S. Fork Eel - 1/2

   Yes, I've got AOTY fever!  I also had the day off and the family doing other stuff, so I decided to do some time down on the South Fork.  The Main Fork is still pretty off-color, and the S. Fork is very green, but not perfect - that'll all change with the heavy rains that are forecast...  I parked on the bar just above the forks and took off up river - that's how you do it, right?     I cruised up two and a half miles, walking it through 3 swift spots and paddling the rest.  Passed a couple driftboats who'd had limited success.  Saw two large fish splash next to me, but no hookups pulling a plug here and there and throwing a Cleo a bit on the way back down stream.  Back-paddling wasn't super comfy in the X-Factor, but being on the river was.  Man, what a machine - I love paddling up current.   

AOTY pays those who invest the time...  hopefully!   

Nice report and pics,

  the Forks?  does that mean where the river splits to S. Eel?

the Forks?  does that mean where the river splits to S. Eel?

Yep - right along 101 about thirty miles south of Fortuna. 

Thanks

  That's a bit of a drive, looks worth it though

It might be the last good day for a while. The prediction is for 10 inches of rain in the Santa Cruz mountains this weekend. Usually, Humboldt gets even more rain than us.

I think these storms are forecast to blast you guys a bit worse than us this time around.  There'll be places like Honeydew that'll get 10"+, just as Boulder Creek likely will, but the rest of us in the flat lands will see maybe 3-5...  Keep the Gore-Tex handy!   

I live around 6 miles south of Boulder Creek, so it should be a deluge around here. We really need it, though. The creeks are really low. Loch Lomond was also really low when it closed for the season, so it should benefit a lot from this rain. Gotta go clean out the gutters and stock some supplies!

Abking, you scalliwag!

3 days into the year and you already put 2 in on the water!

your outdoing your own AKStyle reportin Abbie! Too BEAUTIFUL of COUNTRY you got under you up there!
Thanks for rubbin it in a bit before the weekend hits! 
We'll be needing documented hour-by-hour reports of the rising water levels in our Nor-Cal Rivers as this thing plays out over the weekend.....weKNEWweCOULDcountONyou!


....i'm sick from trying to get that damn DINO for the last two months and can't make it out till i beat the thing down(70mph sustained winds at Mt.Diablo already this a.m.)
aint' none of us getting out this weekend!.........maybea2hr.WINDOWonSUNDAYthough    ...stand by!

I sense some serious HURT coming to some Dino

    NOT TIL' LATE NEXT YEAR  ipromise

    NOT TIL' LATE NEXT YEAR  ipromise

That'salongtimeinbetween! 

   NOT TIL' LATE NEXT YEAR  ipromise

 Naw....  You'll be out there soon looking to fill that slot

I may have to pull a Mooch after gettin that first one on the yak! 
that's WORSE than SHORE-FISHIN!

Hey, speaking of shorefishing...  I'm really tempted to run down to Fish Bay tomorrow afternoon for the minus tide and huge swells.  Last time we did that (years and years ago) we caught nice cabbies, greenling and even a nice big ling in 3' of water.  I think the fish were taking cover in the nearshore channels since there were 17'ers outside.  I want to see how 25'ers affect the bite!     I won't be in a yak!