Smith River steelhead...

I think I'd like to stray away from my mainstay steelhead stream (Trinity River) this next weekend and check out the Smith.  I've been here a couple times, but never fished it.  Any pointers for a bankie?  I'd like to fish upstream of the Forks to avoid some driftboater traffic.  If anyone has any pointers on places to check out and/or places to stay (a cabin or lodge would be nice since my lady will be with me), I'd very much appreciate it.  Thanks!  I look forward to hooking into some winter-run chrome!

I've only ever fished down around Jed Smith Park and then farther down at Ruby Park, and that's been from the yak, so I don't have much to offer.  Also don't know where to stay up there.  Good luck up there.   

Thanks Eric.  I've been doing a lot of Internet searching today, and found plenty of stuff about the mainstem Smith...but very little on the forks.  I did find some YouTube videos of guys catching steelhead on the South Fork Smith, and a fishing map identifying riffles and pools on the South Fork, but that's about it so far.  I have a feeling the people who fish the South Fork don't like to talk much about it on the Internets...makes me wanna fish it even more  .

Hey Man, There is alot of areas that you will be able to find takes alot of driving, But probably some of the most beautiful county I have ever seen is up on that south fork. But like Eric I have not fished the Smith from shore.

If anyone is going to produce a nice steelhead out of the smith it will be you. Be ready for a big one. Seems like less and less people want to fish above the hatchery anyways... So alot of the fish once at the split have not seen a bait in a long time.

Thanks Ryan!  I got a PM from another NCKAer with some cool info about the SF.  I really hope I get to spend some quality time with that river.  It'd also be really cool if I could fine a fish or two to cooperate  .

Hi Clayman,

Sorry if this thread died 9 months ago, not sure of the proper etiqutte here!  I had been planning a 3 day trip to the Smith this coming winter and found this thread.  Any tips/suggestions?  Current plan was to take the yaks up there and drift the 13 mile stretch around jed smith park.  How is the fishing where you were last year? any advice appreciated!

Cheers-

Hi Clayman,

Sorry if this thread died 9 months ago, not sure of the proper etiqutte here!  I had been planning a 3 day trip to the Smith this coming winter and found this thread.  Any tips/suggestions?  Current plan was to take the yaks up there and drift the 13 mile stretch around jed smith park.  How is the fishing where you were last year? any advice appreciated!

Cheers-

Whoa, blast from the past!  Haha.  I tried fishing for about an hour up on the South Fork Smith on this trip.  Didn't have much time because I had the GF with me and it was pretty cold out there for her.  We fished near some bridge (can't remember the highway name).  Water looked great, but no fish for us.

What about a hook up some time in Feb when there are better numbers?  I need to catch another one on the Smith.  I'm kind of thinking  a cold ass February Smith  River Steelhead trip would be awesome if others were interested.


Eric Morgan
Trident Ultra 4.7
Not the guy selling the Outback
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Somebody's got steelhead fever . Lets talk in February

Somebody's got steelhead fever . Lets talk in February

My birthday is this month and the wife keeps asking what I want.   I think I know the answer.  2 nights at the Ship Ashore and 1.5 days on the river.  Yes, that is what I will tell her.    Now I need to start buying gear....   Christmas is coming after the birthday, sweet!

Only one bad part about this.  I think I have done salmon and steelhead up there like 3 times with guides. The steelhead trips are sofa king cold. 


Eric Morgan
Trident Ultra 4.7
Not the guy selling the Outback
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Only one bad part about this.  I think I have done salmon and steelhead up there like 3 times with guides. The steelhead trips are sofa king cold. 

Put on the long-johns, Gore-Tex, beanie, waders, the wool gloves.  Never see the sun deep in the river canyon.  See the steam from your breath all day.  Numb fingers make knot-tying a chore.  But man, when you hook up on some of that bright winter chrome and that fish goes totally ape-shit despite the freezing water...absolutely, positively worth it  .  I really like the pleasantness of fair-weather fishing that comes with summer- and fall-run steelhead and Chinook fishing, but those winter steelhead sessions separate the men from the boys  .  Hope you can make it out there for your birthday.

I'm going to do some research I think.  Figure out camping, room rates, max dudes/room and such.  I will figure it all out and then post a hookup.  It would be great to get like 8-10 guys and then pay a guide in a drift boat to help us hit the holes better. 

There is even a couple that moves your rig downstream for you at a small cost. 

Might want to think about the Chetco too depending on what feedback the guide provides the night before.

Midweek is usually the time I can get away.


Eric Morgan
Trident Ultra 4.7
Not the guy selling the Outback
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you time it right the smaller coastals might be in play too, Winchuk, Pistol, Hunter Creek....mmmmm

How do you time it right?   Don't decide to go until you see reports of the right water conditions?   On the trips I've done, it was after big rains and it was too muddy or after a period with no rain it was too clear and the fish got spooked easily.


Eric Morgan
Trident Ultra 4.7
Not the guy selling the Outback
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Are those Oregon streams?  With this rain coming Ill be hitting the Smith/Chetco/Elk/Sixes the next month for the particular large Kings that run these rivers if anyone is interested. The Chetco is easier to fish than the Smith, the window for success csn be small as it clears so fast.