• Courtesy of Dell'Arte International

Grab your tackle for Humboldt Steelhead Days starting with the kick-off party on Friday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Mad River Brewing Company (free). But don't stay out too late — hooks hit the water at 7 a.m. the next day. In the taproom, mingle with fellow anglers, swap fish stories and register for the competition that goes until the festival and all its attending films, lectures and workshops end on Feb. 7.

On Saturday, Jan. 24 from 1 to 4 p.m., Mad River Family Fun Days takes over the Blue Lake Business Park with arts and crafts, story time and all-ages workshops on rigging your line for steelhead and catch-and-release fishing. Come back at 7 p.m. for Fish Tales 2, Dell'Arte's family-friendly cabaret night ($10, $5 kids). Performers will be casting around for laughs, telling stories and making music with the string-heavy Kingfoot.

— Jennifer Fumiko Cahill