Storms leave Chetco, Smith high and muddy, ocean too rough to fish (Dec. 11)

Stormy weather has been hammering the Brookings area the past two weeks, leaving the ocean out of the Port of Brookings Harbor too rough to fish, while the Chetco and Smith rivers have been high and muddy.
More wet weather is forecasted this weekend, but we are expecting a break in the storms next week, which could make the rivers fishable for steelhead by Tuesday or Wednesday.
Salmon season is practically over, as any kings waiting for higher water before spawning have now moved upstream.
There were a few steelhead being caught on the lower Chetco by plunkers just as the river began to rise over a week ago.
There also were some steelhead caught by side-drifters on the Smith River.
Extremely rough weather has kept the ocean unfishable. When it calms down, look for lingcod fishing to be good along the shallow reefs just outside of the Port of Brookings.

I will begin running lingcod trips in February, as the weather allows. I also will have a booth at the Medford sports and outdoors show the last weekend in February. Stop by to say hi, and pick up a coupon good for a discount on our ocean charters this summer.

To book a trip, visit www.brookingsfishing.com for ocea.n charters or www.wildriversfishing.com for drift boat trips on the river. Or call my cell (206) 388-8988 or home (541) 813-1082

This is a photo from one of our ocean charters this summer. We will have the boats back in the water by February for winter lingcod and rockfish action.