Chetco River - OR

The author caught this 14-pound Chinook while casting a 1-ounce chrome Krocodile from the Brookings crab pier located on the south jetty.

Tony Hobbs from Brookings, Oregon hauls in a giant jacksmelt out of the Chetco Bay with a sabiki rig still in its mouth.

Dennis Tuttle of Grants Pass, Oregon caught these two Chinook last week while trolling a spinnerbait/anchovy rig in the Rogue Bay in front of Lex's Landing. Photos courtesy of Larry Ellis.

Tim Anderson from Galt, California caught these 8-pound-plus vermilion and canary rockfish while fishing in the ocean out of the Port of Brookings Harbor. Photo by Larry Ellis.

Wes White earned big fish honors in the Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery Steelhead Derby with this 36.5-inch steelhead. The two-day fishing tournament took place in late February on the Smith and Chetco Rivers. White was fishing with guide Zack Larson.

Jeremy Edwards from Lodi, California side-drifted the Chetco River last week with fishing guide Dave Carney when he hooked and landed this 11-pound steelhead. Photo by Larry Ellis.

Dave Howland from Brookings, Oregon was one of the many plunkers who caught steelhead on Spin-N-Glos on the Chetco last week when the river was was experiencing high water.

Rich Signorello and his son Matthew from Sacramento fished with Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing last week and caught limits of black rockfish as well as some hefty lingcod while fishing in the ocean out of the Port of Brookings Harbor. Photos by Larry

As soon as the Rogue River drops to 12,000 cfs possibly the end of the week, anglers will be anchoring up their sleds and setting out plugs for winter steelhead, like the author did several years ago. Photo courtesy of Larry Ellis

Stefon Muroff travelled all the way from Boise, Idaho to side-drift the Chetco River last week with Dave Castellanos of Cast Guide Service, and was rewarded with an 18-pound hatchery winter steelhead. Photo by Larry Ellis

Pictured is Chetco River Steelhead fishing guide Dave Jacobs and John Adams from Hilmar, CA. holding up a hefty 15 pound hatchery Chetco River steelhead from this weekend.