Smith River Salmon & Steelhead Fishing Report

The Smith is back under low flow closure and only the tidal waters are open to fishing here on Monday 10-26. There are lots of kings staging in the lower river and it looks like we will see one of the best returns since 2005. The weather forecast calls for a chance of rain later this week but until we actually see rain the river will remain closed above the estuary. Once the river does reopen we expect counts to climb and we will post scores and highlights.

Low flow restrictions have been lifted on the Smith river. Tuesday's 10-13 storm dropped 2 to 4 inches of rain across the North Coast. In turn most rivers jumped from trickles to torrents. Wally Johnson passed along reports that guides saw exceptional action on Thursday 10-15 with counts of 5 to 12 plus fish per boat. The fish are big chromers most running 15 to 35 pounds with reports of fish to the low 40s. Most guides are pulling plugs on the lower river below Ruby Park but there are bright salmon throughout the system and up through Jed Smith state park. The river is dropping fast and fishing will get a bit tougher until the next system arrives which could be this Monday. An inch or two or rain would turn the bite back on. Kenny Armstrong will be running fall salmon trips through November. 707 498-4087

Fall Preview

It's that time of year when the largest salmon in the state start returning to the Smith river. The Smith is now under low flow closures but salmon are filling into the estuary where fishing is legal and it looks like we will see an average salmon run on the Smith this fall. Anglers working the lower river are seeing decent catches working the section below Rowdy Creek from the mouth and the Sand Hole. The fish tend to move in and out with the tide and as they acclimate they will start to move up river where they will "park" in the deeper holes awaiting the first rains of the season.
For now top bets from the bank are to toss Cloes, Kastmasters and flying Cs at the mouth or the deeper holes of the lower river. From a boat Kwikfish K15s and K16s in chartreuse and silver with a sardine wrap trolled through the schools of fish laying in the holes is also very effective. Fishing will be sporadic (and limited due to the flow closures) until we see the first big rains of early winter. In most years the first rises occur in late October and early November and fishing is usually best from late October through Thanksgiving depending on how much or little rain fall we see.
Once the rains arrive and the river climbs above 500- 600CFS the low flow closures are lifted and the hot fishing begins.
Guides find their most success pulling kwikfish in the deeper holes and slots while a few will back bounce roe. From the bank anglers bouncing roe and a Fish Pill and fly-fishers in prams have some exceptional days. Salmon on the Smith are big by California standards averaging 15 to 25 pounds and fish over 40 and even 50 pounds are seen every season. The key to success is to be on the river just as it's crests and starts to drop. The best days are usually one to two days following a heavy rain and anglers that time it right are well rewarded. Ma Nature doesn't always cooperate and this river can go from low and closed to high and blown in just a few hours. Those anglers lucky enough to hit this river "just right" can catch the king of a lifetime. We hope that our readers consider releasing any trophy size fish to seed future runs.

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River Levels:

For river status (low flow closure) updates from Fish and Game please call +1.707.442.4502 for the North coast and +1.707.944.5533 for Central coast streams. Be sure to check out the California Fish and Game regulations before you go. Regulations vary on every river and you need to pay attention to bait and hook restrictions. Due to winter closures on HWYs 5, 101 & 299 we recommend you check Caltrans road conditions as well.
Prime steelhead flows on the Smith river are between 12 and 9 feet. Fish are caught in higher flows by those plucking and even in the low and clear waters below 8.5 feet but prime fishing is always found with a dropping river in the 9 to 12 foot range. No one can predict the best day or conditions but put in a few days in and you will be rewarded. All of our sponsors have room available for the prime January - mid March period. Please call the DFG flow information hotline at 707 822-3164 for additional information.