Shelter Cove 3/14---3/16 "Gimme Shelter II"

I am waivering hard.  That is a long way to go to fish in the rain and maybe not fish in the ocean at all.   Not that the river float and steelhead do not sound fun but I have zero experience with the latter.  What is the forecast for the following weekend up there?  What is the fishing like these days in San Diego (as long as we are planning to drive 8 hours and have some days off anyway)?  I am not out yet but am seriously open to suggestions.

I think Mako1 (Juan) has the right idea about getting a campsite at Burlington for Fri and maybe just drift the Eel several runs for steelhead. We'd be protected from weather by the great trees and it is a world class run that after doing once you'll want to go again. Burlington campground is one of the best in Norcal. It's private and each site is tucked into a stand of Old growth trees. There are hot showers and fire rings, all at $20 per site, two to a site. We could stay there the whole weekend and fish till the cows come home. As someone that lives here and acutely tuned to the weather and seastate, I can say the ocean will not be welcoming Sat and especially Sunday. The river will still be in good shape fri-sat.

Looks like Shelter Cove is pretty much out.  I was waiting to see what Ettiene did, because I figured he'd be going if it was at all doable.

I'm still debating whether a run up to the Eel is doable vs. saving my time and effort for a future trip somewhere.

I feel inexperienced like Etiiene. It's been 30 years since I fished the Eel, and then only from the bank.  I have only geared up for salmon, so I don't really know if I can make the shift in a short time with no days off work to prepare.  What would we actually need gear wise to have a reasonable chance of success on the river?

I'm advising to look hard at Hawk's plan or even save your WAF altogether and scrap it.  The abglance page gives a 6 day window that has proven to be very reliable - as far as I know you can't get a consistent ocean forecast farther out than that.  I'm focused on getting as many trolling days as I can before the season is shut down for the year (a two weekend season is looking like the best case scenario once they decide it and set it next month).  I'll post about windows of opportunity - especially on weekends - and I will try to accomodate anyone's schedule as far as hooking up at the Cove in the coming weeks.  There are NEVER any guarantees for ocean conditions up here, especially in the Spring...

It was a great effort to organize, and the group put some excellent energy into it - bravo to that.   

If you are set on coming up and wondering about the river fishing I'm sure Hawk will set you up on how to do it - it's not that hard, and the main joy of it is the old-growth drift anyway.  I totally agree that the river canyon will likely be very protected and a great time this weekend.

Also, FYI:  I did Aptos to my home in Loleta in 5 hours 25 minutes w/o speeding too much.  Shelter Cove would be about 15 minutes less than that trip.  It all depends on traffic timing.

Eric

Damn. Oh well, I still need a dino for the AOTY, maybe Ill hit some dino hunting grounds instead.

Hey Steelhead are just rainbow trout who have been eating "performance enhancing anchovies" every year. Basically the same tactics as trout but bigger tackle and more use of pink terminal gear.  Not that I have much steelhead experience either.  You guys are killing me with the weather "reality".  Let's wait 24 hours before pulling the plug and get some real intel from our NCKA bros on the north coast about the wind and swell conditions. You know how wrong the forecasts can be. If we get real intel from eyes on the ground about 10 foot plus swells, we can decide at that point. Personally, I think I would rather drive 5 hours to drift the Eel for steelhead if the option was to sit on the anchor in San Pablo Bay for 6 hours waiting for some prehistoric fish to wander by and tap on my bait. 

scott

I have five days off and I still like to go and play in the rain,wind , surf ,river or what ever. I've been driving up and down the Silicon Valley to long with out a break! I'll be going up to enjoy some of that fresh northern air even if the yak have to stay behind (no rack for the van yet) I will settle for bank fishing if some one could maybe suggest a spot on the Eel river or any spot to just chill!!!Talk about Cabin fever

Sounds like Scott and Alex are coming - maybe others.  It will be rough and I'm not going to Shelter Cove, but I'd like to drift the Eel.  I think I'll work Friday and do the river Saturday.   

Steelhead fishing is an art, but the flipside of the art is just what Scott said - a bigger version of trout fishing.  You could catch a steelie on a Panther Martin...  Plugs like the wee-wart and flatflish are really easy to toss and retrieve.  Seriously, drifting the South Fork of the Eel when it's emerald green is one of the most beautiful places on earth.  We can stop and do a little old-growth hike up one of my favorite creeks too - good chance of seeing some spawners or at least some redds.

There's still some fun to be had.   

Well I've been on the fence and I think I just fell off. I get very few days off including weekends so I have to make them count. I really wanted to go after Salmon and Crab. Sounds like that will be a bust . Is there any chance at moving it till the following week or so?

Damn. Oh well, I still need a dino for the AOTY, maybe Ill hit some dino hunting grounds instead.

The way I read it you still need 9 other fish, not just a sturgeon.. 
I have been watching the posts and thought if it was raining up there chances are the wind and swell would follow.
I couldn't get the time off but I was definitely cheering all you guys ( and gals ) on.
I hope things work out well for those of you who make the journey.
Good luck.

You know how wrong the forecasts can be. If we get real intel from eyes on the ground about 10 foot plus swells, we can decide at that point.

10 foot combined swell: No Problem
20 foot combined swell: No Thank You

The forecast has gotten worse since yesterday.
.FRI...W WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 3 TO 5 FT. W SWELL 14 TO 16 FT. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED TSTMS.
.SAT...NW WIND 10 TO 15 KT...BECOMING N 20 TO 30 KT WITH GUSTS TO 40 KT LATE. WIND WAVES 2 TO 3 FT...BUILDING TO 6 TO 8 FT. W SWELL 12 TO 14 FT. ISOLATED TSTMS.
.SUN...N WIND 25 TO 35 KT WITH GUSTS TO 45 KT. WIND WAVES 8 TO 10 FT. NW SWELL 11 TO 13 FT.

Yep - it's going to be the roughest stretch of ocean in the past month or more!     Too bad, guys. 

I'll be hoping to hit the Cove on the 22nd or 23rd, and I'll know about my ocean-window by next Tuesday or so...

Bummer.

Thanks for everyone for trying to make this happen, but such is life.

I've got major cabin fever, so I'm planning on camping/fishing little closer to home over the weekend.

Man am I bummed. Had my car packed and ready to go. Anyone up to give it a try 3/28-3/30?

Scott

I was looking forward to it too. I even took the day off at work.

I can probably drive up on a Friday evening and come back Sunday morning/afternoon if things work out  later.