Chetco River - OR

Popular commercially-made recompression devices. Photo by Larry Ellis

My favorite fish descending devise is the BlackTip Catch and Release Fish Recompression Tool, which allows you to release very large rockfish by using heavy sinkers.

Toni Roberts from Brookings, Oregon nailed this chrome-bright hatchery steelhead while plunking last week on the Chetco River.

Steve Malatesta of Watsonville landed a nice hatchery steelhead on a recent trip to the upper Trinity River. Winter steelhead have started to make their way into the lower Trinity River, with the run typically lasting well into March.

A fisherman guards his plunking stick at Social Security Bar on the Chetco River last week while his faithful companion keeps a vigilant eye for any finned intruders.

Redding residents Paul Rother, right, along with his son Cody landed a nice pair of Smith River kings on Tuesday. The Smith will likely be the only river in fishable shape this weekend following a series of wet storms forecasted to hit the North Coast sta

David Warren from Oakland, California was fishing the Chetco River with guide Travis Sallander of Wild Rivers Fishing last week when he tied into this hefty Chinook.

Del Kelly of Arcata landed this monster Smith River salmon while fishing the lower river on Wednesday. The Smith should be in great shape on Thursday and Friday, however conditions over the weekend will be marginal due to the incoming storms.

Shana Delacampa from Orange, California nailed this Chetco River king while drifting from Loeb State Park down to Social Security Bar last Thursday while fishing with guide Sean Clemens from Brookings. Photo by Larry Ellis.