Chetco River - OR

Wayne Hirsch (left) and Scott Jones, both from Brookings, Oregon plunked Spin-N-Glos on the Chetco River last week to nail these beautiful winter steelhead. Wayne's hatchery steelie tipped the scales at 15 pounds! Photo by Larry Ellis

You can make a simple rockfish recompression device for only $1.25 by snelling a 12/0 hook with 250-pound braid....photo by Larry Ellis

Two other great grip-type recompression devices are the Fish Grip ($14.95) which was refabricated for rockfish recompression by two Oregon skippers), and the RokLees recompression device ($29.95)....Photo by Larry Ellis

Popular commercially-made recompression devices. Photo by Larry Ellis

My favorite fish descending devise is the BlackTip Catch and Release Fish Recompression Tool, which allows you to release very large rockfish by using heavy sinkers.

Toni Roberts from Brookings, Oregon nailed this chrome-bright hatchery steelhead while plunking last week on the Chetco River.

Steve Malatesta of Watsonville landed a nice hatchery steelhead on a recent trip to the upper Trinity River. Winter steelhead have started to make their way into the lower Trinity River, with the run typically lasting well into March.

A fisherman guards his plunking stick at Social Security Bar on the Chetco River last week while his faithful companion keeps a vigilant eye for any finned intruders.