Eel River questions

Some questions for you Humboldt locals:

1. Are there any hatchery steelhead in the Eel River, or are they all wild? How about the Mattole?

2. Have any of you fished for steelhead with a flyrod? If so, what are your favorite flies?
Is an 8 weight rod too heavy? Do you use floating line or sinking line?

3. What are the rules regarding size and open dates on the Eel or Mattole?

Thanks!

Some questions for you Humboldt locals:

1. Are there any hatchery steelhead in the Eel River, or are they all wild? How about the Mattole?

I think they're all wild - especially in the Mattole.

2. Have any of you fished for steelhead with a flyrod? If so, what are your favorite flies?
Is an 8 weight rod too heavy? Do you use floating line or sinking line?

Not a flyfisherman.

3. What are the rules regarding size and open dates on the Eel or Mattole?

size?  It's all catch and release ONLY, so size is irrelevant.  Open dates:  Main Fork Eel below junction w/ S. Fork is subject to low-water flow closures after 10/1 I think.  Mattole and Main Fork Eel above S. Fork don't open at all until Jan 1 on any year.

Both streams are known for big steelhead up to the high 20's.

Good luck~

Eric

In the 2007 regs, it says no fishing for steelhead all year in the north coast district: "Anadromous waters of the Klamath and Trinity River Systems and those entering the ocean south of Humboldt Bay which are not listed in the Special Regulations." So, it's catch-and-release all year round?  In that case, do you still need to fill out the Steelhead card?

In that case, do you still need to fill out the Steelhead card?

Yes before you start fishing

Mike answered everything else. I'll chime in with some flyrod answers. An 8wt is fine, a 9 is good too. With regards to line type it depends on what kind of water you're fishing in. Some runs are deep and slow, others are deep and fast. Some good water is shallow and broken up. I'm going to take my flyrod along more often, I could have used it yesterday. I'm prone to using a medium sinking line and using it where it suits it.
Fish on!

I've always used an 8wt system for steelies. As for lines, the most common and diverse system is a shooting head system with the at least an intermdiate, type II, typeIII and IV lines. Put a 5" loop in you shooting line and they are a snap to change. Just coil the shooting head up and loop it over the coil to change lines. Couple twisties to keep it coiled and your good to go.  A floater is always good if you want to fish indicators and nymphs, and leadcore for those swift waters. Like most steelheaders, there are a ton of self created sinktips and overweighted lines use too. If you go with a shooting head system, be sure to overweight your lines by one size, ie. 9wt lines for an 8wt rod. They load much better and throw a lot easier. 10 wt rod is standard for the king salmon. Remember the windows for decent flyfishing are generally much shorter than conventional fishing. You have to wait for the rivers to drop and clear much more to be fishable.