First steelhead of the year

I had heard that Big Lagoon had broken through to the ocean on Friday.  Sure enough, the water level had dropped several feet.  It was no longer two large bodies of water on either side of the road.  The eastern side of 101 was back to its normal narrow slough look.  From the highway, I could only guess where it had broken through.  Looked like that absolute norther part of the lagoon.

Jason and I arrived at Stone Lagoon at 7:30am.  It hasn't broken through, yet.  The next storm should do it.  We launched and headed over to the south side to work the shore down to where it's going to breech.  Nothing.  Not even a nibble.  I saw an osprey fly overhead just as I caught up with Jason.  He said that two ospreys had mobbed a bald eagle that was still on the beach ahead of us.  Sure enough.  When we got within 80 yards, the eagle took off.  The beach looked safe so I beached and called nature.  The surf looked closer than I had remembered.  Back in the water and Jason yells that there's a golden eagle over the north side of the lagoon.  Cool.

When we get to the north side, we start working near the shore.  When we get to where I hit those little guys last week, I got a bite.  Another 10 feet, and I've got one on.  Seems like a little guy.  But, when he goes under the nose of the kayak it's clear he's a steelie.  Another 10 minutes and I got him netted.  About 3 pounds.  Really had him hooked inthe mouth and had to use pliers to get the fly out.  First time in a year that I had to use a hook retrieval tool other than my fingers.  It's C&R, so back in the water he went.

Jason had to get to work.  The water was pretty flat most of the morning.  But, it was starting to get choppy.  I worked the area one more time with no results then headed home.

Nice morning in Humboldt, Hal

Nice job! No pics? And looking at your avatar, I think you look familiar to me. Did we grow up together?

CHEERS!

(Still waiting for my first landed steelhead)

Right on, Hal!  Eagles, osprey, and a C&R wild steelie - great day!   

Hal--keep the post comin, your a photographer so post some pics so others can see how incredibly beautiful Humboldt is. They have no idea below the redwood curtain.

Last night after I posted, I got a call from my neighbor who wanted to go to Stone Lagoon today.  Bill, his nephew Ian, his fishing dog Arnold, and I were at the lagoon at 6am.  Tied my brown leech on by flashlight. 

No photos today.  Total pea-souper.  All day long.  Ian caught the first fish just after daybreak.  Through the morning, I caught the second, third, and fourth.  At about noon, Bill and I hooked up both at the same time.  Both small steelheads.

Other than the camaraderie of the boat, I prefer kayaks for comfort.  For one thing, it's much warmer.  Uh, and no 2-stroke smoke.  Oh yeah, no Arnold farting.

Another good day on the lagoon.  I'll have some pics from Humboldt in the future.  For now, here's a pic of a laker that I caught with my 5wt in the Northwest Territories last September.  Notice the flattering flotation suits that we had to wear.

That's it for Tuesday in Humboldt, Hal

Hal....you don't happen to be hiding from the law are you The funny reason why I brought this up is because a few years ago, we had a member who posted pics of a 30-plus pound salmon but they guys head was cut-off from the picture  (just like yours). Chuck and I (being moderators of this site) were convinced that this particular guy was more likely one of "America's Most Wanted"... We finally decided not to call the FBI because he turned up to a be a cool cat named Paul AKA "Blue Kayak" (the certified salmon slayer of NCKA)

Keep sending reports and pics = it's always refreshing to see and hear what other kayak fishing destinations are like

You got me!  Actually that's Chuck Aherne, the father of the camp owner, who I fished with.  I'm not in any of the pictures that I took.  But, that is a laker that I caught and my 5wt rod.  But, in those red float suits we all looked alike.

If I was going to pull one on you, I'd show the 35lb pike that Chuck caught on a 6" lure.  In three days of use, that lure had no paint left on it.

I was just fly fishing.  I had heard that red and white worked well for pike.  So I tied up a bunch of red and white rabbit zonker flies.  I thought it was a joke as they're the Canadian colors.  But, that's all could catch anything with for four days.

I'll try to get a copy of the pic that Jason took of me holding up a grayling.  I still haven't seen that one. 

Hal