The Smith is back to low
and clear here on
Sunday 2-10. The
river came up a foot on
Friday night adding a
hint of color which
helped to improve scores
on Saturday to about a
"fish per stick" for the
guides. Over the past
week the river has been
low and very clear and
despite the tough
conditions guides in the
know are putting their
clients into a few fish.
Rain is needed and looks
to arrive in the next
few days.
The Chetco has been a
butter producer with
many boats seeing 2 to 5
fish per boat but
traffic here does get
thick with dozens making
the drift from Lobe to
the SS hole.
Rules for the Smith River
New rules have been adopted by the Cal F&G
commission for the Smith River. Only barbless hooks
will be allowed in all reaches of the Smith River.
The Klamath-Trinity Salmon Report Card has been
renamed North Coast Salmon Report card and will now
be required on the Smith River also. The annual bag
limit for wild trout or steelhead was reduced to
zero and no more than five wild Chinook may be kept
per year.
The North Coast river
low flow closure hotline is 707-822-3164.
River Levels:
For river status (low flow closure) updates from Fish and Game please call +1.707.442.4502 for the North coast and +1.707.944.5533 for Central coast streams. Be sure to check out the
California Fish and Game regulations before you go. Regulations vary on every river and you need to pay attention to bait and hook restrictions. Due to winter closures on HWYs 5, 101 & 299 we recommend you check Caltrans road conditions
as well.
Prime steelhead flows on the
Smith river are between 12
and 9 feet. Fish are caught
in higher flows by those
plucking and even in the low
and clear waters below 8.5
feet but prime fishing is
always found with a dropping
river in the 9 to 12 foot
range. No one can predict
the best day or conditions
but put in a few days in and
you will be rewarded. All of
our sponsors have room
available for the prime
January - mid March period. Please call the DFG
flow information hotline at
707 822-3164 for additional
information.
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