By Chris Shaffer

The Smith River is the most popular coastal steelhead river in California for several reasons, but the root of all of them stems from the size, quality and quantity of the steelhead available and the fishability of the system.

Not only is the Smith one of the most majestic rivers in the West, it also harbors some of the largest steelhead on the planet.

"It's the best in California for many reasons," says fishing guide Greg Squires of Access to Angling Outfitters. "Most importantly, every day the state record or perhaps the world record swims in it. It's definitely the best opportunity in California to hook a 20-plus-pound fish."

On the North Coast, it also poses the greatest chance you'll be able to fish. While many North Coast rivers can take weeks to clear after a storm, the Smith doesn't. The Smith is like a massive toilet bowl; it flushes and clears quickly. Depending on the severity of the storm, high water is normal for only a few days after the rain stops.

Fortunately, this short river is the quickest to clear in the state. Barring a series of massive Pacific blasts, the Smith is almost always fishable. At worst, it may kick anglers off for a day or two after the storm. Considering that the Eel, Mad, Mattole and other coastal systems can be unfishable for weeks at a time, the Smith has amazing characteristics.

"The Smith consistently fishes no matter what the weather conditions are. When Mother Nature kicks up her best storm, the Smith isn't gone for weeks at a time," added Squires. "When people plan a vacation it's a great place to go. At the Smith, the odds are you are going to be able to fish. On some of the other rivers, odds of you getting rained out are better than the odds of you being able to fish."

The Smith offers an excellent chance at 8- to 10-pound fish and yields enough 15-pound fish that it takes a fish better than 20 to turn heads. Quality fish are always abundant. Rarely do anglers catch fish smaller than 6 pounds.

Guide Mick Thomas shows off a 15-pound Smith River steelhead. Photo by Chris Shaffer

The Smith doesn't fish like many of the state's popular steelhead waters. There's an art to fishing its emerald-clear water. There's a trick to fishing when the water is high, low and how to alter techniques during each stage of the color change.

On the other hand, you have to know what portions of the river to fish when the water is high. According to Thomas, you'll want to fish the upper stretch of the main stem of the Smith. When the water is high, the best drift is from Hiouchi Bridge to the Forks. Keep in mind, different guides offer different theories.

"The upper section is a lot easier to fish in high water because you have a lot more water that you can work," Thomas added. "Unlike the upper section that has deeper holes, the lower section is a lot more spread out. In the upper section, you don't have as many willows to contend with."

Rather than drifting the whole river in a day, try making two passes on the upper stretch. This allows you to stay in the section of the river that harbors the most fish and the fish that are most easily accessible during high water, instead of fishing less productive water for half a day.

SMITH REGULATIONS Special regulations have traditionally governed the Smith River to protect its delicate run of steelhead, with a closing date of March 31. This past August, however, the Fish and Game Commission extended the season through April and voted to allow barbed hooks. While those regulations were set to be implemented this fall, a technicality required the commission to vote on the issues once again in late October. Department of Fish and Game officials said it’s extremely unlikely that the new regulations will be overturned. Be sure to check the regulations before fishing beyond March 31 or with barbed hooks. Catch-and-release fishing is urged on the Smith. Anglers who want to take a fish home for dinner may keep one wild steelhead over 16 inches or one hatchery steelhead; no more than five steelhead can be taken by an angler each year. — Chris Shaffer

"I don't fish the lower section much during high water. To be honest, it's kind of like wasting your time. Don't get me wrong, there's fish in the lower section, but there's also a ton of willows," added Thomas. "Normally the willows aren't an issue, but when the water is high, there are willows in the places that you want to fish during high water. What you have to be real careful about are the plunkers. There are a lot of them on the lower river during high water."

According to Squires, low water can be approached two ways: by either covering lots of water or by working a small area very hard, trying not to miss a single piece of each hole, run or riffle.

"In low water, you have to cover lots of water. Because the water is low, the fish hold low. The idea here is to try to find the fish that are scattered in the system because when the water is low, the fish tend to scatter," says Squires. "The fish aren't in big schools in low water. In low water, you can't get 100 places to fish in a mile drift like you would in high water."

Low water is also a time you have to worry about spooking steelhead on the Smith. "In low water, if the fish get spooked you have to move to the next hole," said Squires.

The second plan of attack is to take a section of the river that you either heard fish were holding or you know fish hold in and work that section of the river extensively. "If you spook fish, go over to the bank and sit for a while," Squires suggested. "There are so many boats on the river now that you don't get your own hole. Work the areas that you know hold fish and work them hard. You have to be persistent."