Klamath River Fly Fishing Report - September 20, 2026
KLAMATH RIVER
ReportSEP 20 — 27, 2026
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Flow
3310CFS
KLAMATH R NR KLAMATH CA
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Water Temp
66.4°F
Updated 2026-09-19
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Weather
52–66°F
Patchy Fog
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
The Klamath is running at 3,310 CFS and 66.4°F — elevated but fishable flows are actively moving fresh steelhead upriver through the lower canyon. Expect patchy morning fog lifting by mid-morning with mild, calm conditions through the day.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Egan's Poacher - Black #12
#12
Egan's Poacher - Olive #12
#12
Wiggly Worm (TBH) #8
#8
Slush Egg Apricot - 14 #14
#14
Tungsten Pat's Rubber Legs - Tan & Brown #6
#6
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Tungsten Jig Bugger - Olive - Barbless #14
#14
Olsen's Straggle Stone Brown Barbless #12 - 32
#12
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Egan's GTI Caddis - Olive #12
#12
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midge | 20-22 | Moderate | 10 AM - 1 PM |
| Blue-Winged Olive | 18-22 | Moderate | 11 AM - 2 PM |
| Caddis | 16-18 | Light | 5 PM - 7 PM |
| Stonefly (Salmonfly/Golden) | 6-10 | Light | 9 AM - 12 PM |
Best Time Window
- 8 AM - 11 AM: Low-light fog window — steelhead active in shallow tailouts and inside seams before sun hits the water.
- 11 AM - 2 PM: Midge and BWO hatch window — target resident trout in slower flats with dries and sub-surface emergers.
- 4 PM - 7 PM: Evening caddis activity and cooling light — swing streamers and caddis patterns through the lower runs as steelhead become aggressive again.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 3,310 CFS, steelhead are stacked in the soft water on the inside bends and just downstream of major tributary confluences — Blue Creek being the prime example right now. Wade the inside seam and dead-drift a weighted stone or egg pattern at 1.5x the depth of the run, keeping your indicator set deep enough to tick the bottom. When swinging, use a full sink-tip or Type 3 shooting head and start your swing from the top of the run, taking one step downstream between each cast to cover water methodically. The fog will hold fish in low-light lies well into mid-morning, so don't rush to the water — the best action often starts around 9 AM as visibility improves.
Main Species
Steelhead
Chinook Salmon
Rainbow Trout
