Eel River Salmon Survey - 12/26/13

Ran another reach of the main stem today in one of my X-Factors with my crewmates in a canoe.  We launched several miles upstream of the forks and enjoyed some great water - even though it's very low and we need rain badly it's incredibly beautiful out there right now, and the fish are kicking ass!  The redds and complexes of redds were outstanding.  The carcasses were numerous, always mature adults, and some monsters!  The active spawners varied from old sore tails to some pretty freshies.  Saw a couple bald eagles from a distance.  Paddled through some magnificent holes to 22'+ with exposed bedrock and 20' of viz.  My goal for the day was to document a king over 40" - had a Hawg Trough with a fresh extension pinned on.  I'd measured several in the upper 30's when late in the day I came across a stout 41"+ buck - went 25 pounds spawned out.  Then, near the last good complex of redds I measured a beast of a Chinook at about 46 inches!  It went nearly 37 pounds with a great humpback.  Saw some great live fish on the redds too.  Got back to the trucks at the forks just before sunset, found another 40+ carcass there, got the BBQ lit, jammed upstream to pickup my rig, and got back to the forks to enjoy a couple hot sausages off the BBQ and a cold beer.  Great day on the river.  Pray for that evenly metered rain...   

 

Super cool!!!

 

 

 

Got to be the coolest report of the year!  Thank you Eric.

Got to be the coolest report of the year!  Thank you Eric.

Thanks, Sonny!   

Those Eel River fall-run are such massive fish  .  Wish my Lassen springers got that big.  What an awesome place to survey!

I agree: no gullywashers while those redds still hold eggs or alevin!  A nice, steady sequence of storms would be ideal.  Did you happen to see any steelhead during your float?

Did you happen to see any steelhead during your float?

Chris - we saw one specific group that was either jacks or mid size steelhead, but couldn't confirm.  Pat dove on a redd complex and didn't see steel but did see pike minnow.

Wow, just doesn't do it justice, glad you take the time to take us along on your excursions thru your pictorial reports, they just keep gettin better...