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NORCAL RIVERS: CHETCO CROWDED, but steelies in the offing, and in the Smith...Rogue river...more
BY BILL KARR/WON Staff WriterPublished: Feb 09, 2010
NORTHERN CAL WEEKLY RIVERS REPORTS
BROOKINGS, ORE. - After another week of rain and high water, the Chetco and other Southern Oregon coastal rivers pulled back into shape over the weekend, creating good conditions for the traditional mid-February peak.
Aside from good flows for side-drifters, anglers can also expect some of the biggest fish of the season after a flurry of trophy steelhead early in the month.
"We've had plenty of rain this season, which has been great for the fish, and now this week has the Chetco in perfect shape for some serious steelhead fishing," said guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing in Brookings. "Some more big fish have come in during the past few weeks. Plunkers have caught some over 20 pounds, a few in the high teens have been caught by side-drifters, and there should be a few more big ones in mid-February."
Big fish also have shown up on the Smith River. Guide Mick Thomas helped a client catch an 18 1/2-pound steelhead last week near the Covered Bridge on the Smith. The lucky angler was Dave Hallam. The week before, Thomas guided a 16-year-old customer into a 21-pounder.
"I've seen a couple other 20-plus-pounders caught on the Smith and some nice fish in the higher teens," Thomas said. "We used the natural Pautzke's BorxOFire."
On the Chetco, most of the bigger fish have been caught in the lower half of the river, from Loeb State Park downstream, according to Martin.
"We hooked and lost one that might have gone over 20 near Emily Creek last week, and then I saw guide David Castellanos hook one around 20 pounds at Pepperwood," Martin said.
Many of the Northern California guides have been hitting the Chetco this month, Martin said, in part because anglers can keep two fish a day there, including one wild fish.
CHETCO RIVER steelhead in the river, but bite tough at times
BY BILL KARR/WON Staff Writer
BROOKINGS, Ore.— There’s been some great fishing days on the Chetco River recently, and some big fish caught, but the influx of boats on the river, sometimes 50 a day, has had an impact on the success, and nature has had a say, too.
“With the combination of rough seas holding that next shot of fresh steelhead outside, the Chetco is far from being a hot bed of action,” said WON Field Reporter Dave Pitts. “Anglers probably will not see action graded above a fair to slow rating until a blend of the following conditions present themselves, such as flows, river level or calmer sea conditions.”
Pitts said that 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 handful of guides and anglers will continue to connect,” PItts said. “One or two hookups per outing is sometimes a good day.”
Pitts suggests that anglers wear neutral colors, based on a first person observation of his: “I walked out on the Ice Box bridge and watched as a driftboat made its way downriver when conditions were low and clear. The angler in the front was wearing a yellow top, and you could see fish in front of them move to the sides or back downriver 20 yards in front of the boat. Wear earth tones and dark colors.”
ROGUE RIVER steelhead action is getting better
BY BILL KARR/WON Staff Writer
ROGUE RIVER, Ore.——The Rogue River was high at press time on Sunday but dropping out, and the numbers of steelhead in the system are improving, with some finding a consistent bite.
“The lower nine miles of the Rogue continue to be pretty consistent for steelhead action,” said WON Field Reporter Dave Pitts, “as some jetboaters are targeting slots where running plugs seems to be outfishing most bait offerings at this time.
Pitts said anglers shouldn’t be gun shy about incorporating 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 in very shallow water.”
Fish are also coming from the North Slot and above the Fairy Hole, he said, and plunkers fishing along gravel bars are taking some bright fish up to 12 pounds. He said to expect action to continue as levels drop and the river clears up. It’s a scattered bite from Orchard bar all the way upriver to the Agness area.
Remember, one wild steelhead per day may be retained below Gold Ray Dam.
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NORTHERN CAL WEEKLY RIVERS REPORTS BROOKINGS, ORE. - After another week of rain and high water, the Chetco and other Southern Oregon coastal rivers pulled back into shape over the weekend, creating good conditions for the traditional mid-February peak.Aside from good flows for side-drifters, anglers can also expect some of the biggest fish of the season after a flurry of trophy steelhead early in the month. "We've had plenty of rain this season, which has been great for the fish, and now this week has the Chetco in perfect shape for some serious steelhead fishing," said guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing in Brookings. "Some more big fish have come in during the past few weeks. Plunkers have caught some over 20 pounds, a few in the high teens have been caught by side-drifters, and there should be a few more big ones in mid-February." Big fish also have shown up on the Smith River. Guide Mick Thomas helped a client catch an 18 1/2-pound steelhead last week near the Covered Bridge on the Smith. The lucky angler was Dave Hallam. The week before, Thomas guided a 16-year-old customer into a 21-pounder. "I've seen a couple other 20-plus-pounders caught on the Smith and some nice fish in the higher teens," Thomas said. "We used the natural Pautzke's BorxOFire." On the Chetco, most of the bigger fish have been caught in the lower half of the river, from Loeb State Park downstream, according to Martin. "We hooked and lost one that might have gone over 20 near Emily Creek last week, and then I saw guide David Castellanos hook one around 20 pounds at Pepperwood," Martin said. Many of the Northern California guides have been hitting the Chetco this month, Martin said, in part because anglers can keep two fish a day there, including one wild fish. CHETCO RIVER steelhead in the river, but bite tough at times BY BILL KARR/WON Staff Writer BROOKINGS, Ore.— There’s been some great fishing days on the Chetco River recently, and some big fish caught, but the influx of boats on the river, sometimes 50 a day, has had an impact on the success, and nature has had a say, too. “With the combination of rough seas holding that next shot of fresh steelhead outside, the Chetco is far from being a hot bed of action,” said WON Field Reporter Dave Pitts. “Anglers probably will not see action graded above a fair to slow rating until a blend of the following conditions present themselves, such as flows, river level or calmer sea conditions.” Pitts said that 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 handful of guides and anglers will continue to connect,” PItts said. “One or two hookups per outing is sometimes a good day.” Pitts suggests that anglers wear neutral colors, based on a first person observation of his: “I walked out on the Ice Box bridge and watched as a driftboat made its way downriver when conditions were low and clear. The angler in the front was wearing a yellow top, and you could see fish in front of them move to the sides or back downriver 20 yards in front of the boat. Wear earth tones and dark colors.” ROGUE RIVER steelhead action is getting better BY BILL KARR/WON Staff Writer ROGUE RIVER, Ore.——The Rogue River was high at press time on Sunday but dropping out, and the numbers of steelhead in the system are improving, with some finding a consistent bite. “The lower nine miles of the Rogue continue to be pretty consistent for steelhead action,” said WON Field Reporter Dave Pitts, “as some jetboaters are targeting slots where running plugs seems to be outfishing most bait offerings at this time. Pitts said anglers shouldn’t be gun shy about incorporating 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 in very shallow water.” Fish are also coming from the North Slot and above the Fairy Hole, he said, and plunkers fishing along gravel bars are taking some bright fish up to 12 pounds. He said to expect action to continue as levels drop and the river clears up. It’s a scattered bite from Orchard bar all the way upriver to the Agness area. Remember, one wild steelhead per day may be retained below Gold Ray Dam. |
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