Smith and Chetco River Reports

[SF fly fisher]

Has anyone been fishing either of these rivers lately, if so, how's it been? Know some place where one can get a good, reliable, up to the minute report?

Thanks 8)

[bigtj]

Try some of the N. CA guides websites, like Tim King or here:

http://usafishing.com/chetco.html

The info on the web regarding steelhead is a little biased and usually a day or two late. It's impossible to get good up to the minute info because you're chasing a moving target (the fish and the weather window). Over time you'll be able to get your best bet by understanding the relationship between flows, incoming weather, ambient temperatures, and time of the year, to get a feel for when a good window of opportunity is coming. This is a better approach, I think, than trusting fishing reports. Or, alternatively, take a couple weeks off, and assume that some time in that period you're going to get 2 or 3 days of good "catching". It's a crap shoot either way but I don' think there is any substitute for learning the relationship between the different variables and the liklihood of success. The rest is up to luck.

[lee s.]

Just got back.
The boats we querried reported 1-2 fish or LESS. Not good in my opinion for the amount of water you can cover and the added effectiveness of their gear over FF gear on that crick.
The water is beautiful.....gin clear. The expected rain Sunday and Monday did not materialize. The river is quite populated at this time. We watched many fish move, some spawn, and danged few pestered.....though a couple were :roll: .


Right on Jeff,
There was a good pod of fish near Whitehorse riffle there on Sunday.
Jonesy,
We opted for the riffle and tailout below Jed bridge Mon AM. I am well content to be trying to pester the fish when I can see them traveling just in front or beside me, as I did this morning. You are right though, in that this IS the time to be targeting high in the systems.
Our choice is to swing bugs. Without the grab there is too much missing for us.. There is much good "bobber" water up the main and the south fork, but good swing water is more limited, though there is some. There seems more swing water below the forks than above.
There were MORE fish spawning just below the bridge on the south fork today. Guess low water is not a pre-requisit for that gravel bar


The Smith is always worth the trip just to see what a river should look like. :wink:
....lee s.

[jayclarkflyfishing]

I also just returned from the Smith.A challenging week to say the least with one smolt landed and no adults.I was swinging mostly but I also did a little nymphing below Jed Smith.The water was dropping and clearing as I arrived and then rose a foot and a half from some heavy rain.The smith is a very difficult river to fish but it is absolutely beautiful.I did find some nice swinging water on the South Fork and as well on the middle fork.Be extra careful as a fisherman was swept away in the gorge above the forks and was presumed dead.Also there were lots of bankies that don't understand the cast and step thing and would step in below me and cut off the run that I was fishing.It is a gear/bait guys river and I only saw one other fly guy in 4 hard days of fishing.I can't wait til my next opportunity to be humbled by the Smith!Jay