Migrating, jumping fish in Bay Area

One of the Bay Area’s newest winter thrills is also one of its oldest: watching migrating salmon jump, swim and pool.

The best prospects are for coho salmon in January in Marin, for steelhead in February on the San Mateo and Santa Cruz county coast, and for rainbow trout from mid-February through March in the Oakland hills (no kidding). After the New Year’s floods, river flows are again ideal for the spectacle, not too high, not too low.

There are some 25 streams and creeks in the Bay Area that attract migrating coho salmon, steelhead or rainbow trout. In ancient times, the winter arrival of salmon was a landmark event, and the Ohlone and Costanoans would net fish to provide food for months. In most cases, fishing no longer is permitted, but the excitement over sightings has become a cult event.

Here are the five best spots and how to reach them:

1. Shafter Bridge/Inkwells: From Shafter Bridge, you often can spot 2-foot coho salmon, the adults colored a bright maroon, jumping through a set of small waterfalls called the Inkwells. Last January, more than 450 coho were counted. This spot is well known and sometimes crowded on weekends, with viewers oohing and ahhing as if watching Fourth of July fireworks.

   — Getting there: Take U.S. 101 to Marin and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Turn west and drive through Lagunitas and continue to the second metal bridge (light green). This is Shafter Bridge. Turn left immediately after bridge to parking lot. (415) 488-9897 or parks.ca.gov.

2. Roy’s Pools/San Geronimo: This spot is a local legend, where coho salmon and steelhead will jump through a series of pools to pass a former dam site. A fish ladder is available, but it seems that the salmon don’t use it if stream flows are high enough to jump the pools.

   — Getting there: From Marin, take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west to Fairfax and continue 5 miles to Nicasio Valley Road (just beyond golf course). Turn left and drive short distance to San Geronimo Valley Drive. Turn left and park along road and view from bridge. (415) 488-0370 or SpawnUSA.org.

3. Redwood Creek, Oakland: Wild fish in Oakland? That’s right. A native strain of wild rainbow trout that migrates upstream from Upper San Leandro Reservoir can be spotted in pools in Redwood Creek in Redwood Regional Park, and occasionally even jumping up the steps of an old-style wood fish ladder to reach spawning areas.

   — Getting there: From Bay Bridge, take Interstate 580 to the exit for 35th Avenue. Take that exit to the stop sign, turn left on 35th Avenue, and drive up the hill to Skyline. Continue straight (the road becomes Redwood Road) and drive two miles to the park entrance on the left. (510) 482-6024 or ebparks.org.

4. Lagunitas Creek/Samuel P. Taylor: With luck in late January, you can see the fish spawn in an area adjacent to the park entrance. A pretty creekside walk set beneath a redwood canopy also provides glimpses.

   — Getting there: From Marin, take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west and drive 14.5 miles to the park entrance on the left. (415) 488-9897 or parks.ca.gov.

5. Pescadero Creek/Portola State Park: The headwaters of Pescadero Creek are hidden in a gorgeous redwood canyon near La Honda in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Steelhead arrive and spawn in late winter and spring, and the Pomponio Trail and Bridge Trail provides the best viewing prospects.

   — Getting there: From San Francisco, take Interstate 280 to Woodside and the exit for Highway 84/Woodside Road. Take that exit and drive 2 miles into Woodside. Continue on Highway 84 for 13 miles to La Honda and continue short distance to Pescadero Road. Turn left and go one mile to junction. Bear right and go 4.2 miles to Wurr Road (signed Portola State Park). Turn left and drive quarter-mile to entrance. (650) 948-9098 or

   parks.ca.gov.

   “The Great Outdoors With Tom Stienstra” airsat 6:30 p.m. Sundays on KBHK (Channel 44).

   Tom Stienstra’s Outdoors Report can be heard at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 12:35 p.m. Saturdays on KCBS (740 AM).

Best of the rest

• Redwood Creek (coho salmon), Muir Woods National Monument, Marin
• San Pedro Creek (steelhead), San Pedro County Valley Park, Pacifica
• Waddell Creek (steelhead), Rancho Del Oso/Big Basin Redwoods, Santa Cruz coast
• San Lorenzo River (steelhead), Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz Mountains

Naturalist-led tours

10 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekends, Lagunitas/San Geronimo creeks, $10 donation, $6 children; reservations required: Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, (415) 488-0370; SpawnUSA.org.