James Keeling Guide Service

James Keeling fishes the Smith, the undammed coastal river that reaches the sea a dozen miles north-northeast of Crescent City and which his own page credits with California’s largest salmon and record-size steelhead. Because nothing impounds it the Smith clears fast after rain and fishes on a rhythm set by the storms: salmon in late fall, steelhead through the winter. Two boats cover the river, a 17-foot Willie drift boat for the upper water and a 24-foot Willie jet boat with a 225 Yamaha for the bigger reaches lower down near Hiouchi. Bait, tackle, rods and reels are provided along with instruction, and the guide cleans and packages the catch. A river-taxi service is sold alongside the guided days.