The Chetco River gets some very large Salmon and Steelhead! Steelhead over 20 lbs are caught yearly, and many in the mid to upper teens are landed frequently. Salmon fishing is very good on the Chetco, and side-drifting is popular because of its long, perfect runs. The Chetco River is in southwestern Oregon in the United States, approximately 55 miles (88 km) long. In 1988, the United States Congress designated the upper 45 miles of the river from its headwaters to the boundary of Siskiyou National Forest as the Chetco Wild and Scenic River – part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers program.