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

Thats one sweet axe to grow up on. Actually, I leave the Gib at home these days and bring the Yamaha. The Gibsons a 1932, signed by Les Paul, and doesnt go camping anymore... I play all kinds, Beatles to Zeppelin, Hank Williams to Santana. Ill bring lyrics.
Its a gas when everyone cuts loose and joins in. Do you have a camp guitar? Ben

I have a mess of percussion instruments that we often bring on such outings.  I will tote them along.

Now we have Scott too!  This it starting to turn into an epic.  I can't wait.  I have not fished since November 

This it starting to turn into an epic.

Yep.  It's going to be a rough 5 weeks of waiting!

 

MByakker is a very talented musician too. He brought a guitar last year. And, yes Etienne, bring some percussion instruments....remember last year when we used pots+sticks to make music? It was entertaining, to say the least...

Stoked that GB2 is going too!

The salmon don't stand a chance!
PK


Abking...stop posting...you're gonna scare people away! Hahahahaha!

PK - I cannot control myself!   

Welcome aboard, Scott!   

How can anyone resist a sparkly launch like this?

Not to be too graphic, but this shot has got to be better than Viagra!   

Looks like I will be carpooling with Yakuza (Martin). Will bring some minikegs and man dogs for the event. Should be fun. I will need some pointers on salmon fishing from a yak. Only fished them from PB's. I assume we will be trolling not mooching?

Scott

Not to be too graphic, but this shot has got to be better than Viagra!   

SCHWING!!!!!   

Some have been known to mooch around there, Scott, but you must use fixed hooks for mooching.  Trolling from a yak is very easy - many people have the impression that it's work, but it's actually a very leisurely paddling speed.  Asa Spade's banana weight and cut bait got the job done, but I don't know how deep you can make a banana go, and sometimes it's necessary to be down 50-70'.  I like my DeepSix/flasher-dodger/slip rig setup with an anchovie.  PK had a strike on a crocodile last year, but I don't know if he had weight in front of it.  I like to fish anchovies, and they need to be in good shape for a pretty presentation.  They're $10 a bag last time I checked at the Cove, so I'll be bringing a couple of bags from Eureka (more like $3.50/bag).  If we have a hotel room with a freezer we're looking good for bait storage.  I'll bring bags of chovies for whoever says they want some and we can work out the details when we meet.  One day a couple of years ago down there EVERY chovie in the bag got bit by small salmon and rockfish - that was fun, and it made me consider always having two bags on hand as well as a lure alternative such as a watermelon Apex.  We are almost sure to catch quite a few rockfish while trolling for salmon - our careful catch and release skills will be put to the test, and we can have some fun with photo ops. 

It's sounding like we need a MBF setup...   

Eric; I'll be there for what I'm worth, as long as the weather report says no rain. 
Sorry to sound like a fair weather friend.  Since I am a beginner, I don't really need to catch a fish, but I'll bring all my gear and can at least be a photographer and a decent camp host.

My dream is to have one of my photos of some of you guys printed in WON.  So if I ask everyone to please briefly put a knife between your teeth and stand and/or neil behind FishHunter, then please understand.

I'm really looking forward to this; but if it rains, then I'm staying home and taking photos of my cat with my kayak.   -Matt

  I like my DeepSix/flasher-dodger/slip rig setup with an anchovie. 
It's sounding like we need a MBF setup...   

Which size deep 6 do you use? I used to use them all the time but switched to downriggers last year for more depth precision with the same amount of drag. MBF sounds good to me.

Thanks! Scott

Hardly anybody mooches at The Cove. Everybody trolls. Stark contrast to Monterey bay where mooching is preferred.
Good trolling lures would include:
-Apex (or an Apex knock-off)
-anchovie/sardine clipped into a bait-rotator
-hoochie with or without a 'chovie
-spoons like a crocadile

Then consider which method to get your lure into the strike zone (sometimes only 30ft while other times 80ft).
-a Deep Six type diver
-an inline banana sinker
-a spring-release
-a downrigger

I have always used the Deep Six divers...because, well, thats what my dad used. But there are a lot of different types of divers nowadays. I recently bought some of the Walker Deep Divers. Check out this link for more divers: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/subcategory/subcategory-index.jsp.17_A&_DAV=&id=cat602747&navCount=0&parentId=cat20166&navAction=push&returnPage=&returnQueryString=&cmCat=MainCatcat21276-cat350017&parentType=subcategory&rid=

I will bring lots of extra gear (including rods/reels) in case anybody needs to borrow stuff. So, please, don't feel obligated to go out and buy a bunch of fancy new gear.

And a MBF is a good idea. Voluntary participation, of course.
PK

That's good advice, PK.  Scott - I use the biggest "Double DeepSix" when I need to get down a ways.  If you don't need down so far then it's best to use smaller ones because they add drag in the fight.  A downrigger is great - Sonny has one on his mini-x.  I caught my biggest king at only 13 pulls, but it's more likely to be down 40-60 pulls...

MBF suggestions?  I think 5 or 10 bucks a head and biggest salmon takes all sounds good, but we can mix it up.  Oh, I guess we should have a "no salmon caught" consideration - biggest incidental C&R of rockfish?  Best photo?  

Matt - if you don't bring your crabbing machine with the outriggers I'll be disappointed.  Believe me, you'll be fishing.   

Eric,  See if you can get some local intel on the crabbing.  I think we were too close last year but were do we go and how far?

Eric,

Oh, I'm so exited I can hardly contain myself 
Yes I'll definitely be bringing my whole setup: outriggers and four crab rings, and my sail too. And I will take you up on the anchovies.

PK, Very generous of you to bring extra gear.  I don't have anything except basic medium-heavy 6.6 travela rod, and Abu Garcia Ambassadeur CB Casting Reel, and a little ugli-stick, so if I can mooch (borrow) whatever salmon and rockfish rigs you recommend from you I'd be most appreciative.  I'd pay for anything I might loose of course.

What time are some folks planning to arrive on Friday?  Whoever is getting there first is when I want to be there and get set up (tent, kayak, icebox etc.)  I've never been to shelter cove so don't know where the camp is to be.

Everyone bringing their favorite beer for a taste test at the end of a hard days' fishing?  I'll also bring the makings for plenty of garlic bread and salad, maybe some white wine to go with crab if we catch any.  Are there mussels to be had at the Cove?  I'll also bring a Coleman stove and lamp, and cooking and eating utensils for four.

Hey Mooch, any chance of you going?

Looking forward!    -Matt

What time are some folks planning to arrive on Friday?  Whoever is getting there first is when I want to be there and get set up (tent, kayak, icebox etc.)  I've never been to shelter cove so don't know where the camp is to be.

Everyone bringing their favorite beer for a taste test at the end of a hard days' fishing?  I'll also bring the makings for plenty of garlic bread and salad, maybe some white wine to go with crab if we catch any.  Are there mussels to be had at the Cove?  I'll also bring a Coleman stove and lamp, and cooking and eating utensils for four.

 

Mussels - yes.  Beer - uh, yes!      Camp location - if you get to Shelter Cove it's very obvious.  It's behind the store and a stone's throw from the fish cleaning station that overlooks the Cove itself - at the south end of the landing strip, east side.  I think PK and Hawk, at least, are talking about steelhead fishing Friday on the South Fork of the Eel if conditions are good for that and before arriving at Shelter Cove of course.  I'll try to join in on that if it happens, so I think Friday afternoon/evening is the arrival time for most.  Sunday midday/afternoon being the likely departure time for most.  Driving expectations:  101 from Santa Rosa to Redway = 2.75 hours; Redway to the Cove - 35-45 minutes.  Etienne:  PK and I have been PM'ing a bit about the crabbing and I've committed to bringing my two square traps and two rings, but I warned that they all only have around 30-40' of rope, so we need some extension ropes so we can get into the 60' range.  I'm thinking, based much on how crappy the crab year has been, that less effort on the crab front will be wiser, but, that said, I am looking forward to dropping gear in close at least.  Even if we didn't take the time to tie on extensions we could drop my gear just past the moorings and certainly have a chance at a few legals.  Otherwise, I think the best crabbing is up off of Black Sands Beach, which is too far for us to work effectively...

I'm trying to show up prepared for many alternate activities just in case the Wx is wild - we'll have lots of fun stuff to do.