5/3/08
UPDATE! As everyone now knows King Salmon will be off limits in our ocean waters this season. However Coho Salmon will be available out of Brookings, Oregon this summer June 22 is the opener and the season goes through August. This news is a little late since most of you have made other arrangements for fishing this summer but the option is NOW here.

4/29/08
UPDATE! As everyone now knows Salmon will be off limits in our ocean waters this season. We now have received updated news that Point Saint George Reef will be OPEN to Bottomfishing!!. This news is good but it shows us how unstable our industry is relying on information. Hopefully the Albacore will show early and stay close this Summer to give us a real reason to go Fishing!?

3/26
We had a less than banner Steelhead season but the fish came and went anyway. We had high water all year and it is still flowing heavy today. The holes we like to visit will be closed on April 1st, so we maybe able to get a fish or 2 before then if the flow lightens up a bit. On the ocean front the weather is starting to come into shape 1 or 2 days a week but it is on it's own schedule so pre booking a trip is tough. Lots of Lingcod and healthy rockfish to be had but the Salmon season is bleak at best, I would like to get a shot at the Silvers in June to fill in between Tuna trips. We should again have great Albacore action this season!!

2/22
We are getting some rain but the river is still dropping. I fished with the SC boys and we landed 4 out of 4 to 20 pounds. JP caught the pig and it took us 3 holes downstream to land it. We took a few photos and he was back where we hooked him within 30 mintues! Still plenty of chrome hens around, but the bucks all seem to have color now. Hopefully we will get a good blueback run to keep us entertained while waiting for the bruisers.

2/18
We are having good weather and the river is dropping very slowly with the snow melt. I have been fished the late afternoons and having decent success with 2 to 3 hookups and landing 1 or 2 per outing. Last night I released my largest Steelhead of the past few seasons a hatchery buck taping out at 38" by 19.5", he had plenty of color but put up an excellent fight. I Also landed a 14" cutthroat. I Have yet to see any downstreamers so we should have River fishing throughout March.

2/12
We are having great weather and the river is flowing steady with the snow melt. I fished the last 2 morning before my chores and have had plenty of action. Today I went 2 for 2 to 12 pounds and went 0 for 3 yesterday. I'm seeing alot of fish as well so when the river settles down the upper river should produce some light tackle shirt sleeve action! Hopefully We will get a Salmon season somewhere this year.

2/08
We are having great weather but the river is flowing well with the snow melt. I fished with 2 buddies from Santa Cruz and had 7 hookups yesterday with 4 fish landed to 12 pounds and 5 hookups today with 4 fish landed to 14 pounds. Fishing is still tough even though there are fish around, this year the odd seams and slow water are producing fish and very soft bites.

1/30
The Smth is slowly rising and has great color. The fish are still hard to come by though and have been beat on pretty well. Hopefully this flush will bring in a larger pulse of fish. The quality is decent with a fish or 2 hitting the 20 pound mark but some smaller 5-7 pound fish are in the mix too. I have been getting 1 to 2 hook ups after work but I'm having to working really hard for them. We will see what tomorrow brings.

1/22
The Smth still has good flow but the color is gone and it's time for sightfishing and stealth tactics, which is what bank fishing is all about. The boat traffic is now light but the upper holes are getting hit pretty good. 1 to 2 hook up are the norm for all day fishing with the quicker anglers getting up to 4+. The rains are expected Thursday so look for another good weekend. The run is scattered and there is not a whole lot of fish in any one area. The anglers who work more ground will get more fish. Hopefully we will get a good shot of fish soon.

1/18
The Water is dropping slowly and keeping the river in great shape for upper river bank fishing. I fished for an hour between 9-10am and Hooked 2 to 15 pounds releasing a large native buck and took home a 8 pound hatchery hen for tonight's dinner. There is very little pressure on the upper stretches, but that may change tommorrow. The Chetco is producing great scores for the Drift Boats and Bank fishermen as well with up to 10 fish per boat!!

1/17
The Smith River is in prime shape! The level is perfect and just enough color the hide the fish. The usual spots are all holding fish but they are still on the move. I landed a 9 pound hatchery hen on the way home from the boat today. This weekend will have great weather, a good crowd and be a good indicator as to where we are in the season. The Chetco is on fire with lots of 2-fish limits reported and has excellent flow as well. Get out there and fish somewhere!!

1/14
The Smith river has had great color but the flow is still making high numbers tough to get. If you put your time in at the better spots it will usually pay off, saw 4 fish landed this afternoon. There are fish staging in odd seams and pockets with this much water, so be ready for the unexpected. I will be fishing the next 2 days and will update with current information as the river comes into prime shape and good weather is forecasted throughout the weekend!

1/4
Have been working on the Taylor-Gene past few days and gave the upper Smith a go in the late Afternoons. Wednesday produced a 12 pound Hatchery buck in a deeper than normal seam, further upstream produced a 10 pound Native Hen under some whitewater. Thursday the fish were biting, I fished a deep tailout and landed a 13 pound native hen, 10 pound native hen, 15 pound native Buck and had a long distance released on a deep holding fish of unknown origin. The Smith River was rising slowly, but forecast calls for a good flushing. Plunking should be great in the next couple of days.

CHARTLE CHARTERS
P.O.Box 1477
CRescent City, CA 95531
Phone: 831 588 7850
EMAIL: CaptJoe@ChartleCharters.com