NorCal Kayak Anglers
Kayak Fishing Zone => Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) => Topic started by: LoletaEric on December 07, 2017, 10:31:50 AM
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Tuesday on the SF Eel. Good friend Walker recruited a partner, Byron, and the two engaged my services for a 12 mile run on the South Fork. Hoping for steelhead but knowing there are still salmon doing their thing, we elected to run lures all day and left the roe at home. It was an icy morning with some brutally cold fog, but the river was gorgeous as it's holding its green color longer than usual due to active slides on the upper end. Right off the bat we had a nice steelhead follow a spoon and strike right by the yak! Felt like a great omen for the day, but we ended up with very few bites until later in the afternoon. That was fine though - we enjoyed a beautiful day with plenty of glassy water and not a breath of wind from dawn to dusk.
After a strong tour including a lunchtime hike on the low end of an oldgrowth creek, we needed to cover some ground to get to the truck by just after sunset. Saw an old friend from NCKA, Chris, a few miles above our takeout - he was retrieving his truck where they'd launched their driftboat for the day. He gave us a hot tip about where they'd gotten on some fish, so on our way by we gave that spot a few extra casts. Walker got the payoff when a stout and chrome-bright Chinook took the spoon and dogged us like a submarine for about 10 minutes before we got it in the fine mesh release net. Got her rested up, snapped a couple photos and watched her swim off strong. Chinook wasn't our target, but this encounter made our day and I was stoked to see Walker get the opportunity to play such a magnificent fish.
Steelhead season is just getting revved up, and the oldgrowth corridor is as awesome as ever. Let's go on your adventure! :smt001
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Late December through March are Prime Time for steelhead on the Eel. Grab a buddy or two and let's pencil in a date - if conditions don't materialize, we don't go.
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Great pics and report as usual, E!
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Very nice!
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Great pics and report as usual, E!
^^^^^^^^^^^ what he said.
Beautiful area....
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Thank you for awesome report and pic Eric :smt006
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Great pics and report as usual, E!
A true AbKing report..great pics and story....
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Oh Yeah! I have been craving one of your river reports, some of the best reports on the forum. I am ready for some Steelhead. Thanks Eric, you are blessed to have such an awesome river close to you.
One of these days I am gonna fish the Eel with You.
Keep em coming!!!
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Thanks for the pictures and story, took that trip a few years ago with you and still share it with friends. Nice
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Nice Eric! I’ll be in contact soon
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Thanks for the report and pictures Eric. I really envy your life style.
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I'm ready!