Adult steelhead continue to be caught on the Smith River side drifting roe and a Quickie puff ball with most fish averaging 8 to 12 pounds with some larger fish in the mid to high teens reported. Daily scores have been low but should improve in the coming days. On average most angler's have reported one to three fish with some zero's mixed in. The river has been high for most of the weekend with better boating flows Monday. Very little if not any rain is expected for the next seven days so expect the Smith to drop everyday. Steelhead in the high teens and low twenty pound class are a real possibility on this river. Current flows at Jed Smith gauge are 10.5 ft and dropping at the time of this report. Angler's should call ahead for current river conditions as conditions can change quickly on the Smith River.

Smith River pumping out steelhead.... January has traditionally been a great time to intercept one of California's hardest fighting fish on their upriver journey to spawn; the Smith River steelhead. After some good rain in early January the Smith was prime and loading up with lots of steelhead. Bob Baker of Reno, NV. joined Professional guide service's Dave Jacobs January 15th where the pair hooked a half dozen steelhead on the middle fork Smith River on side drifted roe and a puffball. All fish were 8 to 11 pounds like Bob's 10.5 pound steelhead in this photo. Steelhead fishing will continue through March on the Smith. Don't forget to mail in last year's steelhead report card by January 31st.

Professional guide service will be available for guided drift boat trips on the Smith River January thru March 2008.