Klamath River Fishing Report | September 15, 2025
The report at a glance
Presentation
Drift boat fishing over the pods. The key is staying on top of the fish as they move up the river.
Advice for this week
Stay on top of those fish. When you can follow a pod as it moves up the river, you can have an epic day. When they push way up and out of your stretch, the bite falls off, so keep relocating with the run.
What is changing
The recent full moon and big tides brought big pods of kings into the system, and the fish shift up the river fast.
Next week
Jerry expects another batch of fish to push in this week and planned to run up to the Rogue on Monday. Watch the tides and the next moon push for the next wave of kings.
Notable catch
On Wednesday a drift boat of three landed 20-plus kings and three steelhead in the afternoon.
The Klamath River king run turned on big in mid-September 2025. A full moon and big tides pushed large pods of kings in, and Capt. Jerry Lampkin's drift boat landed 20 plus kings and three steelhead in one afternoon. Steelheading stayed good too. The catch depends on staying on the moving pods, since later in the week the fish pushed way up the river and the numbers dropped off. More fish should arrive with the next tides.
Are king salmon in the Klamath River?
Yes, big time. A recent full moon and big tides brought large pods of kings into the lower Klamath. Capt. Jerry Lampkin's boat of three landed 20 plus kings and three steelhead in one afternoon. Anglers are not even targeting kings but cannot help hooking them.
How is steelhead fishing on the Klamath?
Still pretty good. Jerry is catching steelhead mixed with the kings, including a 19-inch fish on a slower day. The kings have stolen the show with the tides, but steelhead remain in the system and keep coming to the boat alongside the salmon.
How do you catch the Klamath kings?
Stay on the pods. When a wave of fish is in, staying on them as they move upriver makes for an epic day of 20 plus kings. Lose them and the bite drops fast. Jerry went from 20 plus one day to five, then two as the pods pushed up.
Why did the bite slow later in the week?
The pods moved. Wednesday and Thursday produced 20 plus kings, but by Friday it was five kings and Saturday just two with a steelhead. The fish had moved way up the river. Boats that ran up after them found the better action.
When will the next fish arrive?
Jerry expects another batch of kings to push in with the tides this week. He also planned to run up to the Rogue River to try for one for the barbecue. The Klamath run moves in waves, so timing the fresh pods is everything.
What is the Klamath outlook?
Good, in waves. Kings are running strong on the big tides and steelhead are mixed in, but you have to stay on the moving pods. Fresh fish should arrive with the next tides. Exact water conditions were not specified in this report.
Watch the full report
Klamath River September 15, 2025 FAQ
Yes. A full moon and big tides pushed large pods in, and Jerry's boat landed 20 plus kings in one afternoon.
Yes, steelheading is still pretty good, with steelhead mixed in among the kings including a 19-inch fish.
The kings move in pods. Stay on them for an epic day, but once they push upriver the numbers drop fast.
From 20 plus kings Wednesday and Thursday down to five Friday and two Saturday as the fish moved way up the river.
He planned to wait for another batch of fish on the tides and run up to the Rogue River on Monday.
Specific lures were not specified in this report.
Jerry Lampkin of TNG Guide Service.
