Other good steelhead baits include night crawlers or pieces of shrimp. Late in the season, a tiny cocktail shrimp and a small, plain marshmallow can be deadly. If fresh roe is not available, try a "Bag O' Fire": four to six single Pautzke salmon eggs tied with egg sack netting. Natural colors -- Yellow Jackets or orange -- are good bets for steelhead, but the famous red Balls O' Fire will also catch steelhead.

Scents are also a good idea. They mask human scents and also draw more aggressive bites. "Shrimp is always good," Castellanos says of scents. In recent seasons, Pautzke's Liquid Krill has accounted for many limits on the Wild Rivers Coast. Other good scents include Eagle Claw Trout Gravy, Mike's Shrimp Scent and Pro-Cure sandshrimp oil.

"If everybody is using the same thing, it doesn't work as well," Castellanos says, pointing out he carries several brands of scents on his boat. "I like something that puts out a good scent trail."

If pulling plugs, Castellanos and Fenton stick to Hot Shots. "I like the size 30 series," Castellanos says. "On the Chetco, the 'cop car' is a really good plug." The cop car is black and white. Other good finishes are chrome, silver with a red bill, chrome with a black bill and crawdad.

"I prefer the plugs without rattles, but in murky, off-colored water, a rattle actually helps you," Castellanos says.

Many guides will carry plugs during low water conditions, thoroughly fishing the tail-outs above riffles before continuing downstream.

FINDING FISH
Steelhead are often found fairly close to shore, in 4 to 6 feet of water moving the speed of a fast walk. "Ideally you want to cast near the edges or soft water," Castellanos says. "Steelhead will move up on high, muddy water, but they are always looking for a soft edge where silt filters down fast and allows them to breath better."

In high, off-colored water, fish close to shore. When the water is extremely low and clear, focus on riffles and fast water.

Roe clusters the size of a fingernail are ideal in low, clear water, while larger clusters become necessary in high water conditions. When visibility is limited, also try adding yarn and using small Spin-N-Glos above your bait.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
The Wild Rivers Coast is accessed via U.S. Highway 101. From Southern California, take Interstate 5 north to Grants Pass, Ore., and then cut over to the coast on U.S. Highway 199. It's about 80 miles from I-5 to Highway 101 at Crescent City. Highway 199 actually follows the Smith to the ocean once you cross back into California. Highway 101 accesses the Chetco, Rogue and other rivers in Oregon.

For guides, contact David Castellanos of Cast Guide Service in Smith River at 707-487-2278 or 888-367-7411. Castellanos can help arrange trips with other guides if he is booked. Guide Marc Fenton can be reached at 541-469-3945.

There are motels in Klamath, Crescent City, Brookings and Gold Beach, but most visiting steelhead anglers stay at Ship Ashore Resort, which is at the mouth of the Smith River. Call 800-487-3141 or 707-487-3141 for reservations. Ship Ashore is about 1 mile from the Lucky 7 Casino, a popular gathering place for anglers after a day of fishing America's Wild Rivers Coast.