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A wild coastal salmon and steelhead stream that runs through the redwoods to the Pacific at Orick
Redwood Creek drains about 117 miles of anadromous habitat in Humboldt County. It reaches the Pacific near Orick after passing through Redwood National and State Parks. CDFW monitors the creek closely and documents native runs of Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead and coastal cutthroat trout. The California Coastal Chinook here are federally listed as threatened, and coho are protected, so the fishery is mostly a wild winter steelhead fishery. Adult Chinook move in from September through January, once fall rains open the sandbar at the mouth. Steelhead follow through the winter. The middle and upper reaches are key spawning and rearing water. The creek is subject to North Coast low-flow rules from September 1 through April 30, and it stays closed whenever flow at the USGS Orick gauge (11482500) is below 300 cfs. Check the CDFW low-flow hotline or webpage before every trip, and read the current freshwater sport fishing regulations for season dates, gear limits and barbless or wild-fish release requirements. Wild fish should be handled gently and released quickly.
Best Season
Winter (December–March), when flows are at or above the low-flow threshold
River Type
Coastal anadromous rain-fed creek
Skill Level
Intermediate to advanced
Best Techniques
Drift fishing, swinging flies, and float fishing for steelhead in green, dropping water after storms
Access
Lower creek near Orick and Redwood National and State Parks; upper watershed via Highway 299 and county roads, with much private land
Explore fish species associated with the Redwood Creek. Each profile includes identification tips, habitat notes, and practical fishing guidance for anglers.
Review seasonal insect hatches on the Redwood Creek, including timing windows and fly pattern suggestions for your next trip.
Check current seasons, limits, and special rules for Redwood Creek before you go. Regulations change, so always verify with IDFG.
The latest fishing conditions and hatch notes for Redwood Creek. Older reports live in the Redwood Creek report archive.
These YouTube videos have been hand-curated by our team because we feel they best represent the Redwood Creek fishery. Watch for river character, access context, and techniques that translate to your next trip.
No towns within 30 mi
Map data © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
Fishing guides, outfitters, shuttles, and shops that operate on the Redwood Creek.
These YouTube videos have been hand-curated by our team because we feel they best represent the Redwood Creek fishery. Watch for river character, access context, and techniques that translate to your next trip.
Review seasonal insect hatches on the Redwood Creek, including timing windows and fly pattern suggestions for your next trip.
No data for this season.
The latest fishing conditions and hatch notes for Redwood Creek. Older reports live in the Redwood Creek report archive.
Redwood Creek is closed to fishing due to low flows. As of late October, flows at the Highway 101 bridge gauge were at 12 cfs, well below the 300 cfs minimum.
