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All California reports
Redwood Creek
Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Should I go fishing?
Check the water temperature first.
Water temperature is unconfirmed. Use a stream thermometer; stop trout fishing at 70°F or warmer, or sooner if fish show stress.
Fishing rating74
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 13 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1911-2025, 75 readings) show a median near 19 cfs and the lower quartile near 13 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationMediumWater temperature not verified; do not use this score to clear warm-water risk.
Usually checks again about every 15 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Use RiverReports for the quick chart and USGS 11482500 at Orick for the official flow reference.
- Try
- Check the low-flow status before you leave. If the creek is closed or flirting with the threshold, do not force the trip.
- Leave when
- Skip it during low-flow closures, high winter water, poor bridge access, visible salmonid stress, or whenever your best water overlaps clearly sensitive fish.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 13 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air forecast
- 51°F
- Next 24h high
- 63.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 0%
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.
Latest stored weather check
Mostly Cloudy
- Wind
- 3 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Mostly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Redwood Creek forecast point
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Redwood Creek at Orick
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Steelhead Wet, Spey, and Hairwing PatternsSmall wet flyView fly guide ↗
- Soft-Hackle Wet Fliessoft hackleView fly guide ↗
- General Nymph Patternssparse nymphView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
Spring
What to look forMidges, BWOs, caddis, and small stoneflies
Early summer
What to look forCaddis, small mayflies, occasional terrestrial support
FallThis season
What to look forSparse aquatic activity with salmonid movement and clear-water caution
Flies to try
Winter
What to look forLimited dry-fly relevance; safety and legality matter more than matching insects
Flies to try
Also try soft hackle only when conditions are truly appropriate
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Redwood Creek today.
The best Redwood Creek plan is usually conservative: check whether fishing is even open, confirm park access and bridge conditions, and only fish legal water in a way that avoids unnecessary stress on salmonids. If you want a casual numbers day, pick another river.
Open and moderate flow
The most useful window for legal trout planning, easier travel, and clear read-and-react fishing without pushing the creek.
Low-flow season
Always check the official low-flow status first. If the creek is closed or near the threshold, choose another river.
High winter flow
Treat it as a safety and park-conditions day, not a wading day. Fast water and removed bridges can end the plan.
Clear cold water
Use light tackle, small flies, and careful positioning. Sensitive fish and exposed gravel demand restraint.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading74/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishingNot recommended
This report does not recommend bank fishing on this reach.
Floating74/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Full river report
Is Redwood Creek worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for California before you go.
Redwood Creek can look inviting on the chart, but this is protected salmonid water with low-flow rules, seasonal trail changes, and limited trout opportunity. Plan around the official flow status and park conditions first, then decide whether a legal, low-impact trip makes sense.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- Indicator
- An indicator is a small floating marker that can show when a fish takes an underwater fly.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
- Soft hackle
- A soft-hackle fly has moving fibers that can look like an insect rising through the water.
- Terrestrial
- Terrestrials are land insects, such as ants, beetles, and grasshoppers.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 13 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1911-2025, 75 readings) show a median near 19 cfs and the lower quartile near 13 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.
SeasonHelps
Fall: A serious rules-check season because low-flow regulations and salmonid movement can control whether fishing is responsible or legal.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 51F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 63F. Mostly Cloudy.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip it during low-flow closures, high winter water, poor bridge access, visible salmonid stress, or whenever your best water overlaps clearly sensitive fish.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
An open moderate flow above the low-flow closure threshold is the useful starting point. If the creek is near closure or dropping hard, the better move is usually to skip it.
Skip it during low-flow closures, high winter water, poor bridge access, visible salmonid stress, or whenever your best water overlaps clearly sensitive fish.
Start at Orick with the gauge, weather, and park status. If those line up, fish a short legal session and keep the day flexible enough to pivot to sightseeing or another river.
If Redwood Creek is closed, too sensitive, or too high, use the Trinity River or Klamath pages for a more robust north-coast fallback.
Redwood Creek access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
Redwood Creek is subject to California freshwater rules and North Coast low-flow rules. CDFW can close fishing when flows fall below the threshold, and NPS directs visitors to verify current rules before fishing inside the parks.
Where to access the river
Redwood Creek Trailhead near Orick
The main public planning anchor for hiking toward the creek through Redwood National Park.
Seasonal bridge area
NPS installs summer footbridges and removes them in the high-water season, which changes what is realistically reachable.
Tall Trees / backcountry linkage
A hiking route context rather than a casual fishing access point. Use only if you already understand the park layout.
Orick gauge and lower-valley context
Useful for reading flow and weather before deciding whether park access is worth the effort.
- NPS says winter hiking conditions can include high fast water and bridge removal. Check current park conditions before the trip.
- Cell coverage is limited and should not be treated as reliable emergency support.
- Stay on developed trails and avoid creating new paths through sensitive floodplain habitat.
- This is a conservation-sensitive creek. A legal opening does not mean every fishable-looking spot should be pressured.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 8 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report uses official regulation, flow, weather, access, and public-source material first, then adds practical angler planning guidance without replacing current rules.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
Can you fly fish Redwood Creek year round?
No. Access, low-flow rules, and fish-protection concerns can all limit when the creek is legally or responsibly fishable.
What gauge should I use?
Use RiverReports and USGS 11482500 at Orick, then confirm the official low-flow status before making the drive.
Is this a good numbers-trout creek?
Not usually. Redwood Creek is better approached as a sensitive salmonid planning water than as an easy-volume trout destination.
What is the biggest mistake anglers make here?
Treating an open trail or a pretty chart as permission to ignore low-flow rules, seasonal access limits, or visible fish stress.