Aside from anchoring where everybody else is side drifting, fishing the opposite side of the river that other boats are working is one of the biggest mistakes newcomers to the Smith and Chetco make. Expert guides working a good stretch of river will often actually herd the fish into a zone they want to fish, and a boat going over the hole will scatter the steelhead, making it tough for anybody to get a bite.

A medium-light spinning rod between 8 and 9 feet long combined with a smooth spinning reel is the most popular outfit for side drifting. Eight- to 15-pound-test monofilament line works well. Most guides prefer monofilament over braided lines for side drifting. "That stuff can cut your fingers pretty quickly," Castellanos says of braided lines. An angler grabbing braided line to break off a snag is at risk of getting cut because the line is hair-thin. Guide Marc Fenton, another veteran Wild Rivers Coast guide, says he stays away from braided line because it is so strong and can cause a rod to snap if an inexperienced angler pulls too hard on a snag. Wind can also cause it to wrap around a rod tip, also causing a rod to break.

Anglers who use braided lines give credit to their sensitivity and visibility, and their lack of stretch.

When using monofilament, many guides rely on florescent lines. "Ultra green is really hard to see, especially if it is raining or overcast," Castellanos says. He uses P-Line CX Premium fluorocarbon-coated line.

For leaders, Fenton and Castellanos both rely on 3 to 4 feet of fluorocarbon line, which is virtually invisible underwater. "I usually don't use anything over 4 feet because it is hard for some people to cast," Castellanos says of leader length. In high, off-colored water, he will use just 2 feet. "It's better to have a shorter leader when it's dirty," Castellanos says.

Aside from being difficult for steelhead to see under the water, fluorocarbon leaders have another advantage. "They sink a little bit faster," Castellanos reveals. "They get down to the bottom and fish don't seem to see them."

The leader is attached to the mainline with a barrel swivel and the weight is added to the mainline using a sliding snap swivel.

Slinkies and "Sploosh Balls" have replaced pencil lead, long a favorite of steelheaders, in recent years. A Slinky -- lead shot stuffed inside a piece of parachute cord -- easily slides over rocks, while a Sploosh Ball is a hard plastic weight that is virtually snag free.

"I prefer to use Slinkies in high water because they sink fast," Castellanos says. When choosing Slinky size, Castellanos uses .200 or .170 shot. He uses No. 8 to No. 12 shot, depending on water conditions. In most cases, smaller shot is better than larger sizes. "The Slinkies slide over the rocks a lot easier with the smaller shot. I like about 3/8-ounce. That's No. 10 shot."

Use just enough weight to barely tap bottom every five seconds or so. "You don't require a lot of weight if you side-drift properly. You want your presentation to kind of glide over the rocks," Castellanos shares.

For baits, use tiny clusters of salmon or steelhead roe. A pink or orange Puff Ball will float bait just off the bottom.