The Chetco River is a 56-mile-long stream located in the southwestern portion of Oregon. Flowing through a rugged and isolated coastal region, it descends rapidly from about 3,200 feet to sea level at the Pacific Ocean. Except for the last five miles of Chetco, the river is located entirely within the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest. The river rises in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and empties into the ocean between Brookings and Harbor, approximately 6 miles north of the California state line.

Supporting a large population of salmon and trout, the Chetco’s water is of very high quality. The northernmost grove of Redwoods—the tallest trees on Earth—grow in the southern region of the Chetco’s drainage basin.

Unlike many of the coastal rivers the Chetco is slow to blow-out after a heavy rain, and is quick to drop into fishing shape. The Chetco River is the only non-Rogue River stream on the south coast with a hatchery program. ODFW has maintained a wild broodstock collection program on the Chetco River for more than 25 years, releasing up to 50,000 steelhead smolts annually. Releases occur at Social Security Bar, approximately 3 miles upriver from Highway 101. The majority of the returning hatchery steelhead stay within the lower 8 miles of the river, providing a very good fishery from early December to March. The heaviest concentrations are around the mouth of the North Fork Chetco River up to Loeb State Park.

The Chetco River also has a tremendous wild steelhead population. The Chetco is also one of the few rivers in the Pacific North West where you can retain both hatchery steelhead and native steelhead. The wild fish generally move through the lower river during rain events, providing excellent fishing. We begin fishing for winter steelhead in late December and continue through February.

Book a guided fishing trip on the Chetco River with Oregon Fishing Adventure and see where Native Americans have lived for the last one to three thousand years. Several explorers, including Sir Francis Drake, George Vancouver, and Jedediah Smith, visited the region between the 16th and 19th centuries, and found the Chetco people inhabiting the area. Come enjoy one of the greatest Oregon Coastal towns, the town of Brookings. Brookings was founded in the early 20th century, and incorporated in 1951. The watershed remains largely undeveloped, protected by the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest and the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.

Come enjoy a great day on the Smith River in Northern California!

Oregon Fishing Adventure offers salmon and steelhead fishing on the Smith River here you will enjoy great fishing while being surrounded by the National Redwood Forest. One of the great parts of the Smith River is there are no motors allowed on over 90% of the river. This is one of the greatest drift boat trips in the Pacific Northwest.

We fish for both fall King Salmon and winter Steelhead on the Smith River. This season starts in October just before the Chetco River opens and fishes through March .The Smith and the Chetco rivers we are so close to the ocean the fish you catch are extremely energetic, aggressive and as fresh as they could be.

Book a guided fishing trip on the Chetco and or, the Smith River with Oregon Fishing Adventure and see where Native Americans have lived for the last one to three thousand years. Several explorers, including Sir Francis Drake, George Vancouver, and Jedediah Smith, visited the region between the 16th and 19th centuries, and found the Chetco people inhabiting the area. Come enjoy one of the greatest Oregon Coastal towns, the town of Brookings. Brookings was founded in the early 20th century, and incorporated in 1951. The watershed remains largely undeveloped, protected by the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest and the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.