Here at Western Waters Guide Service we provide guided fly fishing trips for winter steelhead from January through March, on the Smith River, Mad River, Van Duzen River, Eel River, and Mattole River of the North California Coast. 

Come spend a day fly fishing with us, where we pursue the most beautiful, hardest fighting Steelhead on the planet in surroundings that rival the beauty of the fish. We specialize in helping fly anglers become proficient in all techniques used to catch winter steelhead- both spey & single handed fly rods. And if you are a beginner, we guarantee to shorten your learning curve! Our anglers will fly fish the famed rivers of California’s Lost Coast which include the exclusive five rivers of the North Coast. If you are just starting to fly fish or you are a hard core fly fishing fanatic, Western Waters Guide Service will provide you with an unforgettable fishing experience. Steelhead are sometimes referred to as the fish of a thousand casts, however a great man (Henry David Thoreau) eloquently wrote: “Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after”. He surely must have visited the beautiful Lost Coast of Northern California!

All five coastal rivers react differently to weather conditions, the river you fish will depend on weather and water conditions the day of your trip. You could have the opportunity to fish multiple rivers over the course of several days. Two to three days of guided fishing are recommended to provide a good opportunity at ideal river conditions and productive fishing.  

 A Day of Fly Fishing for Winter Steelhead

Each day you will meet your guide at a designated place at 6:30 a.m. You then follow your guide to one of five local rivers. By drift boat you will float one of many beats of river the California Coast has to offer. Most fly fishing is done from the boat with single handed rods. Indicators and flies that immatate egg patterns are necessary to entice the large winter steelhead. Winter steelhead are less likely to move for a fly than their fall counterpart, so getting your flies down to the fish is essential for success. Casting instruction is always available and comunicating your goals for the trip are helpful to your guide. Fly fishing for California Coast winter steelhead is the most challenging method used to catch steelhead, so realistic expectations should be one or two steelhead per day.

  

Making Reservations for California Coast Steelhead

To make a reservation, please give us a call at (530)-321-7452, or email us at wwgsflyfishing@gmail.com anytime. We can answer your questions and give you detailed information on your upcoming steelhead trip.