Chetco River - OR

Gary Chapman of Brookings rang in the New Year with a surprise Chinook salmon while side-drifting the Chetco River with guide Harvey Young.

An angler proudly poses with a chrome-bright Chetco River steelhead caught last week while side-drifting.

Brian Kelly of Seattle holds a 12-pound steelhead he caught Dec. 27 on the Chetco River while fishing with guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. Photo courtesy of Andy Martin/Wild Rivers Fishing

Plunkers like this steelheader had a field day last week when the Chetco was on-the-drop from 4,000 cfs.

This is the author's personal Spin-N-Glo box, which contains every color winged bobber that is necessary to put the hurtin' on any Oregon winter steelhead river.

Sunnie and Aspen Dimmick caught two of the first hatchery steelhead of the season on the Chetco River last week when they plunked a Tequila Sunrise Spin-N-Glo from the bank.

This is a typical plunking rig that can be used on any river in the Pacific Northwest.

This is another popular plunking setup that uses a fixed, 3-way swivel.

These are all the colors of Spin-N-Glos anglers need for plunking. From left to right: Flame Chartreuse with white wings; Sherbet with black wings; Egg Fluorescent with white wings: Pink with white wings and Pearl Pink with white wings.

Joe Reinshagen from Brookings, Oregon caught this hatchery winter steelhead on the Chetco River last week by plunking a Spin-N-Glo.

This is an example of a fixed slinky rig, showing the 3-way swivel and snap attaching the slinky. The rubber Peg-Its allow you to fix the Corky without an inability to slide up or down the leader, photo courtesy of Larry Ellis.