NORTH COAST- Steelhead, Steelhead, Steelhead! It’s as prime time as it gets for winter steelhead fishing in Northern California. Success was wide spread on the North Coast this past week. It wasn’t really a matter of finding the steelhead to catch. It was more in the way of….. deciding where you wanted to catch the steelhead. The tenuous anadromous steelhead “trout”! Who live in almost every tributary that dumps into the Pacific Ocean from Monterey, Ca to the Oregon state line. Made a grand appearance in most all their native waterways over the past ten days. A high pressure system kept the sun shining in Northern California. Just long enough to spread steelhead fanatics to about anywhere they wanted to fish in the North State. All the favorite rivers, creeks, and streams cleared up and “fell into shape” ( river water color turning from brownish, to emerald green), at some point in the last ten days. The payouts were proper to those who left fish, to find fish. Packing up, and heading out, as different river systems and tributaries fell into shape. Something considered foolish to do, or taboo in the fishing charter, and guide for hire world. Until…. the scenario turns into, leaving fish to find more, and better fish. Then, although you may have been considered foolish for leaving. Your decision now reeks of “badassness” and you walk away with the win!

It was girls week last week on the Eel River in Northern California. Big hen steelhead made their way up river to find their mates. From there they pair up and spawn in the shallow fast waters of their tributaries.

Another hefty Eel River hen steelhead caught by Ryan Tripp’s guide service last week near Fortuna, Ca

EEL RIVER- This is precisely what happened to Northern California fishing guide Ryan Tripp. Who rolled it up on the Smith River early last week. Heading for a more southern river in the golden state. Tripp joining the North Coast steelhead fishing legend John Klar https://johnklar.com/ . For a week of guiding their clients to some dime bright, and big steelhead on California’s Eel River. The pair of steelhead fishing guides split up and fished different drifts (sections of river) then one and other. Both reporting glorious results after day one on the new river system. Pulling plugs like the popular “Mag Lip” (size 3.0 or 3.5) by Yakima Bait Co. Or side drifting Borax-O-Fire cured salmon roe, or B&R Tackle Co. soft beads beside the drift boat. Both seemed to agree with the likings of the chrome steelhead these two guides wrangled to their drift boats. The steelhead fishing on the Eel River was cut short for steelhead fishing guides Klar and Tripp. Heavy rain sent them packing up Thursday after their fishing trips ended. Heading back to the always fishable, Smith River. While they wait for sunnier days to head back down south.

Fishing guide Ryan Tripp had a very successful week last week while fishing some southern tributaries for steelhead trout.

Nothing but smiles on the north coast for these steeheaders. Who despite rainy weather showed up and had a blast fishing with young Ryan Tripp.

SMITH RIVER- Staying true to its reputation. The river rose on Saturday February 13, 2021. Topping out at 16 stage feet on the Jedediah Smith State Park gauging station gauge. Reported fishing guide Ryan Tripp on February 14, 2021. He continued to report that he would likely be plunking the following day as well (February 15, 2021). Before returning to the “Forks” to “Ruby” drift on Tuesday February 16, 2021. Ryan reported doing well upon his return to the Smith River after leaving the Eel River. Fishing the same group of clients in consecutive days. On both the Eel River and Smith River. The group of eager clients had great success on both rivers while fishing with Tripp. The Smith River is at its peak of the steelhead run. Steelhead fishing should remain solid for more then a month to come.

The Smith River when rising can be a perfect opportunity to kick back in your vehicle and watch your “plunking” (still fishing) rod, while you wait for a takedown.

TRINITY RIVER-The main stem of the Trinity River is always a fair bet for steelheaders In Northern California. Tons of bank access and many options for drift boaters to take out and put in their drift boats. Not to mention the river almost always runs clear above Junction City, Ca. Most importantly it host a large number of steelhead. This run of steelhead typically arrives much earlier in the season then they do on coastal steelhead rivers. Ending earlier as well! However steelhead fishing guides like Justin Thompsonhttps://www.justinthompsonfishing.com/ are still finding success targeting steelhead in the upper sections of the Trinity River. Wether it be fly fishing or conventional tackle. Justin will be keeping you on fish throughout the day. And would be my first choice of guides if I was looking to hire a guide for steelhead fishing out of a drift boat on the Trinity River.

The Trinity River is hard to beat for steelhead enthusiasts who don’t care to travel the extra couple hour drive to get to the coastal rivers of Northern California. Photo credits to Garrett Kenyon.

Up and coming fishing guide Garrett Kenyon has been putting in solid work on the Trinity River himself. Targeting the same general location as Justin Thompson. Most of Garrett’s work has been coming from the bank. Using a “dime shot” (small piece of cured salmon roe) of the famous Kenyon cured salmon roe. With the addition of a puffball this concoction is irresistible to steelhead. Garrett has reported catching a handful of Trinity River Steelhead by mid day. Fishing on the Trinity River should remain decent through the end of the month.

Garrett Kenyon self photographs with one of six steelhead he caught last week while bank fishing the Trinity River near Junction City, Ca.

SOUTH FORK TRINITY RIVER-Far less popular then its better half (the main stem Trinity River). What the South Fork lacks in popularity, it makes up for in serenity. You won’t find many folks fishing this little gem. And there aren’t really a lot of spots to fish it from the bank, or by drift boat. There are a few spots however, and that’s all it takes if the timing is right. These steelhead are true winter steelhead. As big as you will find anywhere, and fight just as crazy. Most of the rivers fishable water with decent access to the SF Trinity has been bought up by weed farmers. A common occurrence and sometimes draw back to fishing in the emerald triangle. Believe it or not it’s been my experience that most farm owners are open to letting you have access to the rivers during the winter months of steelhead fishing. It never hurts to ask. Although I believe it would be foolish to get caught fishing on a farm without first obtaining permission.

Brandon Brownfield holds up a steelhead he got while pulling plugs on the South Fork Trinity River last week, before releasing it back into the river.

The South Fork Trinity has stayed surprisingly clear, and has remained fishable for most of the season thus far. Low elevation snow pack on the coastal mountain ranges allowed all the surrounding areas precipitation we had this season, run off slowly. As apposed to running off all at once when it rains. Making the river rise fast and get muddy. We took advantage of the opportunity to fish this system early last week and were rewarded nicely. With limited drift boat “put-ins” and “take-outs”. We settled on a short couple mile section of the South Fork to pull plugs in. Nailing a couple nice bright SF steelhead on our drift. Hands down there is nothing like watching a steelhead pin the rod down flat in the rod holder when they strike a plug. My plug selection is fairly simple these days. I threw everything out of my plug box except a handful of 3.5 Mag Lips. I don’t feel any need to run any other kind of plug for steelhead. Mag Lips smash! PERIOD!

Dan holds up a dime bright steelhead of his own. Fishing with Mike Rasmussen on the South Fork Trinity River. Dan got this dime piece while pulling plugs near Willow Creek, Ca.

BIG RIVER- Mendocino County has a plethora of steelhead tributaries that enter the Pacific Ocean within its County lines. There are many options to choose from when deciding which tributaries to target. Targeting several creeks or streams in a single day may be advantageous to anglers willing to do a little extra driving and hiking. Most of the smaller tribs have limited public access. However almost all of them may be targeted by the public from the mouth (where the creek enters the Pacific Ocean) to the Hwy 1 bridges that cross the tributaries. Not much to work with it may seem. As some tribs only have a matter of a couple hundred yards of accessible water to fish. These tribs are best targeted according to ocean tides. Generally only allowing for a small window of opportunity for anglers fishing during winters short daylight hours. There are some tributaries that have miles of accessible public waterway to fish however. It will take you some time to figure out these small rivers, creeks, and streams. Well worth the effort though. As they ALL have steelhead swimming up them during the winter months.

Mike Rasmussen releasing a “downer” (a steelhead that has already spawned and heading back to the ocean) hen steelhead he got in Mendocino County while fishing Big River on February 13, 2021.

I stopped by Big River in Mendocino County while spending the weekend in Fort Bragg, Ca with my girlfriend. Big River has a fair amount of public access and a healthy run of winter steelhead. It’s considerably overgrown and can be difficult to reach the riverbank to say the least. However, like the old cliche phrase goes. “Where there is a will. There is a way.” My girlfriend foraged the Mendocino Redwoods for prizes edible mushrooms, while I wandered up the trib to see if I could find a steelhead that wanted its picture taken. I ended up fishing my way through roughly a half mile of river. Finding it easiest to chuck a spinner as I covered water walking in this cluttered up tributary. As apposed to fighting the willow and alder trees that lined the bank. I caught two bright “half pounders” (a small steelhead who spent less then a year in the salt). Along with two spent adult steelhead. Who had already spawned and were working their way back to the Pacific Ocean. Both under ten pounds. Both quickly released back into Big River to carry on their existence. Not a bad deal for a couple hours hanging out creekside in Mendo.

Fishing Big River in Mendocino County, Ca will test you tackle game as it has many obstacle to deal with while fishing it riverbanks.

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