The quest for Chinook continues...

Flows were right so I took a comp day and me and Juan drifted a few miles on the Eel.  Weather was cold and miserable enough to make for perfect fun in a "survivor man" kind of way. Water was a balmy 45 degrees, air temp about the same.

The water color however was PERFECT, but no fish in sight.  The drift was gorgeous.

Juan dwarfed by natural splendor...



A super-cold Juan pretending to still behaving fun...

That river is a Beauty... BURRRRRR

That'll likely end up being last chance - rains about to hit are going to get all the fish up in their creeks, and the river will rise, color and may end up fishable before New Year's Day...

Nice High Rock shot.

 

That'll likely end up being last chance - rains about to hit are going to get all the fish up in their creeks, and the river will rise, color and may  end up fishable before New Year's Day...

Exactly why I went at the last minute.  Unfruitful but still super fun...08!!!

45?..... sounds pretty nice to me.. 
Beauty of a time. Love the pics and nice way to give 'em one more shot for '08.

Z

        River fishing is so exciting.............sometimes on a good drift through a familiar hole I think I actually forget to breathe.  Not being in the 2007 ATOY it has been fun to see the title go down to the wire...........not without a fight!

yep, thanks for trying for all of us scwafish, makes it more exciting for the peanut gallery!

Dude?...you said you QUIT for the year!....thanks for NOT givin in!
Sweet pics and Juan "does" look like he is having fun.....the lucky dog! 
like the wiseman named Mooch told me "it ain't over till the RICE is COOKED?!" 

  Beautiful Try once again,  really wanted to try there too,

 I've got one more shot next week, ..... Danglin

Sean, I'm glad we didn't call it off! I now want to do a longer drift knowing that I can backtroll a plug in a sweet run using the paddle. I've got sore shoulders to prove it. It feels good. I don't think I need the 10 lb anchor either. If I need 10 lbs to anchor in a spot, I maybe shouldn't be anchoring there. On that note, anyone ever see a 5 lb pyramid?
Just because I couldn't engage the thumb-bar on my Calcutta doesn't mean it was cold, does it? I don't think Sean mentioned that it rained pretty much the whole time.
Another angler at the takeout mentioned landing a 10 lb steelie last week. It's steelhead time, too bad everything is blowing out now.

Yeah, Juan, I have a friend, Bill (from the otter-like abalone rockpicker shots at Fish Bay) that did a guided trip pulling plugs from Holmes to Scotia last Saturday.  They picked up half a dozen steelies to 10#.  The salmon are spawning as we speak.   

I don't think I need the 10 lb anchor either. If I need 10 lbs to anchor in a spot, I maybe shouldn't be anchoring there. On that note, anyone ever see a 5 lb pyramid?

  Juan that's what I was thinking, I have a mold I'll make you one. But what if you hook a nice fish and he starts dragging you where you don't want to go?

Mike, I've got to hook that wild and crazy fish first, then I'll deal with landing it.
As for the 5 lb pyramid, if you can make me one, I'm buying it right now.

I have had my 10# creep in a few places where I anchor in Ukiah, but a 5# would certainly be worth a try.  Glad we went to Juan, great drift.  Always nice to check out a new spot.

Sorry I missed the drift, because it looked like beautiful scenery. That looks like a good run for steelhead too. I'm looking forward to drifting the Russian this year for some big steelhead.

CHEERS!