CURRENT FISHING REPORTS

Fishing report 6-10-2009

Klamath river fishing report 6-10--09: The Klamath river is in excellent shape, the flows are staying steady at 9000cfs. We are catching spring Chinook salmon, the best eating and fighting of all salmon! We have been allocated 32500 fall Chinook for the Klamath river, the largest impact quota ever!!! The attached photos are of Bodie and Marc Fenton an old friend and fishing guide visiting from Hawaii. I still have openings for the spring and fall, give me a call at 707-272-8258 to book a memorable trip. David McLaughlin
Fishing report 2-15-09
Hello friends and clients, yes it has been a while since my last report! I have had writers block or a brain fart, due to some serious family health issues. After a very dry January it's finally started raining again the fishing was very good this last week on the Chetco river! I have posted a few photos of the Hanson pipe group that I have fished for nine years now, Thank you Rod, Chris and Dave!!! I also caught a few CHROMERS myself, Harvey Young, Dave Carney and myself went fishing and caught a beautiful wild hen and buck that we kept alive in a live well for the Elk river fish hatchery. It made me realize how much fun it is to catch those beautiful steelhead!!! The forecast is for rain and showers, I do have some open days in February and March, so give me a call at 707-272-8258 to book a wonderful fishing adventure!! Thanks David McLaughlin

Fishing Report 6-25-07

The springer fishing started out about three weeks earlier this year than the last few years, due to the dry spring and winter we had. I would have to say that overall it has been a good season, I have had some four or five fish days as well as a few zeros. The difficult thing this year has been finding a spot to fish with guides spending the night on the river in the prime spots. I have attached a few photos of the good days. I still have some open days for the fall Chinook season so give me a call 707-272-8258 to book a trip. Thanks Dave

 

Fishing Report 3-26-07

Hello everyone who reads my fishing report, I apologize for not updating my fishing report more often. Another steelhead season has come and gone here on the Smith and Chetco rivers, it was an up and down season to say the least. The weather patters have been crazy, anyone who doesn't believe that global warming is a fact needs to take there head out of their behind. I fished the Chetco river most of the season, going to the Smith only when I had to, I spent a lot of days on the wild and scenic section of the Chetco river whenever possible with very few boats around. I'm so glad spring is here, it's time to get the jet boat out of the garage and go Springer fishing, yeehaw fish on. I'm talking spring Chinook salmon if you didn't know, these fish are the best eating and hardest fighting of all the King salmon. We have finally had some good news regarding my favorite river and my home away from home the mighty Klamath river. They are predicting the best run of fall king salmon on the Klamath river in nearly a decade, I believe we we'll have have a generous impact quota in august and September. The attached photos are of Chris and Ben in the Raider Cal-Ore derby, with a mint bright wild steelhead that we released during the derby. The photos of the beautiful springers were taken on the Rogue and Klamath rivers last year. I will be posting some photos from the Rogue very soon, I will fish there until mid May, then I will relocate to the Klamath thru October. Give me a call at 707-272-8258 to book a trip Thanks Dave

Fishing report 1-10-07

The fishing has been very good on the Chetco and Smith rivers this past week. I have been fishing the Chetco the last three days, we have been getting four to six fish on per day, landing three or four. The Chetco is dropping slowly and should fish well for a few more days, there have been a lot of boats. The attached photo was taken yesterday 1-9-07, Gary Cambra and Jeff Bour were the lucky anglers. I still have some open days so give me a call and book a trip, Dave 541-412-0734
fishing report 01-01-2007

Happy New Year everyone, sorry for the lack of fishing reports I took a couple of weeks off for Christmas to travel and visit family. I fished Steelie Bill and the Cobb brothers from the Santa Rosa area on the Smith on Friday and Saturday the 29th and 30th, we had a great day on Friday landing three hatchery steelhead, Saturday we couldn't keep them on. I think it's going to be a very good steelhead season, I've already heard of three steelhead over 20lbs. being caught on the Smith river. I still have some open days so give me a call and book a trip.
Thanks Dave 541-412-0734
P.S. I hope you like the raccoon photo

 
 

 

Fishing report 12-03-06

The 4th annual Salmon Slam Fishing Derby was held this Friday and Saturday at Jot`s Resort in Goldbeach Oregon. Brookings fishing guide Mr. Jack Hanson was the one who ran the derby and guided in it as well. There were fifteen teams composed of two anglers and their guide, we were allowed to fish any river we desired. My team Dave Norris and Mr. Bill from Benicia CA, were the lucky guys that caught the big fall Chinook salmon that won the derby. Dave landed the fish that weighed in at 49.8lbs after it had been bled and dried out in the boat all day, had we have weighed it when we landed it it would have weighed 52 or 53lbs. first prize was $1200.00 a nice Christmas bonus. Brookings guide Greg Nicoll and his team mates came in in second place another Brookings guide Jim Bansmeir and team mates took the third place prize. The Chetco River is where the big fish were caught, the big King was the largest fish caught in the four years of the derby. I still have some open days in December for the Elk and Sixes Fall Chinook, after Christmas I will be fishing the Chetco and Smith rivers for winter steelhead.
Call me soon at 541-412-0734 to book a trip Thanks Dave
Fishing Report 11-22-06:

I've been very busy since my last fishing report. I've fished 3 salmon derbies for Mr. Jack Hanson, the salmon guru from Brookings the last 2 weeks - thank you Jack. I fished the Travis family from Nevada ( November 031 ) for 4 days. The first 2 days the rivers were on the high side, when the rivers had cleared good fishing was enjoyed by all. In the second derby ( the Car Dealers derby ) I fished Mike Halsey and Lon McKellar from Grants Pass, OR. They each caught salmon over 30 lbs. The derby was won by Brookings guide Joe Whaley and his clients, with a 47 lb. King salmon. The last derby was the Salmon Extravaganza. I was fishing Steve and Tom, they were part of the Shamrock Materials team from Santa Rosa, CA..
We fished the Smith River the first day catching a mint, bright 30 lb. chromer ( Steve caught the fish in vacation 124 ), Steve also lost a salmon in the 45 lb range that would have won the derby had we landed it. The derby was won with a 37 lb. King salmon, which was landed by guide Harvey Young and his teammates. After Thanksgiving I will be fishing The Elk and Sixes Rivers for fall Chinook until the middle of December. I still have some openings so please call soon to book a trip (541) 412-0734 ( home ), (707) 272-8258 ( cell ). I wish that everyone who reads this fishing report has a Happy Thanksgiving.

               

 
Fishing Report 11-08-06

As promised in my last report I would be catching some big Kings on the Smith and Chetco rivers. We have had some good days when the conditions are right, and a few slow ones when the rivers were high and very leafy like today. We did go 1 for 2 today on the Smith, with a very nice king approximately 35lbs. caught by Judy Travis from Fallon Nevada. The conditions should be perfect for the next several days. Bob and Bodie are the fellows holding the big fish we caught Saturday. I do have some openings Thanksgiving week and also in December when I will be fishing the Elk and Sixes rivers. Thanks Dave 541-412-0734
Fishing report 11-01-06

Another season has come and gone on the Klamath river, it was a very good season over all. I have attached some photos of some of the good days. We had a few days in September when we hooked nearly fifty salmon, jacks and steelhead. The forecast is for rain for the next several days here in Brookings, I am really excited about all the big fish I have been hearing about here on the Chetco river, and in the ocean waiting to come in. Every year I have 50lb plus King salmon caught in my boat here on the Chetco and Smith, my next report will have photos of the big ones. Below and on the right are photos taken recently.
Thanks Dave
Fishing Report 6-13-06

The fishing has picked up the last few days, the river has finally started to clear. The guides are averaging 1 fish per boat, the attached photo is of Mike Berry from Ukiah with a very nice 25lb. springer. I think the fishing will turn on now that the river has cleared. Give me a call at
707-272-8258
to book a trip for the best eating and fighting fish of all the Salmon.
Fishing Report 6-1-06

I took some time off from fishing, to move and visit family. , It's springer time on the Klamath River, I'm talking spring Chinook salmon if you didn't know. The springers have started to pour into the Klamath river, the Yurok tribe is doing very well in the nets, the river is still on the high side which makes it difficult to catch them on rod and reel. I believe that when the river drops and clears we we'll have some very good fishing. My clients and I were still catching springers in mid July last year. Give me a call at 707-272-8258 to book a trip for the best eating and fighting salmon of them all. Dave
February Fishing Report

The rains finally stopped in February, and stopped and stopped, we went from flood stage to low and clear, and doing a rain dance. The fishing has been very good this year with lots of fish and some big ones as well. The first attached photo is of Gary Cambra with Bob Rose and a big Chetco buck steelhead that would have weighed 20lbs. if we had caught it a few weeks earlier. The second photo is of Chris Clark from Sacramento with a beautiful Smith River steelhead that went approx. 15lbs. The final photo is of Rod Moody and Chris Clark with a nice limit of chromer Smith river Steelies, they were part of the Hanson Pipe group I fish every year, Thanks Rod and Chris. Steelhead season is nearing the end, I have some days available in March and in April I will be fishing the Rogue river for Springer salmon, Give me a call at 541-412-0734 and book a trip Thanks Dave
Fishing report 2-09-06, The fishing has been great on the Smith and Chetco rivers, the weather has been very nice also. I fished the wild and scenic part of the Chetco river the last few days, we hooked 13 on Tuesday and 7 yesterday. We are catching some nice bright fish and some down streamers also. Gary Cambra caught a big wild buck that was nearly 20lbs in its spawning colors that we released, maybe we'll next catch it next year and it will weigh 25lbs. Bob Rose caught a nice fish as well. I have a few days open in February and several in March, in March we usually have nice weather and good fishing the downers are good biters. Give me a call and book a trip, thanks Dave

Fishing report 2-01-2006

Rain rain rain will it ever go away, the fishing on the Smith and Chetco rivers has been very good when we have been able to fish. I had the most bookings in the eight years I've been guiding, hopefully the weather will cooperate in February. The attached photos are of the Burke family from Ukiah, we had a couple of good days on the Smith and Chetco, Dave

Fishing report 12-01-14

I`ve been fishing the Sixes river since my last report, we had some good days and some slow days due to changing conditions. I have attached a few photos of the good days, the first photo is of Alan Crain with a nice king that went approx. 25lbs, the next photo is of Martin Gates with a chrome bright king salmon that we caught just a mile from the mouth of the Sixes river. The final photo is of Martin and Frank with another king that was approx. 35lbs. I'm going to take a week off for Christmas, when I return I will be fishing the Chetco and Smith rivers for big steelhead. I've heard some some reports from the Smith river and it's sounds like it's going to be another good year for steelhead. I wish everyone who reads my reports a merry Christmas and happy New Year. I still have some open days so give me a call at 541-412-0734 and book a trip. Dave

Fishing report 11-15-05 thru 12-01-05


We are fishing the Elk and Sixes rivers for fall Chinook salmon, it has been very good. I will be fishing there until Christmas, the week between Christmas and New Years is usually good on the Smith and Chetco rivers for winter steelhead. The fish on the Elk and Sixes have been very bright and hot. The attached photo is of Marc and Bodie with some nice Sixes king salmon. I still have some open days in December so give me a call at 541-412-0734 to book a memorable trip. Dave

Fishing report 11-1 thru 11-14-05

The fishing has been very good this month on the Smith and Chetco rivers, I've been concentrating my efforts on the Chetco river as I usually do. The highlight of the month so far was a nine takedown day with 5 nice fish landed by Gary Cambra and Jeff Bour from Lake county on 11-4. We fished a large group from Fallon Nevada last week, the fishing was excellent. I fished part of the Craig Travis family, The attached photo is of Craig, Ken and 9 year old Ben who landed this very nice 35 chromer his first King salmon. The second photo is of Jeff Bour with one the nice fish he landed. I still have a few open days in November, and several in December when I will be fishing the Elk and sixes Rivers for fall Chinook, give me a call at 541-412-0734 and I'll hook you up, Dave

Fishing Report 10-21-05

Yahoo! the big King Salmon have arrived here in Gods country, I'm speaking about the Chetco and Smith rivers if you didn't know. This is my favorite time of the year, there's nothing quite like the thrill of having that kwikfish rod slam down and knowing that it could be a 60 pound plus chromer. The Chetco and the Smith are both giving up some very big fish, I heard of a 62 pounder caught at the highway hole on the Chetco recently. The forecast is for rain most of this next week, I hope it's correct. The first photo is of myself with a 55 pound chromer that I personally caught in the estuary of the Chetco River in October trolling a plug cut herring. The second photo is of Frank and Delma Carson from Sacramento, with 1 of the 7 nice kings to 57lbs that they caught in the wild and scenic section of the Chetco River. I am back at home in Brookings, so make sure and call me at my Oregon number 541-412-0734 for your chance at a trophy fall Chinook.

Fishing report 9-16-05

The fishing is still going strong here at the Klamath river, we are still catching a mixed bag of fall Chinook to 30lbs. and adult steelhead to 12lbs as well as Jack salmon. We had a good rain today that should cool the river off even more and make the fishing hotter. The attached photos are of Tom Evans, James Cobb and myself with a nice King apx.25lbs. i am taking bookings now for the big fall fish on the Smith and Chetco rivers, every year we get fish in the 50lb. class.

Give me a call at 707-272-8258 and I'll show two of the prettiest rivers anywhere and catch some very big fish as well. Thanks Dave

Fishing report 8-27-05


The salmon have finally arrived here on the Klamath River, I fished the Dolan Gang from the Bay area today we hooked 15 fish landing 11 of them including 6 adult salmon to 15lbs, 4 jacks and a 7lb hatchery steelhead. We targeted steelhead yesterday landing a few adults and a bunch of half pounders. The fishing is good the weather is beautiful give me a call and I will guarantee you a very good fishing fishing adventure. David 707-272-8258

Fishing Report 8-12-05

We are still fishing the mouth of the Klamath River, the fishing has slowed from last week but still has been productive. This attached photo is of Johny and Nicole Frazier, they were fishing with Nicole's father Dave. We were trolling gold CV7 spinners, we hooked three salmon landing two of them. This was the first time they had been salmon fishing and they had a great time. On a more serious note we rescued a fisherman named Ray that nearly drowned while trying to swim to his boat that had been blown offshore by the high winds. Ray was exhausted when we reached him and is grateful to be alive, I was glad we got there in time. I have still have some open days in august and September so give me a call at 707-272-8258 thanks Dave

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