Klamath kayak fishing for Steelies

I recently bumped across this article (link below) and might head for the Klamath this weekend.  Has anyone kayak fished the Klamath below Iron Gate?  Anyone interested?  I'm primarily a fly fisherman single hand and Spey but, I'll pick up a gear when it makes the difference between action and no action.

http://www.norcalfishingnews.com/stories/klamath_river_kayak_fishing__a_challenge_and_a_thrill?id=1513

I've fished a fair amount from Blue Creek to the mouth in my yaks.  That article is talking about the area about half way between those places.  It's big water, but you have the potential to find some good casting areas.

This time of year up there can be pretty dicey with increased runoff and decreased temps.

Good luck if you go.   

I've kayak-fished the lower river (Klamath Glen area) and the middle river up towards Orleans.  The Orleans section is pretty sweet.  When I fished up there this time of year in 2012, we practically had the entire river to ourselves and there were plenty of adult steelhead on the chew, not to mention oodles of halfpounders.  The float from the Orleans bridge down to Ullathorne is easy and has some great riffles and runs.  I've never fished the upper river near Iron Gate, though I imagine it could be crowded up there with salmon fishermen.

If you do the Orleans section, you also have the Salmon River a short drive away.  Not really kayak-friendly, but the water is pure and so are the fish.  It just opened a few days ago.  I'd like to make a trip over there sometime this month, if I do I'll let you know and maybe we can hook up for a float!

And it looks like there is a new licensed guide on the block ... http://klamathkayakfishing.com/

-Allen

I've floated the iron gate to i5 section before. The flows are regulated by iron gate and there are no tributaries to speak of to increase runoff until the Shasta river, downstream of i5.  So what you see when you put in is what you get. I haven't fished it yet, will get around to it one of these years.

I've done IG to Klamathon bridge alot, easy paddle, some standing waves near cable hole but you can stay out of most of it by staying left. Below 1000CFS it gets boney toward the bottom about a mile before the bridge so stay alert for rocks right below surface, shreds up drift boats. Also, don't miss the take out, it can be kinda tricky if you're not paying attention or never done it before, stay right when you get near bridge.. If you miss it you'll go to a nice class II rapid right below.

Private property both sides, not a whole lot of swing water but enough to bring the spey rod. Being able to anchor up is nice in a back eddy.

Salmon anglers almost done up there, eggs and legs is all you need or some classic klamath swing flies for steelies. My guide buddy had a client land a 10lb hatchery fish last week, rare to be that big up there, probably a 1% fish...

i might be over there or on the trinity end of next week.

I think I'd want to go with someone rather than taking a stab at it alone the first time.   It's a little late in the year to go for a swim.  Time is short and if I'm going to do this I'll need to load up my gear this afternoon.  My base is SoCal and I have business in the Bay Area tomorrow so that's halfway there.

If there was more time I'd drag the Rivercat up there and run it a couple times before attempting the with my Hobie.  Anyone know of shuttle services in the area? 

It's looking like I might need to just take a couple rods and waders to check these sections out better from the bank.

I have a cabin up there and know people up so I don't usually need a shuttle but I did use a guy last year when everyone was busy. He has a couple of signs near the klamathon bridge on south side, dont seem to have saved his #. I talked to some people before using him and they said he's reliable.

IG to KB there is very little shore access, KB to I5 there is some nice water you can get to on the road on the south side.

Hope you're planning on paddling the hobie, it's not a river that the mirage drive would work. Based on what I'm hearing, right now if I were you I would road fish the trinity or fish lower sac around redding, it's closer. If you have the time you can fish Trinity then fish klamath back to I5.

goodluck

That run is pretty mellow.  I have fished it from my drift boat a number of times and the biggest issue is where to spend your time.  There is a lot of good fly water, but how do you decide which ones deserve the attention?  The steelies tend to stack up in the upper areas.
   One thing about the Klamath in general......don't just go prospecting without research.   It is very remote  and has some of the most difficult/dangerous rapids I have floated or been thru with a guide.
Granted it's not like the South Fork of the Smith, or Salmon, but it has big powerful water, particularly upstream from Somes Bar.

Hope you're planning on paddling the hobie, it's not a river that the mirage drive would work. Based on what I'm hearing, right now if I were you I would road fish the trinity or fish lower sac around redding, it's closer. If you have the time you can fish Trinity then fish klamath back to I5.

All of the above.  Leave the Mirage Drive at home unless you're doing the lowermost stretches of the Klamath.  And if I had to choose between the Klamath and the Trinity, I'd choose Trinity.  Easy, public bank access for several miles along Hwy 299.  You can also kayak fish some sections of the Trinity, though I'm unaware of shuttle services in the area.  If you did the Del Loma to Slide Hole run you could run the shuttle yourself with a bicycle  .  But really, it's a helluva lot easier to just shore-fish it and drive from spot to spot.

As luck goes sometimes, the trip is no longer looking good due to some developments at work this afternoon.  I appreciate all the feedback.

 Maybe we can get a yak group together next August or September on the K.   Guess I'll have to wait for winter steelhead action in the NW to get my fix for chrome.

If my trip is somehow still on I'll toss in a couple of rods.  The Trinity sounds like a good option.  Thanks for the info.

Hope you're planning on paddling the hobie, it's not a river that the mirage drive would work. Based on what I'm hearing, right now if I were you I would road fish the trinity or fish lower sac around redding, it's closer. If you have the time you can fish Trinity then fish klamath back to I5.

All of the above.  Leave the Mirage Drive at home unless you're doing the lowermost stretches of the Klamath.  And if I had to choose between the Klamath and the Trinity, I'd choose Trinity.  Easy, public bank access for several miles along Hwy 299.  You can also kayak fish some sections of the Trinity, though I'm unaware of shuttle services in the area.  If you did the Del Loma to Slide Hole run you could run the shuttle yourself with a bicycle  .  But really, it's a helluva lot easier to just shore-fish it and drive from spot to spot.

If you call the Junction City store 530 623 2803 the owner (or maybe friend?) will pick up your car and bring it down to the bottom of your float for a pretty cheap price. A guide on the Sacramento told us about him last time we were in the area. I talked to him and he was really nice, but we ended up deciding to bank fish.