Smith River Fishing

Fishing On The Smith River

This Smith River description is courtesy of Northern California steelhead fishing guide Dave Jacobs.

Located in the far Northwest corner of California near the California/Oregon border rests one of California’s only wild, un-damed, un-tamed rivers known as the Smith River. This has been called the crown jewel of California for very good reasons. This is a small coastal river of around 25 miles long made up of a watershed drainage of over 700 square miles. Drainages like the South Fork, The Middle Fork and North Fork to name a few join to make what is the main stem Smith River. Every year both hatchery and wild chinook salmon and steelhead migrate up the Smith for their spawning migration. Smith River salmon and steelhead fishing guide Dave Jacobs guides clients every year for these “fresh out of the ocean” fish through the majestic old growth Redwood giants of Jedediah State Park near Hiouchi, California located in the Six Rivers National Forest. The Smith river not only produces fresh fish but it produces BIG fish. The Smith River produced California’s second biggest salmon of 86 pounds only outdone by the Sacramento River California State record of 88 pounds caught in 1979. But the Smith River’s claim to fame is its revered California State record steelhead, a 27 pound 4 ounce steelhead caught in 1976!


Smith River Salmon Fishing Guide

This Smith River report is courtesy of Smith River salmon fishing guide Dave Jacobs. The early arriving Fall rains have brought the Smith River up to very fishable levels from both the power boats and drift boats. The rains have come and gone with very little downtime as of late. The river flows are rising and will be at good fishable levels for the remainder of this week. Last week salmon fishing on the Smith River was very good for large adult king salmon as well as chrome bright jack salmon. The numbers of jack salmon were very high late last week/weekend and there should be another push of fresh adult salmon this week. Last weekend provided good salmon fishing on the Chetco River as well but levels there are now high and should come back into shape soon.