We took delivery of our new Willie in December of 2004.  It's a 17' X 60"  with all of the comforts of home.  The boat is setup for fly fishing with braces front and rear.  When it gets cold we have dual heaters with the blower so the chill of winter won't affect your cast.  We utilize the drift boat on the Trinity, Smith & Eel rivers for salmon and steelhead.

Trinity River
Salmon and steelhead are thick in the Trinity River providing for great fishing throughout the respective seasons.  The salmon range in size from 10 - 20lbs on average with the occasional 30 - 40lb beast thrown in for sport.  The spring salmon run provides the best eating fish while the fall run provide the most numbers.  Steelhead on the Trinity range in size from 1/2 pounders for fun to the average size fish in the 5 - 10lb range with a surprise 15 pounder to keep you on your toes.

Beautiful pair or trinity river steelhead

The Trinity is the ideal fishery for the hard core fisherman or for a 1st time family fishing adventure!

  The best way to pursue the salmon and steelhead on the Trinity effectively is by drift boat either pulling plugs, side drifting roe or tossing roe bugs and other imitations.  Fly fishing is also done from our drift boat and is deadly effective.  Trinity River fish are extremely aggressive and will eat virtually everything that has been invented for salmon and steelhead.  The Trinity is a great river whether you're new to fishing or a long time steelheader.

Smith River
Pound for pound some of the biggest salmon and steelhead to be found in the Northwest come out of the Smith River.  The best way to pursue these giants is by drift boat which allows you to cover the most water in a day.  Salmon on the Smith have a very short season usually as a result of the weather.  Timing the weather and the run of fish become imperative for success.  The first big rains in the fall drive the fish into the river so you need to be there as it happens or soon thereafter to pick the fish up by side drifting, back-bouncing or pulling plugs.  After the weather settles down the only way to catch salmon is back-bouncing or drifting bobbers in the estuary which is an alternative available for those who wish. 

 Smith River Salmon & Steelhead Are the Pride of California

Smith River steelhead are the largest in the state and holds the record at 27lbs 4oz as proof.  Side drifting roe out of a drift boat is the method of choice for these giant silver fighters.  The average Smith River steelhead comes in around 10 - 12lbs with fish in the teens being common place.  Many steelhead in the 20+ lb range are caught each year so if you ever wanted a chance at a trophy the Smith River is the place to be in the Winter and Spring.  We like to practice catch and release with the natives, especially those in the 20lb range.  Practicing catch and release in this river ensures the Smith will continue to produce steelhead of this size in the future.  When this river is fishing good it is the most exciting river to be on that I fish.

Eel River
Steelhead are the rule in this catch and release only river.  Drift boats provide easy access to the Eel River steelhead who are just as big and mean as their cousins in the Smith.  The only catch with the Eel is a little rain can blow the river out so the number of days the river is fishable throughout the steelhead season is minimal.  So if the conditions are right the Eel is the place to go to have a river all to yourself.  We try to fish this steelhead fishery whenever possible.  So give us call if this sounds like your kind of fishing.

The payoff- Unscathed big and Chrome Eel river Buck