Smith river report 12-6-07

I don't normally post a report on a trip we got skunked, but this was fun and got some good pics to share. Running the Smith in a fishing kayak is not for the faint or weak of heart. You have to know what you're doing and you have to know the river. We finally got the rain the rivers desperately needed. Roger, who post on this board occasionally came up from LA to land a big one on his X-factor. This was quite the deluge and all of our rivers were running like mud. The SMITH is comprised mostly of scoured bedrock and clears up within a day of rain. As some of us have posted it can be hard river to fish but the potential for a state record is always there.

Graham and I set out Thursday afternoon barreling down the 101, dreamy eyed  and quietly envisioning posing with a trophy. It poured on us the whole way and  the river had risen nearly 10 ft. We got there too late to do a float but got in some bank fishing at the forks of the river. We saw alot of driftboats on the water and fish were being pulled but a lot long faces from the Guides enduring a paltry season. We come across a driftboat team that landed a Big beautiful Steelie and they were the talk of the town that night.

After sleeping under the canopy of an old growth Redwood forest I met roger in the pre-dawn hours at the Huiochi motel. Did an equipment check, looked at our route on the map and made our way to a put-in called "Society hole" There is a long rapid at the put-in that if unprepared will flip you out of your boat in a skinny minute. It was tempting to run but not a good first introduction to rapids on a sit-on n-top for Roger. We portaged around the meaty part and got in at mid rapid. The current was screaming and in an instant were downstream barely able to see the put-in. It took a moment to pry Rogers fingers off his paddle shaft and put a rod in hand but once he got the hang of it he was a master caster. The river is a bit narrower in this first 5 mile section which makes for some fast water. Casting becomes an artform. Putting your lure in one spot then drifting past it while avoiding mid river obstacles and willow thickets is challenging to say the least and at times totally futile. The technique I've been working in for this type of kayak fishing is useful for rivers where an anchor is just not an option. I'll cast my Kwikfish downstream and set the rod in a center mounted Ram tube. I then back paddle like a drift boat matching the speed of the current. To avoid fatigue I set a bow angle of 45 degrees and let the current ferry me laterally across the river in both directions. The feeling when it's working is exhilarating, you just slide across the river without losing or gaining any ground. Always have a downstream eddy picked out as a fight spot for landing a fish. You might as well cut your line if you think you're going to paddle and land one at the same time. You can walk a fish downstream for miles but you will need to be stationary to land it. Graham and I use a Technique where we hook a quick release towline onto the stern of the angler with a fish. We then do the paddling while the other concentrates on the fight. From the bank you can use the towrope to pendulum them into the eddy below. Team fishing at it's best!

We fished that first section for 4 hours before stopping at our campsite midway and taking a lunch break. I had prepared the night earlier some Dutch oven enchiladas, Pineapple upside down cake, and fresh bush baked cornbread. We were starting to get a little nervous because that was the best section for fish and we didn't see so much as a tail swirl. The next 4 miles the river flattens out wide and shallow. We were fishing Roe, spinners, floats, and spoons of every color and size; Nada! As we approached the 101 bridge, lackadaisic drifting and casting gave way to lines flying furiously in every direction in a vane attempt to salvage something of the day. We'd settle for a little trout at this point. The vehicle came into view over the bluff at the public boat launch signaling the end of the line. I made one last cast and let it drift down a football field away before reeling in slowly letting my bouncing betty feel the bottom the whole way. There was a tap tap I waited for the third but it never came. I'm never happy about getting skunked but it's happened enough times that I don't fret about it. I was disappointed roger didn't have a fish to go home with but floating 9 miles on the smith in day, C,mon it doesn't get much better.

Hawk-

You REALLY need to watch CDEC before heading to the clear water monster.  The flow on the 6th started out at 14900 CFS.  The river comes into shape for fishing around 1/4 that flow.  No wonder you guys were zooooooming right along.  I was fishing at 5000 CFS yesterday, and it still felt high.  Sounds like a fun trip though, anything out of a dutch oven is delicious.

SwellRider,

 That's a Epic Run,

 Hats off to you for trying that.....

 I'm having Epic troubles in getting out to fish ...

  Driving me nuts ............. Danglin

Sean, I live by CDEC, wouldn't be much of a guide if I got myself and clients into unforeseen situations. The conditions were perfect for fishing. the fish weren't there.

Great report, Hawk.  Way to give it a go.   

A 9 mile float, in a yak sporting rods w/ Kwikfish, on the Smith. Sounds good to me! I for one am glad you posted a report. It's ok to post even if you didn't hook anything, it's fishing. Plus, I like pics of the Smith.

I'm never happy about getting skunked but it's happened enough times that I don't fret about it...floating 9 miles on the smith in day, c'mon it doesn't get much better.

Thanks for the great report, Hawk. Your neck of the woods is heaven! It's also encouraging to me, the Queen of snags and no-bite trips, to know that "skunked" happens even to the best fishermen but that the joy of the ride is still an awesome experience.

Janice aka "Big J"

The conditions were perfect for fishing. the fish weren't there.

Not trying to be a pain in the ass...just rying to share what I have learned. You want the flow to be at around 4K, not 14K. 

There is a big difference between floatable, runnable, and fishable.  The people that I know, that have caught a lot of fish out of that river stayed home because of the flow.  The day after or during a receding flow is correct, but when its dropping from a lower peak, to a lower base flow...not from way too high, to still too high. 

I am not an expert on the Smith, but don't suck at catching steelhead.  It was still too high yesterday, and it was a lot lower than when you guys went.  I saw four drift boats all day.  If it was "right" there would have been a ton.

Yesterday was a last minute bomber run.  If I am up for longer, next time I will give you and Ab a call.

 Ive been longing for a run like that. That was inspiring.
Is "society hole" on the maps or is it local lingo?
Without fishing it or spending to much time in wave play ,can I pull off this trip in 2 hours?

Hydro- I don't contrive fishing details with local lingo, what I post is for you to consume and be safe. Society hole is what it's called on the map and is well signed when you get there. This is one of the easier rivers to access but let me warn you this river doesn't play around. Many have lost their lives in those cold waters. Because of the hydrology of the river and it's bedrock make-up it creates what white water kayakers simply refer to as "Funny water". You'll be kayaking along and all the sudden the river shift lefts abrubtly and you're getting bounced through the rock sieve like a pinball. Yes you can do it in two hours but going it solo when you've never ran it before is not a good idea. At this point I've run all the rivers in the emerald triangle except redwood creek. I'm a good one to come and at least pour over a map as you pour me over a beer.

Nice report, but looks pretty naughty...
I was thinking about going up there this weekend, but good thing I didn't because I can not lose anymore of Jim's stuff...

Love the pics of the wildlife and the actions shots as well. I took my P-15 down the Russian with Mickfish and jdyak last year. It was a 7 mile dirft and only Mike / Mickfish produced a steelehead (photoed and released) that day and yet, we still had a blast just being out there. The water flow was no where close to what you guys had to deal with but I remember spinning the yak around a few times in the eddies and had no control of the yak....I was glad Mike and jd was around in case I needed help.

Anyway, stay safe out there. And I hope people on this site practice their paddling skills in slower moving waters before venturing out to bigger and fast moving waters.

Swellrider, how about giving a class on kayaking down a river and staying alive?   I'm sure you'll get some interest from this group (including myself)   IMO: the class should also include the dutch oven goodies