Lower Eel still holding fish - 11/25

Collin and I hit the river for 45 minutes as the sun set this evening.  There were no fish rolling as we looked from the truck, but once we were on the water we saw some rollers.  The only guy in the hole above Fernbridge was flyfishing from his anchored pram.  Colly and I tossed our Little Cleos in the direction of an occassional salmon rolling and then the flyfisher had a fish on.  I decided to cruise over there to get pics.  He was cool about it.  He fought a fiesty jumper of a steelhead for 5 minutes or more and we got a good pic of him with it.  We continued fishing and got one tug, but no real action today.  The fish are in there - it's a matter of time...   

Hey Abking,
I know that guy. His name is Neil Lite. He has been throwing flies at fish longer than you can imagine. He's the gadget master. You should see the stuff he packs into that little pram. If there's something new out there, he's tried it. I recognized him from your first pic. I know his pram and the way he stands in it. Your close ups just confirmed it for me. One thing I can tell you, if you see him out there. There's something out there to fish for... He knows his sh*t. He's usually on the Smith or Chetco chasing salmon now.

Too funny, Jonesz!  Small world, eh? 

I first saw him out there last week when Claire and I were out there.  We paddled over where Neil and 3 other prams were anchored up and fishing the slot from the water side.  I scooted into a slim vacancy and realized after a couple of casts that me and the girl would end up drifting right into their zones, so we very gently paddled over to the shore where two bankers were fishing.  Neil says, "you'll scare the fish..." because the "slot" between the line of prams and the bankers is only 7' deep and the water was clear.  I laughed it off, landed the yak and showed Claire how to cast.  Less than 5 minutes later Neil hooks up a big king, pulls anchor and starts going with it - I call out, "looks like you just hooked one of those scared ones!" and another one of the prammers laughed!     So yesterday was the second time I'd seen him when he caught that steelie - he said he'd caught a bunch of cohos prior to it.  So this morning I cruise down to the hole before work and fish for 20 minutes or so - it was me, Neil, and one other prammer.  Nobody hooked up and those guys were talking about the fish having moved up, but I was working a few fish in 3' of clear water and almost had one take my Cleo.  I came back this evening to fish the last 20 minutes of light and Neil was just putting his pram on the truck.  I pulled up alongside his rig and told him, "you're addicted!"  He announced that he'd been there all day with just a lunch break - 5:30AM to 4:45PM!  I asked how many fish he hooked and he said, "that's a secret..."  I told him the photo of him and the steelie turned out good and he said that was the smallest fish he's caught lately.  He seemed reluctant to give me an email address when I offered to get the pics to him - probably figures I'm just another fishing-psycho from the internet!   

probably figures I'm just another fishing-psycho from the internet!   

Huh, thats what I thought too! LOL!
Just kidding buddy! Thanks for teh great report + pics.

Steelhead season doesn't open until December 1 down here. Used to be Nov 15 but they changed the season 2 years ago. I actually do prefer having an extra week in March though...thats prime run time.
PK

Yep, that sounds like Neil. He knows how to keep quiet, and like I said. He's never far from the fish. During the spring he and a couple other guys head out to Florida and they rent a house and run a guide business for tarpon on the flies. They bought in on a flats boat and share the costs and alternate guiding. If you look closely there are some gills right behinds his ears... He DEFINES the term "fish bum!!" He's very good. I haven't seen him for a couple years. Last I saw him was on the Garcia, and yes he hooked up there too. I'd suggest you memorize his truck and keep an eye out for it in the future... I hope to spend some time on the Eel this year, if the conditions are favorable. I have never spent much time on that river and I'd like to start getting to know it. Maybe we can hook up some time this winter.

Maybe we can hook up some time this winter.

Just say the word.   

Cool, we'll have to keep an eye on it. You obviously live very close if your running down for just an hour or two in the evenings. If we keep having such a dry winter, we might have a repeat of last year, and that was the best year I can remember. I just looked at Neil's closeup again and I see he still uses his timer to time his line sink. Most just count to themselves, but he says this is more accurate... the gadget guy.