<p>Potamodromous fish populations that complete their life cycles in freshwater can home to specific areas for reproductive and non-reproductive reasons. This literature review synthesizes evidence regarding homing by potamodromous trout (genus <i>Oncorhynchus</i>) and char (genus <i>Salvelinus)</i> in Pacific drainages in Canada and the USA. The review evaluates the methods used to study homing, the prevalence of homing, the mechanisms of homing, and factors that affect the prevalence of homing at the population level. Tools and techniques used to study homing in potamodromous trout and char included tagging, telemetry, behavioural experiments, otolith microchemistry, and genetics. Quantitative estimates of rates of homing were surprisingly rare and varied considerably between species and populations. There were very few studies of the mechanisms or cues used for homing by potamodromous trout and char. However, evidence suggests that well-studied mechanisms of reproductive homing by anadromous salmonids (Salmonidae) also apply to some degree to potamodromous trout and char. Anadromous salmonids are known to use olfactory navigation to imprinted chemical cues in natal stream water, with amino acids considered the primary constituents used for navigation. Conspecific cues play a complementary or secondary role in navigation. Characteristics of the habitat, such as stability over time, and life history, such as variation in age-at-maturity, are the main factors affecting population-level rates of homing for potamodromous trout and char. This review highlights current knowledge gaps and suggests directions for future research on homing in potamodromous fishes.</p>