The first few adult steelhead of the season have been caught on Oregon's Chetco River, just as the king salmon season has begun to wind down.

I got my customers into ocean-fresh steelhead Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Today, Dec. 2, we got enough rain to raise river flows above 1,500 cfs, perfect for steelhead fishing.

We have been side drifting roe and Puff Balls with size 4 hooks in the faster riffles.

Now that we've had a decent amount of rain, the entire lower river from Ice Box to Social Security Bar should produce fish.

Salmon fishing, meanwhile, was fair at best this season. We found fish just about every day in November, but the low, clear flows made fishing tough.

Our biggest king of the year was a 51 pounder landed by Bruce Beck.

Look for steelhead fishing to be good from now through March. Late December, January and February is peak season.

I'll be side drifting roe cured with Pautzke's BorxOFire with pink or orange Puff Balls and size 4 Lazer Sharp octopus hooks. I also like to run plugs, such as the new 3.5 MagLip from Yakima Bait, when I find an area without other boats.

Some dates are still available in January and February. Visit www.wildriversfishing.com for more information.

Fish Species: King salmon, steelhead
Bait Used: Roe, plugs
Tackle Used: Size 4 Lazer Sharp octopus hooks, MagLip 3.5 plugs
Method Used: side drifting, pulling plugs
Water Depth: 1,500 cfs
Water Temperature:
Wind Direction:
Wind Speed:
Our first adult steelhead of the season, caught Nov. 30 by Nathanial on roe side drifted near Emily Creek.
Our first adult steelhead of the season, caught Nov. 30 by Nathanial on roe side drifted near Emily Creek.

Some of the nice king salmon we caught in November on the Chetco River.
Some of the nice king salmon we caught in November on the Chetco River.


Do you want to leave a comment? Login or register now to leave a comment.


No comments so far

About The Author: Captain Andy Martin

Company: Wild Rivers Fishing Oregon and Alaska

Area Reporting: Oregon, Alaska

Bio: Andy Martin is a well-known Oregon and Alaska fishing guide and charter boat captain. He targets trophy halibut in Alaska, as well as six-fish-per-person limits of silver salmon. In Oregon, he catches some of the biggest salmon in the Northwest, including trophy king salmon over 60 pounds. Oregon salmon and steelhead trips are done out of clean, heated jet boats and drift boats on the Rogue and Chetco rivers. Andy also is a prolific outdoor writer, regular contributing to Fish Alaska, Salmon Trout Steelheader, Saltwater Sportsman, Game & Fish, Oregon Hunter, California Sportsman, Northwest Sportsman and ESPN Outdoors.

206-388-8988
Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain Andy Martin