Weekly Fishing Report For

Coho Salmon Season
June 20 to August 31, 2009
Limit is 2 fish 16 inches and over, healed adipose finclipped

King Salmon season
August 29 to September 7, 2009

August 29 to August 31, 2009
Limit 1 Chinook & 1 Coho or 2 Chinook or 2 Coho

Mar 2nd, 2010 - Chetco River:

The Chetco went from a mundane 2100 cfs to a 14000 plus swollen torrent of water within ten hours, Even though the Chetco more times than not drops in fairly quick anglers have been faced with low fish counts all season compared to years past. Several anglers along the Social Security bar said a few days here and there of watching boaters produce a three fish day here and maybe a five fish only to be zipped for the next seven days does not spell a stellar season by any means, the Chetco is hurting and both guides and anglers at times are trying hard for a hookup. What fish are being caught now are mostly comprised of down running steelhead heading down river to get back into the saltwater, we hope everyone releases them.

Anglers should target fish in defused light areas and tailouts avoiding fish now on their redds, anglers should try to avoid from disturbing them, let them make more.

Local anglers further voiced concerns over the Chetco next year will face additional pressure due to its neighbor the Smith River just across the border is going to no retention of “Wild” steelhead. Guides and anglers alike are concerned this will place additional pressure on Oregon's Chetco River "Wild" steelhead stock. As anglers driving to California's Smith River if coming up empty handed they will cross the border and hook a "Wild" steelhead killing it to take home. Expect to see additional steady pressure on the Chetco next season.

Rogue River:

Guides and anglers were seeing scattered results while on the hook and working plugs near willow lines throughout the lower section but this has slowed.

The Mouth of the Rogue is very shallow when the surf is up and rough expect to see a slow in fishing action, it is thought fish will hold off instead of getting pounded and crossing the bar.

Middle Rogue anglers should see some fresh fish as they make their way up river after this last storm front, plug pullers and yarnny side drifters should be able to get into a few fish by the weekend.

Grants Pass anglers have been seeing some fairly to good action but is dictated by the up river dam releases and Lost lake. Anglers might see an increase in action as river levels drop into shape for anglers and a fair crack at winter chrome.

Feb 22nd, 2010 - The Chetco River after the last storm has been on a steady drop out in both river levels and color. When a river has a one to three foot visibility your offerings should be larger, the clearer the water the smaller and less bold they should be.

The Chetco has only made the fair rating this season, anglers and guides say they just didn't see the numbers as in past years; some have been successful with up to 5 hook ups a day only to see success slip away with the next outing.

Anglers and guides reports paint the seasons picture, they have been spotty all season long. The Chetco, Smith, Elk and Rogue are fishing. Reports said both the Elk and Sixes saw more hatchery fish than in years past.

We do have a yet another storm system brewing off shore but it appears to be weak at this time. Anglers could see could some rain to the area and possibly additional color and flow. The Chetco's is winding down, anglers are seeing more and more down running fish, what fresh fish entering the system have been between six to 12 pounds, anglers should employ the basics, bank anglers drift fishing will find additional success over plunkers due to covering more water. Drifting a plump crawler with a tag end in clear water will produce fish, when water is colored ad a small yarn ball with it.

Drifters fishing above the Ice Box Bridge from the Low water Bridge to Nook and Redwood are seeing less traffic but the success is scattered. Drifters using yarnnies have been connected on upper river fish.

Reports say plunkers at Social Security are catching fish each day as they move through the lower system. One must take into account the number of fish taken by the number of anglers times hours spent fishing, this also equates into an over all fair rating.

Feb 17th, 2010 - Chetco River

Some of the last storm started to skirt the Smith and Chetco River then turned and slammed her home. The Chetco was hovering right at the 2,300 cfs mark and fish were being taken by both bank and boaters for fair to good action above the Redwood area up river to low water Bridge, then the river began to rise. Driftboaters and plunkers once the Chetco stabilizes should be back in the hunt for some continued success for February steelhead on the Chetco. Anglers are picking up an increased number of down running fish as this is the time of year when many fish are making their way back down stream to the salt, many anglers put these fish back to instill hearty genetics' to return to the river next year.

The Chetco has picked up the pace over the past week as many boaters were reporting between 2 to 3 hook ups. Anglers should note in the past the Chetco had seen some dismal times only to heat up as February's end nears and March slide into play, don't count this river out yet.

The Smith over the past seven days has also seen an increase in both hatchery and Wild fish. Some areas such as the Ruby Run and the Peacock area have been a pretty consistent producer of bright fish as is the lower area just above the 101 bridge.

Feb 8th, 2010 - South Coast steelhead tough bite at times

With the combination of rough sea’s holding that next shot of fresh fish outside the Chetco is far from being a hot bed of action, anglers probably will not see action graded above a fair to slow rating until a blend of the following conditions present themselves such as CFS, River Level or more humdrum sea conditions.

At times the Chetco is seeing more than 50 boats crowding the water which further equates into the already tough times. Unless you’re dialed into all the tricks the Chetco conceals, only a hand full of guides and anglers will continue to connect. One to two hook ups per outing, sometimes more is a good day.

Some plunkers are seeing success while camping out in fish lanes along the bottom end of the river such as the lower end of Social Security Take out in the Willow line the Gate hole and the North Fork. Anglers targeting the South Bank should take a good look at the South water tower area as well as the Piling Hole Road. Plunkers are using larger offerings as water levels rise and color up reversing, going smaller as conditions clear and subside. Some plunkers have scored on a fairly consistent basis but this does not dictate the over all evaluation on this river considering the number of both boater angers and bankies.

Moving up the coast anglers will see success on both the Elk and Sixes these two rivers for their size hold some good numbers of chromers, the only down side is they are both small rivers, boat capacity is will get crowded and bank angler access is limited. Both of these rivers last week while on the drop fished very well with a good rating and well worth the effort.

The Smith River saw a 20 plus pound steelhead and two others that tipped the scales in the upper teens that were released. Two of the larger fish came while side drifting yarn balls.

Coquille River: Silver seekers are seeing some pretty darn good numbers while side-drifting. This river is one of only a few that has been a consistent producer of steelhead this season. Two top methods of take are drifted eggs and hot shot plugs.

The Rogue River:

The lower 9 miles of the Rogue continues to be pretty consistent catch wise as some jet boaters are targeting slots where running plugs seems to be out fishing most bait offering at this time. Anglers shouldn’t be gun shy and incorporate techniques and methods from their home systems. When fishing any system anglers should make a mental note if water is running high fish the edges regardless of how wide the river is. These fish will more times than not be moving up a willow line is very shallow water. Fish are also coming from the North slot and above the fairy hole. Plunkers fishing along gravel bars are taking some bright fish up to 12 pounds, expect action to continue as levels drop and she clears up, it’s a scattered bite from Orchard bar all the way up river to the Agness area.

Dave Pitts said on a recent drive up the Rogue talking with boaters who are fishing on the hook they are seeing three to five fish at times depending on the flow and weather.

Cop Car Hot Shots or anything Metalic gold or silver with metallic red on the back. Side drifters using eggs are producing chromers but plugs are king at this time. Drifters from Grants Pass have been doing well for winter chrome. Side drifting yarneys has been the most productive method but anglers tossing spoons and spinners are also connecting. Remember, one wild steelhead per day may be retained below Gold Ray Dam.

Jan 25th, 2010 - Night Crawlers, Roe and Sand shrimp tails Oh My!

The Chetco River has been kicking out some fair to middlin winter steelhead to plunkers, especially fishing both the lower and upper ends of the Social Security Bar where the willows line good slots. Plunkers began scoring on bright steelhead when flows were in excess of 5,000 cfs and they continue to do so.

Plunkers fishing the Loeb State Park are also seeing some fair to good action at times. Within a period of an hour and a half seven anglers had been hooked up and broke off or had one on the bank. Most of the chromers are averaging between four to 12 pounds. Method of take depending on the flow could be sinker a weight between four to 10 ounces.

Size 2 and 4 spin n glo's or the old style Birdies that once flooded the market are scoring on some fish. Anglers should note the "New Two Rod permit" here in Oregon is not for coastal rivers, you will be cited please make a note of this.

Night crawlers, Roe and Sand shrimp tails were all being used for hook ups.

Drift boaters fishing the higher water did see limited action at best and will be waiting for the levels to stay between 2200 and 3800 cfs.

Over all Chetco anglers are seeing fair action. Anglers should expect to see the Chetco fluctuate with inland rains.

Conditions are looking better on the Elk and Sixes, flows over the weekend looked good as did the color, with more rain in the forecast anglers should keep an eye on this system it clears off very fast and can offer some great opportunity for winter steelhead in a day's notice. Expect to see both "Wild" and hatchery Steelhead on the Sixes and Elk, more than a dozen hatchery Steelhead have been taken on the Sixes by boaters.

Jan 19th, 2010 - Chetco River Steelhead

Southern Oregon anglers understand each river will have an assortment of levels and flows, each with its own prime time.

The Chetco is forecasted to rise once to around 8,000 cfs, plunkers should have an first-rate chance to hook into a few bright chromers including the small push of hatchery steelhead that entered the sytem before the storm hit. Anglers and guides throughout the first part of the season saw well over 95% wild fish, with the hatchery taken just starting to pick up as the storm slammed into us here on the South Coast. Records indicate the winter steelhead run should improve throughout January's end and through the first part of February being the apex.

Anglers should also note the Chetco is a shallow bar, when surfs exceed fifteen to twenty feet many believe this will hold fish outside and not entering the Chetco or other coastal rivers along the Oregon and Nor/Calif. Coast. When this happens anglers targeting the Chetco should head higher in the system to the Low water bridge and Nook Bar area to launch staying in the upper river will also help out with less wind and seeing fish that were in the lower section that have moved up river.

The flow on the Chetco will dictate how and where you fish.

Rogue River.

Once she stabilizes plunkers will take off right where they left it before this last storm system hit. Orchard bar, what they call "The High Bank" Coyote riffle area and Lobster Creek were producing but then slacked off a little, persistent banksters saw fair numbers of fresh steelhead and had better success with zip line plugs. Hookups will improve as flows slow and color up baits and plugs will absolutely put some fish on the bank.

California's Smith River is also seeing some hard times due to weather systems dumping rain and raising water levels. Keep an eye on this river as weather systems move through, look for that emerald green tint and get the roe ready.

Jan 11th, 2010 - Chetco River

The Chetco river just started fishing last week, by the weeks end the rivers color had that Kenai green tint to it.

As always this time of year the Chetco will see chocolate colored water as mud slides from time to time will plague the system from heavy rains.

As waters subsided dropped out and gained good color anglers saw a fresh shot of hatchery steelhead.

Steelheading on the Chetco is not a good rating, after speaking with dozens of bank and boaters they rate the action to be fair and hoping to increase to a good rating.

Although a few anglers who have the touch are seeing at times two fish one day four the next and then it drops off to we had one on and lost it is not a consistent average of good to excellent.

Guides and anglers who are the first on the water or pushing down river to get in front of all the others are the ones getting the hook ups, other wise chances decrease. Some anglers say there just isn't enough fish in the system it's a Chetco thing, the Smith usually produces first and the Chetco plays catch up, this is nothing new, expect the Chetco to see some good days as the end of January slides into view.

Remember, more fish will be taken in less days fished by those angler targeting apex times which include the run, water flow and water color in less than those anglers fishing every day during inopportune conditions. Numbers of days fished does not equate into more fish caught. Watch the above mentioned determining factors to see more fish on your table.

Plunkers during high waters of 4,500 cfs and above will see more success than boaters, as the Chetco continues its drop expect boaters to see increased action.

The water table on the Chetco is saturated which means water levels will drop slowly.

Upper river anglers are seeing better success although still considered to be in the slow to fair stage, less traffic and more suitable for fly casters.

Jan 5th, 2010 - Coastal Steelhead Rivers: The fuse is lit!

Before you wet a line make sure you have your 2010 fishing license and salmon / steelhead tag.

When ever the Chetco and Smith see huge water volume numbers as anglers did, get ready. Both of these rivers drop back in fast and usually with that, comes fresh fish

The Chetco saw 36,000 cfs while its neighboring river to the South the Smith delt to contained 60,000 cfs. Imagine all of that fresh water sent traveling out into the near by Pacific Ocean for dime bright chromers to hone in on. Expect a good showing of wild steelhead to pour into the Chetco over the next few weeks as long as other weather systems stay away.

Chetco steelheaders should get primed and ready to roll as water levels are dropping quickly, just prior to the storm Tom Tutthill, Bradey Tutthill and McKenna Tutthill of Murphys California hit the Chetco and connected on a big 17 plus pound bright steelhead. Large fish are in the system and with the high water we just received many and there are more to come. Mid- January through mid - February has always been the best time to connect on large Steelhead.

Successful plunkers correlate the fact that steelhead are not traveling in the main high flow current, try fishing between 6 to 8 feet off of the bank, steelhead will be traveling more times than not in water less than three feet in depth. Most of these areas also are what they call cut banks which offer defused light and darker deeper slots that are well out of the main rivers flows, softer water. As the river continues to drop out anglers will have to adjust, fire and place their offerings out further depending on the rivers bottoms contour.

Plunkers should note you should be fishing in 6,500 cfs and below and you will catch fish and targeting areas on the Chetco such as the North Fork and Willows on the North Bank and the South Water Tower on the South are the areas that will provide action.

By the third day of the New Year rains had stopped and the Chetco was well on its way to dropping back into shape at 7,500 cfs.

The Smith River at Jed Smith Park topped out just over 22 feet.

Smith River anglers should also be aware of the New Regulations coming on board :

March 1, 2010, anglers will no longer be required to display their sport fishing license.

Below are freshwater sportfishing regulation changes for the Smith River that will become effective on March 1, 2010.

1. A North Coast Salmon Report Card will be required for the Klamath, Trinity as well as the Smith River.
2. No retention of wild trout or steelhead on the Smith River.
3. The daily bag limit will be 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead with no more than 4 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead in possession.
4. 1 Chinook salmon and no more than 5 wild Chinook salmon per
5. Barbless hooks will be required year round on the Smith River (which eliminates second rod stamp option).

Steelheading on the Coos has been slow to fair. East Fork Millacoma is producing a few steelhead but remains thick with wild coho.

Rogue River
Anglers should note, you can now keep steelhead that are non-adipose fin-clipped (Wild) as long as they are a minimum size of 24 inches.

Plunkers should prep for this water way to take off as she drops back in. Spin N Glows from Orchard and Huntley park

Dec 28th, 2009 - The next seven days look good for both the Chetco and Smith Rivers

Last week one of the most productive methods was boondoggling. This can and is a very productive method for steelhead especially on the Chetco River when she is just a touch high. Anglers began connecting on bright mint steelhead right out of the ocean as high waters subsided. Plunkers are always more productive fishing higher water than boaters. Bank anglers tapping both the Social Security takeout and the North Fork which is approximately 1.5 miles above Social Security at the fresh water intake for the City of Brookings began hooking fish just as the Chetco dropped below the 5,200 cfs mark.

Plunkers saw success on smaller but very fresh and bright steelhead in the five pound range with a few nice chromers above eleven pounds.

Guide Jim Burn of Sure Bite Guide Service told WONS Dave Pitts he loves the high water, in fact he connects on fish when the Chetco is in excess of 6,000 cfs. This held true as Burn connected clients into a limit of chrome steelhead, Burn works tight on high water seams especially in the little bit of slack water that was offered in front of the Chetco Rivers North Fork.

Over the next week expect to see the Chetco to continue to slide out and drop with a slight rise towards the weeks end.

As January comes into view larger so will steelhead. Anglers will also find a more consistent flow to be able to targets Steelhead. Boaters back bouncing and side drifting will be the ones to connect on holding fish as they work their ways up the Chetco and into the upper reaches.

Plunkers using Spin N Glow rigs, zip line rigs and drifting a soft seam will continue to see success. Bank anglers should target the following areas, South Side water tower, Social Security and the North Fork.

Boaters have several options here, starting a long drift from the South Fork, Low water bridge area to Social Security or from red Wood or Nook to Social security, Ice Box to Social or from the Piling Hole to Social Security.

These areas that will put fish in your box while fishing the Chetco.

The Smith continues to produce fish from the forks down river just below the Hiouchi Bridge.

Side drifters should look at water color to prepare from proper method adjustments and lure or puffball sections. The Smith was very muddy but is coming back in now and should continue to improve over the next week.

Remember steelheading on the Smith will only get better as weeks go on.

The Umpqua dropped sufficiently to fish over the past weekend. It's still off-color and water conditions will continue to improve as more winter steelhead enter the system.

The mainstem, South Fork and East Fork Coquille have been producing winter steelhead as the run gets underway.

Coos anglers are hooking a few, E. Fork Millacoma anglers have been kicking out winter chromers and catching remarkable numbers of wild coho.

Dec 21st, 2009 - The Chetco River should be prime for Christmas Fishing

Just when you think the run is over not just another king but a monster is hooked up. While fishing at the Freeman Hole on the Chetco local Brookings angler Gary Smith connects into a 53.09 pound king. This big Chinook was bright with sea lice and was taken while plunking roe.

The Chetco is notorious for seeing its first shot of winter run steelhead moving into the lower section from Rivers Edge RV up through the North Fork. Within this stretch of the Chetco angler plunk especially from two area’s, the Social Security Take Out Bar approximately 4 miles up the North Bank and the North fork which is at the base of the City of Brookings water intake just a mile past Social security. Social Security anglers plunk with size 4 Tequila Sunrise, Stop N Go and metal fusion which is a metallic fire pink.

Anglers tip their spin n glows with roe and night crawlers some use rags, but most everyone uses scent. Here are a few tips to put the odds in your favor, Inject real crawlers with scent Anise plus Oil, Sand Shrimp Oil, Shrimp/Prawn Oil. If you’re a pink work person place those in a zip lock bag over night in Sand Shrimp Bait Sauce, Steelhead Combo or smear them with a light coating of a gel scent You hook ups will increase.

What first time anglers to the Chetco need to remember is prime Drift boater water is between 1,400 to 4,000cfs. Anything below this value make sure you have hip boots on because there is a change you will have to get out and scrape or push in a few areas. If you insist on fishing above the 4,000 cfs value, find those areas close to cut banks and the mouths of tributaries flowing into the Chetco, holding fish will use these areas to stage in or rest. Fish the soft side of seams, these fish are conserving energy and will stay out of the main current if possible.

Boaters back bouncing roe are picking up a few fish on the Chetco, expect the Chetco to continue to produce fish and have additional fish entering the system as rains come and flows continue to stay above the 1,500 foot cfs value. Plunkers are able to produce a successful day when flows are as high as 6,000 cfs. WONS Dave Pitts said one key component many bankies should put to use is when flows are up more times than not steelhead will be traveling right off of the bank and well inside of where they are tossing their offerings.

Winter steelhead will travel in water less than three feet in depth.

As stated earlier they are conserving energy for their spawning. Pitts said he observes far too many bank anglers and for that matter boaters fishing in to deep of water.

Take into account the rivers current where you cast and where your offering ends up, it will swing your line from 12:00 to three.

One particular morning Pitts took his daughter Crystal steelheading when she was small, anglers were wading way out , she insisted on casting herself which ended up well behind wading anglers and in water less than three feet deep. Within the next hour she hooked two nice steelhead. One angler turned around and netted the fish for us.

Soon there after most of these anglers moved back.

Smith River

The Chetcos evil twin to the south the Smith River is also a producer of bright steelhead. Last week she kicked out a few mixed bag limits to anglers fishing above and below the Outhouse hole. Salmon that were boated were tinted, no fresh fish were reported this is short lived, kings for all practical purposes are done for the season but Mother Nature always seems to throw anglers a bone once in a while.

WONS Dave Pitts hit the Smith where he and friends connected on three dandy mint bright steelhead including two dark kings that were returned, the trio connected while side drifting double cross rigs and bouncing roe. Fish were holding right off of the seam. One trick when using plunk and dunks or Bouncing Bettys and you just can’t quite get to the bottom of your favorite run is to use pencil lead drill through the ball horizontally with a bit that is the same size as the pencil lead now insert the lead through the ball and glue or silicone it in place, this will get ya there.

Drift boaters should take a good look at the waters between Jed Smith, the Cable hole, Peacock and taking out at Ruby.

Reports say Smith River Guide Kim Hagen had a good day on the water with a few nice steelhead

Anglers should start seeing a lot more fish after the rivers come back down, remember some but not many fish are taken on a rising river, most of the fish are always taken on a river that is dropping back into shape.

Both the Smith and Chetco once stabilized at that point and time it will be the turbidity or water clarity that anglers will need to watch. Regardless of plunking or boating if rivers clear don’t find yourself wearing bright colored clothing, they will see you and spook off.

As January comes into view so will larger steelhead and more of them. Start tying up those yarn balls and egg loop hooks, would rather have too many than not enough.

What dictates fresh fish entering any system are the following, river levels, weather/ rain and rough surfs at rivers mouths, salmon are more tolerant than steelhead of silt and sandy water conditions. Look towards fishing tributaries that flow into the main dirty or silted river, this is where fresh water is flowing, fish will seek these areas.

Merry Christmas and may your New Year be fill with many more hook ups and memories.

Dec 14th, 2009 - Photo: Brookings Guide Joe Whaley all 6 foot 2 of him hoding a 50 plus pound king taken on the Chetco targeting deep slots during low clear flows.

Sarah Karlona's with her first King salmon fishing with Guide Jimmy Dean on California's Smith River

Two Rivers compete

Southern Oregon's Chetco and Northern California Smith are separated by a short fifteen minute drive on 101 highway. They almost mirror one another with their flows but this season as she finally winds down the Smith has produced an incredible Chinook fishery and it continues. Guides Joe Whaley, Jim Burn and Jimmy Dean all produced multiple fish days for clients, not just one of two how about 50 to 100 fish days on all sizes of kings up to the mid to upper forty's.

Even with the freezing temperatures and extreme low flows of the past week knowing both the Chetco and Smith is a must. Watch the flows. Jordan and Sarah Karlon's and crew fished with Guides Jim Burn of Sure Bite Guide Service and Guide Jimmy Dean for an action packed day. While Dean and Burn's fished their clients Guide Joe Hooked his 80 year old clients into some line ripping action of their own catching fish after fish. The very next day Brookings Guide Joe Whaley headed to the Chetco where he fished Bill Ignatow and Wayne Barker. The first pass ignited their rods with explosive action of very large Chinook. By the days end Whaley and clients ended up with what we call in Southern Oregon 'Tonnage' for their limits. Kings above 25 pounds up past the 50 pound mark, over 100 pounds of kings within three fish. They targeted deep clear slots and over hangs using roe and low water plugs tricks.

The transition on the Chetco is in full swing now on both rivers as big kings are giving way to the silver bullets of the Pacific Northwest, steelhead, dime bright blinding fresh out of the ocean chromers. Many anglers fish that have already entered the Chetco are seeing very clear conditions, anglers should understand when fishing these types of conditions and not getting bite does not mean they were not interested in your offering as much as they saw you and moved. Bright clothing is not a good thing, earth tones, browns, greens, blacks and so on you get the picture. These fish can see for quite a distance, move slow, don't stand in boats, from the shore, walk in slow, scan the waters edges or from afar.

One technique WONS Dave Pitts uses when side drifting is to drill a hole horizontal and pull through a small piece of white yarn until you have approximately three eights of an inch protruding on each side this appears to be a white piece of skein especially tipped with some roe while back bouncing. Make sure you allow the interested fish a few seconds to take an extra bite , many anglers set up to fast pulling the offering right out of their mouths.

Remember these numbers when targeting the Chetco River, she is usually blown out after she reaches the magic number of 4,000 cfs she is usually to low to drift after the flow is below the 1250 cfs mark. Prime water on the Chetco is between 2200 cfs and 3300cfs.

The Smith River is good to side drift or back bounce once the flow is right around 1,800 CFS

Anglers fishing the Smith should look close at the Early Hole, Peacock and just below the Brundeen Hole.

As January swing around so will colder temperatures and more fish in both systems of the Chetco and Smith.

Curtis palmer of River Secrets Guide Service said the Umpqua was getting low and clear but he continued to hook steelhead on the Umpqua River out of Roseburg, he also tied into a few Coho in the 10 to 15 pound range that were released while back bouncing roe.

Remember if you're not going to eat it please don't kill it, take a picture and return it so your grand kids have the opportunity to hook into one of the gems of the North Coast.

Dec 7th, 2009 - Ice on the Chetco

It looks and feels just like prime time steelheading, Clear cold and low. Those three words describe the Chetco to a "T" at this time. The only problem is it is right at the transition between kings and chromers. There are Chinook redds in the river so expect a steelheadhead to soon be within close proximity very soon.

Steelhead have been entering the Chetco for a few weeks now.

According to the weather service the coastal southern Oregon area is looking at snow on and off for the next week with a possibility of some rain. Out of town anglers should understand before making the drive, when it snows here on the coast or holds frigid temperatures the Chetco River water level is usually low and very, very clear.

Each year the Chetco produces some World class Steelhead many of which are in the upper teens to low twenty pound class. Methods vary slightly from Salmon to steelhead on both the Chetco and its sister river just across the State line the Smith River.

Anglers canter towards side drifting techniques or back bouncing roe.

Low clear water dictates your offerings size to dime size and smaller hooks and line diameters.

Low clear conditions also dictate the length of your casts.

If we see rain expects the Chetco to begin to see an influx of bight chrome steelhead. Records indicate that January is the best month for steelhead angling on the Chetco and Smith Rivers but some pretty darn nice fish have been taken in the month of December.

Plunkers will also be connecting on their fair share of steelhead from several areas along the Chetco River, the South side pump house, Social Security bar and the Willows. These three areas alone in the lower section produce some beautiful fish.

The North Fork is another area anglers should concentrate on. Zip line rigs are the way to go as is side bouncing roe. One trick I was taught by the late Willie Illingsworth of Willie Boats is, when side drifting or back bouncing roe include a small piece of white yarn, it should not pass the belly of your hook. This is just another version of a flesh fly and resembles a piece of skein, it appears more natural to holding fish.

Other methods include Drift lures, other yarn applications Rags, Spinners and spoons, side planners, jigs, plugs and for those who don't fly fish but want to use the lingo; a plump Garden Hackle aka Night crawlers. My favorite is another method my grandfather used, it’s called a double Cross Rig and is very effective from bank or b oat, simply drill a small hole through your favorite colored corkie, using a sewing needle pull through it a piece of yarn. Trim it where approximately 1/4 inch is protruding from each side, Hold on!

Be patience, they're coming but dress warm, now it the time to ask the wife for that warm fishing jacket

Oregon Lakes anglers will see a change this year thanks to the efforts of Oregon Koaknee Powers Greg Graham & Rick Fielder who is also with Rogue Rods and Salmon Trout and Steelhead.com / WONs Dave Pitts pushed through the paper work to ODFW which adopted the new two rod permit. Anglers will now be able to not only fish Pitts who is a Kokanee and lake trout nut said this will not only boost revenue for ODFW but will allow lake anglers fishing both trout and Kokanee to target the mackinaw feeding below them.

Smith River California

Believe it or not Kings continue to bend rods. Many believed the run was fizzling out due to the lack of rain and low water levels, guides booking slowed to a crawl despite guide reassurance that they could connect clients into a day of quality salmon fishing.

Guides Jimmy Dean of Deans Drift boat guide service and Jim Burns of Sure Bite Guide service had a morning of down time. In less than two hours hooked released nine kings and boated their two kings that tipped the scales at more than twenty fish to thirty pounds each.

The Smith is also on the transition and tail end of the king run. It is going to be another good year; anglers should consider marking their calendars to hold a few days off for wetting a line on this river or booking with a guide.

Talking with hatchery personnel approximately 1,900 Chinook salmon have found their way back returning to the Smith rivers Rowdy Creek Hatchery.

Dec 1st, 2009 - Chetco River gives way to steelhead conditions

All within a seven day period anglers fishing Southern Oregons Chetco River witnessed a multitude of levels and clarities. The Chetco fished well at 2200cfs but rarely fishes well on a river rise above the 4,000 cfs mark. With a brief window of four hours she went from 2200 and sky rocketed above the 7,000 cfs mark. Debris from the rivers banks choked the water with plug fouling leaves and sticks, many large logs also navigated their way down the river past anglers.

Three days after this she dropped back into the prime zone of 2600 cfs to produce some big kings for Brookings Guide Joe Whaley. Every time you see this guy on the water look for bent rods. Whaley hooked fish for clients including a hawg for Brookings angler Wayne Barker in the mid forty pound range. Stan Easley also of Brookings fished several friends all of which connected on their one big wild fish between 31 and 42 pounds while targeting the soft side of the seam with mid water column baits. Pro Cures UV roe cure did the job in dark deep water. Bill Shelton of Shelton fishing Products and his wife Judy connected on three nice kings, one hatchery and two wilds.

Very large king salmon in the low thirties to mid-forties are still taking both bank and boat angler's but it has slowed down by 50% and most fish at this time are not the chrome but third place bronze to brown colored.

With salmon spawning yarn balls and roe work very well, WONS Dave Pitts Explains a trick he learned from a friend the late Willie Illingsworth. After tying your yarn balls take a lighter and hold the yarn ball above the flame just enough to where it heats up the very edges of the yarn follicle, be careful not to burn them, by doing this it makes them more buoyant and will present your offering in the target area such as when you back-bounce roe. Another is when you tie your egg loops, incorporate a short piece of white yarn, this small piece of yarn in combination with a glob of roe appears more natural as a piece of skein producing some bites during hard times.

Pulling plugs is always a great go to especially when water conditions are between 2000 cfs and 3500 cfs with a little color to the water. Anglers need to understand when flows are up in many parts of the river it creates a seam; these seams are the edge of faster water and slack water, resting areas.

When flows drop below the 1500 cfs mark the Chetco becomes a different animal and fishes differently. When the Chetco is this clear is usually means clear water, use smaller plugs they operate well in less current, long lining them gets them away from your boat so that spooky fish will not move on you, Mag Warts, small K-fish size 13 and under and hot shots will produce a biter.

As the Chetco continued to fall she will also clear up to the point many anglers began to have cravings for steelhead. As you know December means early steelhead, get the puffballs ready they usually come right in while kings are spawning.

Anglers fishing the upper Chetco by its new boundary of the Second bridge or as it is also known as the Ice Box Bridge drifted down to the Culvert hole found fish but most were bronze to dark on suspended baits and smaller plugs, catch and release.

Pitts used a trick that Guide Rich Mossholder taught him years ago was to long line plugs when a river is low, you don't free spool letting out a lot of line, there is a trick to it but is very effective.

Pitts said all of the fish we caught were tinted to dark, we released them all. Fish were taken in fast water, right on the bank and in the softer water, there are fish throughout the system, find the shallower faster water and look both above and below these areas for that resting area. Once again Pro cures UV roe cure with a little Krill power is a killer choice. This curing combo is also devastating for steelhead.

Back bouncing roe was another method that really produced some great action.

Bank anglers are connecting on zip line rigs, this is where you rig up with just a sinker tied to a leader to a barrel swivel casting it out. Now take your favorite plug or Spin n Glow bait with an approximate leader length of 24 to 36 inches with a bead chain swivel and snap swivel now reach up and clip this to your line and let it zip down once hitting the water the current will pull it down and into place.

Pitts continued by saying a great deal of the fish 90% you will be catching from Social Security all the way up to Ice Box will not be chrome.

The storm that is now hitting the South Coast is dumping enough rain inland that tributaries are flowing causing the Chetco to raise once again.

Pitts said I expect maybe one last shot of fresh fish to enter the Chetco, my fishing diary indicates she is pretty well finished by the first week in December transitioning into steelhead.

One quick method when using sand shrimp in that perfect stretch of river is don't hook them, simply lay them along the hook shank facing downward. Spider thread them to you line and hook, when you present them they appear natural and are moving. Far too many anglers hook into the body killing them right off of the bat. If a holding fish in there the slightest movement will trigger a take down.

The Elk and Sixes also fished okay, these two rivers rise and drop and clear up in a days notice, you really have to be on top of these two rivers but when a consistent flow is on so is the fishing.

Smith River

Guides Jimmy Dean and Gary Hix continue to produce fish for their clients, Dean was steady on fish in the mid twenties and low thirties three out of his last three times on the Smith for clients. It didn't mater if he fished above or below the 101 bridge. Roe, plugs and sand shrimp all produced kings for clients.

Gary Hix also had a good bite going for clients while fishing above the 101, most fish are coming from Ruby, Jed Smith all the way to the forks. Bankies saw some poundage as they fished the south side water tower with a spin n glow with roe. Expect the Smith to set in motion king faze out and opening its doors to Chrome Steelhead.