Trip Planner
Chetco River Salmon Fishing
Season
September-December
Peak Time
October-November
Steelhead Fishing
Season
Thanskgiving-March
Peak Season
(Hatchery Fish)
December-January
(Wild/Trophy Fish)
Febuary-March
Season
September-December
Peak Time
October-November
Steelhead Fishing
Season
Thanskgiving-March
Peak Season
(Hatchery Fish)
December-January
(Wild/Trophy Fish)
Febuary-March
For more information,
call (206) 388-8988
call (206) 388-8988
Chetco River Salmon & Steelhead
Home to perhaps the best fall Chinook and winter steelhead fishing in Oregon, the Chetco River flows 55 miles from its headwaters deep in the Siskiyou National Forest to the Pacific Ocean at Brookings. One of Oregon's longest undammed rivers, the Chetco flows through rugged mountain canyons with towering fir and redwood trees. It is one of Oregon's top-producing rivers in terms in trophy salmon and steelhead and angler catch rates. Each year a number of salmon in the 50-pound range are caught, as well as several steelhead over 20 pounds.
Growing up in Brookings, Oregon, Andy Martin fishes his hometown waters during the fall salmon and winter steelhead seasons. He has spent his entire life fishing the Chetco for salmon, steelhead and sea-run cutthroat trout.
Beginning in late September, just when Andy returns from Alaska each fall, big king salmon begin to stack up off the mouth of the Chetco. These are some of the
biggest salmon in Oregon, with fish averaging in the mid-20s and plenty of 30-, 40- and even 50-pounders caught each fall.
A few salmon over 60 pounds are reported each year.
Fishing from his custom 22-foot jet sled, Andy trolls the lower Chetco and the ocean area just off of the mouth of the river for these big fish. To learn more about this exceptional fall saltwater season, click here.
As soon as the first rains hit the coast, Andy begins drifting the Chetco, back-bouncing roe and pulling plugs such as FlatFish and Kwikfish for these salmon. His customers fish from a spacious, top-of-the-line heated 18-foot Fish-Rite drift boat with quality gear, including Penn and Abu Garcia reels, high-end Wright & McGill graphite salmon and steelhead rods. Andy is on the pro staff for Pautzke Bait Co., Wright & McGill, Eagle Claw, and Yakima Bait Co.
Salmon fishing lasts until mid-December, when winter steelhead begin showing up in the Chetco.
Side-drifting is highly effective on the Chetco, one of the first rivers where this technique was used. Andy is an expert drift boater, getting his customers into fish by covering lots of water, using top-quality baits, the latest light-tackle spinning gear and years of experience in reading water under all conditions and finding fresh steelhead. A typical drift from Ice Box to Social Security Bar lasts the entire day and when fresh fish have entered the river, multiple hook-ups are common.
Steelhead fishing lasts until the season closes March 31.
The upper section of the Chetco River was designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1988. Only a limited number of guides are permitted to fish that section of the Chetco located within the Siskiyou National Forest boundary. Andy is one of those guides. The Forest Service portion of the Chetco is home to some of the most spectacular scenery on the river, as well as the best salmon and steelhead fishing. Because of the limited number of guides allowed to fish there, it is often uncrowded compared to the lower river.
Andy and the guides he works closely with provide top-quality customer service, use quality gear, operate clean, comfortable boats, and are friendly teachers. They want their customers to not only catch fish, but enjoy Oregon's ultimate salmon and steelhead adventure. We specialize in parent-and-child, husband-and-wife and other family trips, but also can accomodate larger groups with multiple boats available. Beginning anglers are welcome! We'll teach you how to catch them.
Andy is a Coast Guard licensed captain, first and and CPR trained, insured and bonded, proudly participates in a random drug testing program. His top goal is to ensure you have an enjoyable experience fishing one of Oregon's best salmon and steelhead streams.
biggest salmon in Oregon, with fish averaging in the mid-20s and plenty of 30-, 40- and even 50-pounders caught each fall.
A few salmon over 60 pounds are reported each year.
Fishing from his custom 22-foot jet sled, Andy trolls the lower Chetco and the ocean area just off of the mouth of the river for these big fish. To learn more about this exceptional fall saltwater season, click here.
As soon as the first rains hit the coast, Andy begins drifting the Chetco, back-bouncing roe and pulling plugs such as FlatFish and Kwikfish for these salmon. His customers fish from a spacious, top-of-the-line heated 18-foot Fish-Rite drift boat with quality gear, including Penn and Abu Garcia reels, high-end Wright & McGill graphite salmon and steelhead rods. Andy is on the pro staff for Pautzke Bait Co., Wright & McGill, Eagle Claw, and Yakima Bait Co.
Salmon fishing lasts until mid-December, when winter steelhead begin showing up in the Chetco.
Side-drifting is highly effective on the Chetco, one of the first rivers where this technique was used. Andy is an expert drift boater, getting his customers into fish by covering lots of water, using top-quality baits, the latest light-tackle spinning gear and years of experience in reading water under all conditions and finding fresh steelhead. A typical drift from Ice Box to Social Security Bar lasts the entire day and when fresh fish have entered the river, multiple hook-ups are common.
Steelhead fishing lasts until the season closes March 31.
The upper section of the Chetco River was designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1988. Only a limited number of guides are permitted to fish that section of the Chetco located within the Siskiyou National Forest boundary. Andy is one of those guides. The Forest Service portion of the Chetco is home to some of the most spectacular scenery on the river, as well as the best salmon and steelhead fishing. Because of the limited number of guides allowed to fish there, it is often uncrowded compared to the lower river.
Andy and the guides he works closely with provide top-quality customer service, use quality gear, operate clean, comfortable boats, and are friendly teachers. They want their customers to not only catch fish, but enjoy Oregon's ultimate salmon and steelhead adventure. We specialize in parent-and-child, husband-and-wife and other family trips, but also can accomodate larger groups with multiple boats available. Beginning anglers are welcome! We'll teach you how to catch them.
Andy is a Coast Guard licensed captain, first and and CPR trained, insured and bonded, proudly participates in a random drug testing program. His top goal is to ensure you have an enjoyable experience fishing one of Oregon's best salmon and steelhead streams.
2011 Update: Strong Salmon Run Expected Back To Chetco
Following an exceptional salmon and steelhead run on the Chetco River this past season, fishing is expected to be good again this year. ODFW is predicting another strong salmon run on the Chetco, with more of the 4-year-old and 5-year-old fish in the 50-pound range, and one of the biggest winter steelhead runs on the Oregon Coast. This year's fall king forecast is 135 percent of normal!
Oregon Salmon and Steelhead Fishing, Alaska Salmon and Halibut Fishing
Chetco, Rogue, Elk, Sixes, Smith and Klamath River Salmon and Steelhead Fishing at its best!
Click above to watch video of trophy Chetco River steelhead.
Chetco River Fishing Guides Oregon Salmon Fishing Oregon Steelhead Fishing Rogue Bay Salmon Fishing Brookings Charter Boats Southern Oregon Fishing Reports Oregon Fishing Trips Oregon Lingcod Fishing Oregon Drift Boat Fishing Trips Seward Alaska Halibut Charters
Smith River California Fishing Guides Klamath River Fishing Guides Tillamook Bay Fishing Guides Oregon Trophy Salmon Rogue River Fishing Guides Klamath River Fishing Guides Smith River Fishing Guides Rogue River Spring Salmon Smith River Fishing Reports
Elk Rivers Fishing Guides Sixes River Fishing Guides Elk River Oregon Fishing
Smith River California Fishing Guides Klamath River Fishing Guides Tillamook Bay Fishing Guides Oregon Trophy Salmon Rogue River Fishing Guides Klamath River Fishing Guides Smith River Fishing Guides Rogue River Spring Salmon Smith River Fishing Reports
Elk Rivers Fishing Guides Sixes River Fishing Guides Elk River Oregon Fishing
Operating Under Special Use Permit within the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
