Almost a new California state record steelhead…
January 14, 2007
History was made…almost…last week on the Smith River, where young Alex Green hooked and landed a monster 26.8-pound steelhead off the bank.
The fish was under a pound off the current state record of 27 pounds, 4 ounces — a steelie caught way back in 1976 also on the Smith River.
Green hooked the fish while fishing with his dad at Ruby Park on plunking gear — roe and a Spin-N-Glo.
The fish was a big wild buck and, as you can tell in the photo, he was super chrome. A dandy to be sure — even if it fell shy of the state record.
There have been a couple other fish in the 24- to 25-pound range taken from the Smith so far this season and guide Mike Coopman got a 26 pounder a couple seasons back.
The Smith, located in extreme northwestern California, has always been known as a big fish producer and it wouldn’t surprise many people if the river pumps out a new record in the not-so-distant future.
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