A few years ago, Max came to visit. The Steelhead were on the bite and we decided to go fishing. Since his visits from northern Wisconsin are rare, I did not expect him to be back for quite some time and I wanted the trip to be memorable. Living as I do in southern Oregon I am just a short drive from a number of wonderful rivers, all noted for their Steelhead. But I wanted him to have an experience he would not soon forget.
I have fished the Smith River in far northern California several times over the years and to me it combines all of the attributes one could hope to find in a one time fishing trip. The water is clear, cold and famous for its Salmon and Steelhead. Over the years the river has cut a path through the local mountains and is bordered by majestic stands of Douglas Fir and Redwood trees. That was the adventure I wanted him to enjoy. It was an excellent choice because he still mentions it.
I booked a full day of fishing with a local guide. We drove over the day before and got a room at a local Crescent City motel. The motel is very unique and beautiful since the exterior and all of the rooms as well as the main office are from the timber of a single curly redwood tree.
We rose early in the morning, ate a quick meal, bought sandwiches for lunch and met our guide. We followed him to the river where we dropped off my car at the place where later in the day we would pull ashore and end our fishing. He then drove us miles up stream to where we put the boat in the water. The boat was a typical “banana boat” shape seen so often on these rivers.
We got in the boat, the guide pushed it off of shore and we began drifting. The guide immediately began setting up all of the poles and was not very interested that we were heading sideways right into a set of white water rapids. No need to be concerned though because the boat was very stable in the water and we glided right on through the rapids.
We drifted and following our guides instructions we alternately cast or trolled our baits as we meandered downstream. During the first few hours, we each had a bite or two but could not manage to hook into anything. Then mid morning Max caught and landed a good sized Steelhead. It was clean and fresh and had not spawned yet, so he kept it. Then right after lunch he got another and it was a “Downer”; all beat up and skinny from spawning and was headed downstream back to the ocean. Max let that one go and after he did, the guide told him that he made a good choice because that would have been his limit and had he kept it he would have had to quit fishing.
A little while later we reached the area of “Stout Grove” a huge grove of giant redwoods. We drifted through a pool and the guide told us to cast in a specific spot along shore, but we both missed the spot. So the guide pulled mightily on the oars, yep no motor on these boats, and after 15 minutes or so had us back above the area he wanted us to fish. This time both of us were much more attentive and we hit the spot - our baits only a few feet apart.
“Fish on” I cried almost immediately and an instant later Max echoed me with his own “Fish on” cry. My line headed downstream and Max’s headed upstream. Mine was a nice fish, but not a big fighter and I boated it in only a few minutes. Meanwhile Max was losing line as we rapidly drifted downstream. The guide looked at Max and said “you are hung up in the rocks”. Max protested that and the guide reached over and took the rod and said “Here, I’ll get you out”. I thought Max was going to punch the guy, but instantly he handed to pole back to Max saying “I’ll be! You do have a fish!”. Max fought that fish for several more minutes. It was a classic. That Steelhead jumped 4 or 5 times and finally threw the hook and swam away. It was huge, the guide said it was one of biggest he has seen in several years. That was no consolation to Max and every time we talk about that trip he says “Damn guide thought I didn’t know the difference between a fish and a rock!”.
Hey,
Want to learn more about Crescent City and the Smith River?