Salmon season in full swing on Chetco, Smith rivers (Nov. 14, 2015)

The peak of the fall salmon season on the Chetco and Smith rivers has arrived, with the best fishing right now on the Chetco out of Brookings, Oregon. There are good numbers of salmon in both rivers, but for the most part, low, clear water has hampered fishing at times. It is now raining on the coast, and we are expecting both rivers to be in prime shape next week. This is the best time of year to catch salmon from drift boats on the Chetco and Smith.
On the Chetco, we have been catching salmon on plugs, fishing salmon eggs below bobbers, and back-bouncing salmon eggs. There are nice fish spread throughout the river.
With the rain we will be focusing on the Elk and Sixes, as well as continuing to fish the Chetco.
There have been a few adult winter steelhead already caught on the Chetco, and there should be more after this weekend's rain. I still have some prime dates left in January and February for steelhead fishing.
We will begin our lingcod and bottom fishing trips in March.
Here are some of the salmon pics from the past couple of weeks on the Chetco and Smith.
- Andy Martin
www.wildriversfishing.com and www.brookingsfishing.com
(541) 813-1082 or (206) 388-8988 cell