Trip Planner
Smith River
Salmon Fishing
Season
September-December
Peak Time
October-November
Big fish throughout entire season.

Steelhead Fishing
Season
Thanskgiving-April
Peak Season
(Hatchery Fish)
December-January
(Wild/Trophy Fish)
Febuary-March
For more information,
call (206) 388-8988
Smith River Salmon & Steelhead
Known as California's last wild river, the Smith River is one of the West Coast's top salmon and steelhead streams. It holds the California state record for steelhead, a 27-pounder, and produces many of the biggest salmon outside of Alaska, with fish in the 50- to 60-pound range caught each season. The Smith is also known for its breathtaking scenery, with towering redwoods, deep clear pools and steep rock walls. It is California's No. 1 destination for trophy salmon and steelhead.
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 Smith and Chetco for salmon, steelhead and sea-run cutthroat trout.
Salmon fishing begins in September in the lower Smith, where anglers target big salmon near the mouth, next to the famous Ship Ashore. By October, salmon are stacking up in the Sand Hole, perhaps the most productive hole in the entire river. Andy is just one of a handful of guides with a special permit from the private ranch landowner that has boat launching access a the Sand Hole. Here, we troll anchovies and plug-cut herring for big kings waiting for fall rains to move upriver.

Once the rains arrive, fishing opens above the mouth of Rowdy Creek. Big salmon are caught on plugs and roe back-bounced through the deeper pools holding fish. Salmon fishing continues well into December, when steelhead fishing begins to take center stage.

The Smith is known for its big steelhead. It has produced the last two state records, and some steelhead that could have been new records have been caught and released in recent years.

Side-drifting for hard-fighting, acrobatic steelhead is one of the most anticipated events for many Northern California anglers. Fishing from a heated, roomy, comfortable drift boat, Andy fishes the area from the Forks clear down to Highway 101, depending on where the fish are holding.

Steelhead fishing on the Smith continues into April. Big fish are caught throughout the season. In recent years, December has been good and January has been the top month. Other years February is peak season.
Father and son with a nice Chetco River winter steelhead.
Chetco River steelhead fishing guides
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!
2011 Update: Strong Salmon Run Expected Back To Smith
Fall king salmon runs on the Smith River have broken records two years in a row and another huge return is expected in 2011. The giant return of jack salmon in 2009 means there will be a bunch of the bigger 4-year-old salmon this fall, including many in the 40- to 50-pound range. Last year's steelhead run was down a little, but the Smith produced more fish over 20 pounds than any other river in Northern California and Oregon and more trophy fish are expected this season.
Smith River salmon fishing Sand Hole
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Smith River Salmon Fishing Guides
Smith River king salmon
Smith River salmon fishing
Smith River fall salmon fishing with Wild Rivers FIshing
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Elk Rivers Fishing Guides  Sixes River Fishing Guides  Elk River Oregon Fishing
Trophy salmon fishing on the Smith River in Northern California with guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing.
Salmon fishing on the Smith River from October through December.
Guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing with a chromer Smith River king salmon.
Winter steelhead fishing on the Smith River with guide Andy Martin.
Smith River salmon and steelhead fishing with guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing.