhead river dropping through the Santa Cruz Mountains to the sea at Santa Cruz. A wild winter run rebuilding after decades of pressure, with resident trout up in the canyon reaches — fish it on the drop and mind the regs.

Region: Central Coast · Fish for: Steelhead, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: San Lorenzo R A Big Trees Ca, San Lorenzo R A Santa Cruz Ca

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Noyo River

A small Fort Bragg coast stream with a wild winter steelhead run and easy access from town. A short, storm-driven season — best on the drop right after the river greens up.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Coho (Silver) Salmon · USGS gauges: Noyo R Nr Fort Bragg Ca

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Cache Creek

A Coast Range stream draining Clear Lake through a whitewater canyon to the valley near Rumsey and Yolo — put-and-take trout up high, wild smallmouth and pikeminnow in the canyon, and warmwater fish down low. A rafting river that fishes well at moderate flows.

Region: Sacramento Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Cache C Nr Lower Lake Ca, Cache C A Rumsey Ca, Cache C A Yolo Ca

Live Cache Creek conditions →

Napa River

A wine-country river winding from the Mayacamas down through the valley to San Pablo Bay, with a recovering wild steelhead run in the upper reaches and striped bass and warmwater fish in the tidal lower river. A restoration success story worth fishing thoughtfully.

Region: North Bay & Wine Country · Fish for: Steelhead, Striped Bass · USGS gauges: Napa R Nr Napa Ca, Napa R Nr St Helena Ca

Live Napa River conditions →

South Fork Trinity River

The largest undammed tributary in the Trinity system — a wild, remote freestone with spring Chinook and steelhead running through a deep, roadless canyon. A backcountry fishery best on the drop.

Region: North Coast Steelhead · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Sf Trinity R A Forest Glen Ca, Sf Trinity R Bl Hyampom Ca

Live South Fork Trinity River conditions →

Cottonwood Creek

The largest undammed tributary to the upper Sacramento, entering near Cottonwood south of Redding. A free-flowing stream with fall Chinook and steelhead and warmwater fish in the lower reaches — flows swing hard with rain.

Region: Shasta & Cascades · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook (King) Salmon · USGS gauges: Cottonwood C Nr Cottonwood Ca

Live Cottonwood Creek conditions →

Cosumnes River

The Central Valley's largest undammed river, dropping out of the Sierra foothills near Michigan Bar and spreading into the Cosumnes River Preserve wetlands. A flashy, rain-driven river with fall Chinook and warmwater fish in the lower reaches.

Region: Central Valley & Foothills · Fish for: Chinook (King) Salmon, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca

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Spanish Creek

A Feather River headwater stream flowing through American Valley and the canyon near Quincy, holding wild rainbows and browns in accessible pocket water. A pleasant, low-key mountain trout fishery in Plumas County.

Region: Sierra Nevada · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca, Spanish C A Quincy Ca

Live Spanish Creek conditions →

Salinas River

The long, sandy river of the Salinas Valley — mostly a wide, seasonal channel that runs hard in winter, carrying steelhead toward the Arroyo Seco and upper tributaries and warmwater fish and stripers in the lower reaches. A flow-driven, weather-dependent fishery.

Region: Central Coast · Fish for: Steelhead, Striped Bass · USGS gauges: Salinas R Nr Bradley Ca, Salinas R Nr Spreckels Ca, Salinas R A Paso Robles Ca

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Prosser Creek

A small tailwater below Prosser Creek Reservoir near Truckee, holding wild and holdover rainbows and browns in a willow-lined canyon. Modest, uncrowded water for anglers exploring the Truckee tributaries.

Region: Sierra Nevada · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Prosser C Bl Prosser C Dam Nr Truckee Ca

Live Prosser Creek conditions →

Santa Ynez River

A Santa Barbara County river running from the mountains through wine country to the coast near Lompoc, with historic steelhead runs below Bradbury Dam and warmwater fish in the slower reaches. A flow-driven fishery shaped by dam releases and rain.

Region: Central Coast · Fish for: Steelhead, Largemouth Bass · USGS gauges: Santa Ynez R A Solvang Ca, Santa Ynez R A Narrows Nr Lompoc Ca

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Nacimiento River

The tailwater below Nacimiento Dam near Bradley, feeding the Salinas system — a warmwater river reach with bass and catfish and cool releases that concentrate fish. Access is limited, so fish the public reaches and ramps.

Region: Central Coast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Nacimiento R Bl Nacimiento Dam Nr Bradley Ca

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Bear River

A lower Feather-system tributary crossing the valley floor near Wheatland, with fall Chinook and steelhead pushing up in season and warmwater fish in the slower reaches. A modest, flow-driven valley fishery.

Region: Sacramento Valley · Fish for: Chinook (King) Salmon, Steelhead · USGS gauges: Bear R Nr Wheatland Ca

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Tule River

A southern Sierra stream draining the Sequoia country toward Porterville — the South Fork and the forks up in the mountains hold wild and planted trout in accessible pocket water. A modest, scenic foothill-to-mountain trout fishery.

Region: Central Valley & Foothills · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Sf Tule R Nr Reservation Bndry Nr Porterville Ca, Sf Tule R Nr Cholollo Campground Nr Porterville Ca

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Sonoma Creek

A small wine-country stream flowing from the Mayacamas through Sonoma Valley to San Pablo Bay, with a wild winter steelhead run in the upper reaches. A modest, weather-driven fishery best on the drop.

Region: North Bay & Wine Country · Fish for: Steelhead, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Sonoma C A Agua Caliente Ca

Live Sonoma Creek conditions →

California river conditions — FAQ

How current is the California river data?

Flow readings come straight from USGS gauges and refresh every 15 minutes. Every California river shows the exact reading time for each gauge, so you always know how fresh the number is.

Which California rivers are safe to wade or fish right now?

All 55 California rivers we track are rated Wadeable, Caution, Limited, or Blown out against thresholds tuned to each individual gauge. Open the dashboard for a live top-to-bottom read of every river.

What does CFS mean for wading?

CFS — cubic feet per second — is how much water is moving past the gauge. Higher CFS means faster, deeper, pushier water. The safe range differs on every river, which is why each gauge carries its own thresholds rather than one blanket number.

How much rain fell on California rivers, and how much is coming?

Each river page shows total observed rainfall over the last 48 hours plus the forecast for the next 48 hours at that gauge — the fastest way to tell whether the water is about to blow out or start clearing.

Do you cover my California river?

We track 55 California rivers behind live USGS gauges. Open any river for live conditions, species timing, public access points, and recent rainfall.