And if you are a beginner, we guarantee to shorten your learning curve! Winter steelhead are less likely to move for a fly than their fall counterpart, so getting your flies down to the fish is essential for success. The steelhead fishing on the Smith and Chetco rivers is the most popular fishing destinations in northern California and southern Oregon. It’s not only California's No. Western Water Guide Service When you arrive in camp at the end of each day, spacious two-person tents are Capt. Known as California's last wild river, the Smith River is one of the West Coast's top salmon and steelhead streams. The Smith Steelhead are among the largest in the state and the river holds the record at 27lbs 4oz as proof. Come spend a day fly fishing with us, where we pursue the most beautiful, hardest fighting Steelhead on the planet in surroundings that rival the beauty of the fish. Western Water Guide Service offers guided steelhead fishing trips in Oregon and California. The Smith is a natural freestone river where wild Rainbow and Brown trout thrive, eating everything from tiny mayflies to monster stone flies. Growing up in Brookings, Oregon, Andy Martin fishes his hometown waters during the fall salmon and winter steelhead seasons. Fly fishing has an immense literature devoted not only to tackle and technique but to individuals, specific waters, and particular fish. We Are The Smith River Fly Fishing Experts, Call Us For Updates & Reports The Smith River In Northern California is located 12 miles northeast of Crescent City in Del Norte County. The Smith River holds the California state record steelhead, which is 28.5 pounds. Andy will anchor in the travel lanes during high water and run baits to intercept moving fish. Two to three days of guided fishing are recommended to provide a good opportunity at ideal river conditions and productive fishing. Winter steelhead hold close to the bottom and won’t move far to chase a fly… By drift boat you will float one of many beats of river the California Coast has to offer. Steelhead fishing techniques are side-drifting roe, and fly fishing, the famous Battle Creek stretch. The Smith's steelhead fishing is a challenge, but many anglers accept it when the steelhead run strong from January through March. He surely must have visited the beautiful Lost Coast of Northern California! Spend four days floating the 43 miles of protected waters while fly fishing for half-pounder and adult steelhead fresh out of the ocean. Everything is up to date and double-checked to provide you with a safe and rewarding experience that the entire family can enjoy. A short distance south of the Smith, the Klamath River is well known for its beautiful canyons and runs of Chinook salmon, silver salmon, steelhead, and a … A Day of Fly Fishing for Winter Steelhead Each day you will meet your guide at a designated place at 6:30 a.m. You then follow your guide to one of five local rivers. The Smith is not an easy river to fly fish. To make a reservation, please give us a call at (530)-321-7452, or email us at wwgsflyfishing@gmail.com anytime. The Elk and Sixes both have late fall runs, peaking in December. The steelhead fishing on the Smith and Chetco rivers is the most popular fishing destinations in northern California and southern Oregon. A Day of Fly Fishing for Winter Steelhead. It holds the California state record for steelhead, a 27-pounder, and produces many of the biggest salmon outside of Alaska, with fish in the 50- to 60-pound range caught each season. Our experienced captain has over 30 years of fishing experience. All five coastal rivers react differently to weather conditions, the river you fish will depend on weather and water conditions the day of your trip. Other years February is peak season. Once the rains arrive, fishing opens above the mouth of Rowdy Creek. I don't remember much about the river and we fished from the shore. You could have the opportunity to fish multiple rivers over the course of several days. Side-drifting for hard-fighting, acrobatic steelhead is one of the most anticipated events for many Northern California anglers. Brian Smith of Birmingham, Alabama, selects another fly after losing one to a steelhead on the Wallowa River. Just about this whole seven mile stretch is … Mokelumne River Fly Fishing Guides We Float the Mokelumne River For Steelhead In Our Professional Driftboat $495 per day for Two Anglers, Includes All Gear, Flies & A Great Streamside Lunch. Smith River Steelhead fishing will produce steelhead averaging in size from 8-15 lbs., with an occasional 20 pounder. By drift boat you will float one of many beats of river the California Coast has to offer. I use to drive up from Fresno back in the 50's. wildriversfishing@yahoo.com. When the river is dropping, side-drifting is the main technique on the Smith. Steelhead are sometimes referred to as the fish of a thousand casts, however a great man (Henry David Thoreau) eloquently wrote: “Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after”. Both rivers fluctuate in volume with the coming of Winter & Spring Rains. Steelhead fishing on the Smith continues into April. 1 destination for trophy salmon and steelhead, it‘s home to one of the best salmon and steelhead fisheries in the world. Casting instruction is always available and comunicating your goals for the trip are helpful to your guide. Fly fishing the Smith River, one will primarily catch brown trout, although there are also populations of rainbows, cutthroat, and brook trout as well. Winter steelhead fishing on the majestic Smith River is one of Pro Guide Mario Gomez's favorite places to be, there is something about catching steelhead in the Redwoods that makes it special. SMITH RIVER STEELHEAD FISHING: Has been off to a good start this season. At times pulling small plugs is also effective for steelhead on the Smith. The peak of the winter steelhead season has arrived on the Chetco and Smith Rivers, and although fishing is only fair at best, some of the fish being caught are in the mid-teens or bigger. Fishing from a heated, roomy, comfortable drift boat, Andy fishes the area from the Forks clear down to Highway 101, depending on where the fish are holding. Big fish are caught throughout the season. We specialize in helping fly anglers become proficient in all techniques used to catch winter steelhead- both spey & single handed fly rods. We have seen more fish then we’ve had in years. Here at Western Waters Guide Service we provide guided fly fishing trips for winter steelhead from January through March, on the Smith River, Mad River, Van Duzen River, Eel River, and Mattole River of the North California Coast. We can answer your questions and give you detailed information on your upcoming steelhead trip. The Chetco River is located just a few miles further north near Brookings Oregon and also produces large fish. Many Salmon fishing begins in September in the lower Smith, where anglers target big kings near the mouth, next to the famous Ship Ashore. You never know if the next strike will be a 20-pounder, 40-pounder, or one of those giant 50-plus-pound kings that are landed each year. Fly Fishing Smith River California The Smith River drains the Pacific Coast Ranges just west of the Siskiyou Mountains just south of the Oregon border in extreme Northern California. The Smith River is known for its big steelhead. Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing specializes in guided These big, chrome steelhead are awesome fighters and give any angler a thrill. The daylight bite at the Sand Hole is one of the most exciting times of the season, as powerful kings grab baits being trolled in shallow water and immediately take off on long runs after being hooked. If you are just starting to fly fish or you are a hard core fly fishing fanatic, Western Waters Guide Service will provide you with an unforgettable fishing experience. Known as California's last wild river, the Smith River is one of the West Coast's top salmon and steelhead streams. The Smith river is one of California’s go to hot spots for trophy class king salmon and steelhead. Hi fyshstykr, The Smith as I remember it was a beautiful Steelhead river. Gary Lewis/Contributed Photo Brian Smith of … Salmon fishing continues well into December, when steelhead fishing begins to take center stage. Fly fishing is a lifetime sport with much to learn and enjoy. Conditions : SMITH RIVER: The river is running low and clear, so anlgers should focus on deeper sections. After over 25 years of fly fishing for steelhead, Combs is … We steelhead fish in the Balls Ferry Area of the Sacramento River. The reason so many people are drawn to these rivers is the chance to hook into a fish of a lifetime. I am using a 300-grain shooting head to get my fly down to the bottom. Andy Martin spent 10 years guiding in Alaska but now guides and runs charter boats year round in Brookings, Oregon. James Keeling Guide Service offers guided Salmon and Steelhead Fishing Charters in Southern Oregon and Northern California on the Klamath, Smith and Chetco rivers. It holds the California state record for steelhead, a 27-pounder, and produces many of the biggest salmon outside of Alaska, with fish in the 50- to 60-pound range caught each season. Here, anglers troll anchovies and plug-cut herring for big kings waiting for fall rains to move upriver. The Weekly Fly 434,907 views 10:10 Smith River Steelhead fishing - Duration: 3:30 . S mith River Steelhead fishing AND the Chetco River Steelhead fishing really takes off in the month of February, producing monster steelhead. The best time to fish for Steelhead at the Smith is during the winter season from December to April. Call Captain Andy Martin   •   541.813.1082 / 206.388.8988. The Rogue River is one of the few rivers in the world that has salmon and steelhead fishing twelve months a year! Chasing steelhead with a fly rod is considered by many to be the top game in fishing. Designated as wild and scenic in 1988, the two wild sections extend from the headwaters to Horse Creek and from Baldface Creek to the Oregon/California state line. Fly Fishing on the Lower Mokelumne River can be very rewarding after football season gets over, keep it in mind as a close spot to fly fish near the Bay Area. In the fall The stretch of water between the 101 and 199 bridges, probably produces the largest steelhead caught in California. There aren’t many more enjoyable ways to spend a nice Northern California or Southern Oregon summer day than fighting fall salmon and summer steelhead on light tackle on the Klamath river! Most fly fishing is done from the boat with single handed rods. 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