The Chetco...you're making me homesick. Well, it was never close to home, but the Chetco was the first steelhead river I ever loved.
I used to make 1 or 2 pilgrimages from SoCal to the Chetco every year, from about 1980 to 1990. I only drift-fished for winter steelhead in the early years, but I caught my first steelhead on a fly there one October. I think it was a little lost Rogue half-pounder, but I was pleased.
Each year, I just penciled in a week of vacation--usually between Christmas and New Years--and took my chances on the weather. Usually the river fished fine. If the fishing was poor, I'd find time to go back in February!
Since the big Biscuit fire I hope it still holds its color as well as it used to.
My favorite run was Miller Bar. I used to park my camper right on the bar. If a storm was coming in, I'd set my alarm for the middle of the night so I could check and see if the water was coming up very fast, so I could get to high ground! I did move a few times, but never really needed to.
I would love to go back, but I hear its much more crowded than even 15 years ago, and it's a slow trip from Portland anyway.
So many memories...
What lines and flies were you fishing?
--Bill