Russian River Fishing Report

Report Updated March 17, 2010

River’s almost in shape

Well, you want the good news or the bad news first?
The good news? Okay, here it goes…

The Russian is getting very close to dropping (at long last) into shape. In fact, it was just coming in up high around Squaw Rock and Cloverdale mid week. However, they’re releasing 1,000 cfs outta Lake Sonoma and, until they stop, the river’s just going to teeter on the edge of fishability. While things up high are just coming around, Guerneville is still brownish with a hint of green and too high.

Once the releases stop (they don’t announce it until the day prior), you’ll need a day or two for it to drop and clear. There should be still some bright steelies around when it does (the hatcheries got 200 freshies combined last week)but also a higher percentage of downers.

Call King’s Sport & Tackle for updates.

Current & Forecasted Flow

Take a closer look…this slick graph shows you current river flow, height and projected flows, which will help you plan upcoming trips. Keep in mind steelhead and salmon fishing is best as a river is on the drop — and typically tough when a stream’s on the rise.

DFG Fishing Regulations

Current Weather

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar

Russian River map

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About the Russian River

Okay, so with the derelict car bodies along the banks and the plastic from the vineyards hanging from the trees, you’re not going to mistake the Russian for the Babine, but scenery aside, the river still produces some excellent steelie fishing in the winter months. In particular, the stretch immediately below the mouth of Dry Creek (near Healdsburg) holds a lot of hatchery steelies as they wait to run up the tributary and into the fish ladder.

But you don’t have to fish with the masses. There’s plenty of water upstream through the Alexander Valley to explore. Up or down river, the biggest problem here is that when it rains, the river can be a muddy and unfishable for weeks.

In the spring months, you’ll find a modest American shad run below Johnson’s and Memorial dams in the lower river. The overgrown herring can arrive as early as Easter and run into early June and produce spurts of good action for fly and spin anglers alike. Come summer, the river is overtaken by innertubes, canoes and swimmers but there’s a pretty solid smallmouth bass fishery throughout the drainage if you don’t mind trading quality for quantity.

Stupid Boat Tricks on the Russian!
Shad Fishing 101