Articles


Weekend Looks Excellent for Winter Steelhead
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, JANUARY 20, 2022



If you’re looking to hit one of our local rivers in search of winter steelhead, this is your weekend. The lack of recent rainfall, both a blessing and a curse, has allowed the rivers to drop and turn the shade of emerald green steelhead anglers dream about. From the Chetco to the South Fork Eel, all the coastal rivers will...
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Electricity What Would We Do Without It?
Trinity River Fishing
by E.B. Duggan, JANUARY 18, 2022

Trinity River - Willow Creek Weir

I am sorry I have not been able to make a report for all you great readers. As you are aware the power has been out for many of us both in Trinity County and in Humboldt Counties. Willow Creek just got their power back on January12, 2022. I am now trying to catch up. As we all know the...
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Rivers Dropping, Green Water Headed Our Way
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, JANUARY 14, 2022



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,...
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Brownie time at Baum
by Gary Heffley, JANUARY 12, 2022
Baum Lake

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...
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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...
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Storms Put Steelhead Fishing on Hold
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, JANUARY 6, 2022



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....
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