Russian Steelhead Slaughter

Yesterday I scouted the lower river and saw a lot of fish rolling at Willow Creek fished for a few for nada next stop was the mouth of Austin Creek saw 1 or 2 roll then hooked a nice fish that took off downstream I couldn't follow it and I was using 6lb leader so I had to break it off. It was getting late and I had Dinner plans so I took off with plans to return today.

Left the house at noon so I could fish the outgoing tide, in my haste to leave I left my hatch off just laying in the footwell, 25 miles later at freeway speeds and bumpy roads I got out to pay the day fee my hatch was still there Whew all ready a lucky day. As I got my yak ready I saw a few fish rolling in the upper section of Brown's Hole I was excited. Anchored in 3' of water at the head of the hole and there was fish rolling right below me, threw everything at them for about an hour nothing, it's a pretty deep hole 20' so I put on the biggest Brads Lure I had and 3 casts about 20' from the boat the lure stops I set up and a big hen comes flying out of the water. This fish is hot and is flying all over the pool then turns and comes right at me I'm reeling like crazy and I see the fish smoke past me then I see why it's being chased by a big ass furbag he catches it about 50' above me and swims down to the hole and takes about 10 min to eat it up. As I am re-tieing I see alot of big splashes in the tail out and there are about 5 or 6 Seals chasing fish . Most of them were content to feed in the tailout but this Fricker must be lazy he parks right below me and is just watching me fish .
In the next hour or so I get 2 more hookups and lose one from trying to horse it away from him and after about a 10 min fight he gets the 3rd one Steelies fight awesome but with a seal on their tail it's something else very erratic and fast. I took a bunch of photos but I was faced directly into a setting sun and with the reflection off the water was too much for the Optio to handle. More seals moved in and they were all over chasing fish unbelievable to watch but it was making me sick so I pulled out and fished Monte Rio till dark for nothing.

Frustrating day but it was Beautiful out and sort of amazing to watch. Final Tally Seals at least 20 fish Mickfish O

Pic 1 Browns Hole at High Tide
2 Seals chasing fish look how big the splashes are compared to the people on shore.
What is he waiting for??
Fly flossers fishing Austin Creek Riffle.

Is there a C+R reg for furbags? New kayak sport. Man that is frustrating watching those chromers get wacked like that. Better luck next trip Mike, like you need it......

Nice report, sorry about the competition out there.  It is a losing battle every time one of those bastages is around.   

I'm thinking you need a pouch of about 3 dozen hamburger sized skipping stones...  I love marine mammals, but I wouldn't mind seeing a purple knot on the head of one of those would-be fish-eaters.    

Thanks for the exciting report, Mike - better to see nature in action than to wonder where all the action is.   

Jesus Christ Mike, what a bummer. Iguess thats the way it is.I can just imagine sitting with that helpless feeling. You are a good guy and concerned about balance in nature. I can't wait to get on the river with you. See you soon. Craig

Weren't we just talking about Browns and seals???  What a bummer.

Mike-

I was wondering where you were today. Didn't see you at the ISE... If Melissa didn't have so much hmwk to do... I'd be chasing some seals tomorrow. But, she does so we're going to try for some sturgeon instead. Sounds like you know where they are though.

Freddie

NOAA does have some guidelines concerning deterring pinnipeds while fishing.   If I remember correctly, paintball guns are allowed.

http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Marine-Mammals/Seals-and-Sea-Lions/Deterring-Pinnipeds.cfm

Lock n Loaded Tomorrows gonna be fun

NICE... I wanna fish with you... 

In Oregon they use a 12 guage shotgun with rubber shot/slugs , wonder if we could get away with that in good ol CA , bet NOT ! Might slip in a lethal load by mistake , LOL ! Bastages , seen furbags as far upstream as Knights Landing , ought to be a law !

Human activities have gotten "nature" so far out of balance that some species don't seem to have a chance. 

I don't want one, but I'm thinking it's about time to open a harvest season for seals/sealions.  Seriously, the population seems like it could handle it.  I'll bet that proposal would fly like a Lead Balloon.

Mike, you seem to have that river down, perhaps you should guide AOTY point gathering trips..... And that would have been hard to watch, even here in Martinez you can occasionally see a big sealion tearing a salmon apart.

Dale L

perhaps you should guide AOTY point gathering trips.

Forget the Optio, next time remember the wrist rocket...

Dang Mike, that had to be painful to watch the steelies getting slammed!

No rain in the forecast either