Chetco River
The Chetco River in southern Oregon is a very popular, undammed river that flows 55 miles starting in the Siskiyou National Forest and emptying into the Pacific at Brookings, just north of the California border. This is generally a full day of fishing, starting at Ice Box, about eight miles above the coast, and floating down to the upper reaches of the tide. There are a lot of great holes on this stretch.
Chinook on the Chetco
This river has some of the largest Chinook salmon in the state, averaging 20 pounds, with many 30 or more and even a possibility of landing a fish of 40 to 50 pounds. You'll see both natives and hatchery fish on this run. Chinook on the river run strong after the first good rain of the autumn, generally from October through November. This is one of the later Chinook salmon runs in the state and produces some of the largest late-fall salmon on the west coast. The most successful tactics I've used for Chinook on the Chetco include pulling plugs, back bouncing and bobber and eggs.
Steelhead on the Chetco
The Steelhead here are both natives and hatchery. They're strong and beautiful, averaging 6 to 12 pounds, with opportunities in the 20-pound range. Steelhead on the river generally run through the winter, starting in December and going well through March. The most successful technique I've used for Steelhead on the Chetco is side drifting.
My Impression
I've been fishing the Chetco for more than 20 years. It was the first near-coastal river I started fishing and I'm always excited to be headed there. For me, it’s especially prized for the size of the salmon and the good Steelhead runs.
Resources
More about the Chetco River from Wikipedia.