The Smith River did not get the biggest part of the recent storms, keeping it quite fishable according to local guide Kevin Brock. "The overall bite has not been great, but it's typical steelhead fishing", observed Brock. "We are getting between three and five bites a day, but we have to work hard for every bite. The fish this year are mostly under 10 pounds, but some larger ones are still around. On Tuesday we had Dan and Sue Wagner of Chico in the boat, and they caught three steelhead topped by a beautiful 14-pounder."

Brock added, "We hooked the big one at the Gauge Riffle, and it took off strong and stayed down for about 10 minutes. All of our fish are biting on Pro-Cure salmon roe with a pink puff ball fished on 8-pound test fluorocarbon leader with a No. 4 Owner SSW black needle-point hook."