Following last week’s deluge, all the coastal rivers other than the Smith are now on the verge of turning green. After reaching nearly 39,000 cubic feet per second on the Jed Smith gauge Jan. 4, the quick-clearing Smith rebounded quickly and was driftable Sunday. Plunkers were out in force Monday on the Chetco and boats were drifting by Tuesday. Locally,...
Full Story 

Early January at Baum Lake means it is time to enjoy catching planter sized brown trout, sometimes as the saying goes to “your heart’s content”.  Usually nothing to put on the bragging board but fun none the less.  A perfect time to introduce young ones to fishing or a chance to break in the recent Christmas new rod and reel. I...
Full Story 

The ocean is the ultimate destination of water flowing through coastal streams, but in some cases it may make an extended pit stop in a seasonal lagoon. A lack of rain and low flows during summer months combined with ocean wave action can build up a sandbar at the mouth of a river, thereby forming what is known as a bar-built...
Full Story 

Just as most of the coastal rivers were dropping into fishable shape, another fierce round of storms took aim at the North Coast. For now, the winter steelhead season has come to a screeching halt. From the Chetco south to the top of the Eel River system, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any water that resembles anything close to green....
Full Story 

If your weekend plans involve the pursuit of winter steelhead, you’ll need to point your vehicle north. The quick-clearing Smith and Chetco rivers are currently the only real options for the green water steelheaders crave. All Humboldt rivers are currently high and muddy, and that will likely continue through the weekend. There is a chance the upper reaches of the...
Full Story 

For many outdoor enthusiasts the dawning of a new year means a few things, like getting the next years fishing license and making plans to attend one of the many outdoors shows scheduled the first few months of the year.  One of the most popular for those of us in Northern California and Northwestern Nevada is of course January’s International...
Full Story