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

Swellrider,

What time do people need to get there in the morning to make this run with you?

Lansdale Bar is upstream of Myers Flat a couple of miles / downstream of Miranda a mile or two...  Here's AAA directions from Mendocino:

http://csaa.kivera.com/csaa/drivingresults.jsp?line1=&line2=Mendocino&country=us&destline1=Lansdale+Bar&destline2=Miranda&destcountry=us&goptions=all&db=NT&print=false&dir=true

...and attached is a little map I found.  Hopefully the river will be in sweet shape...

Doug:  sounds like a mid-morning launch to me.  The nice thing is that there are several put-in's/take-out's along the drift Hawk is refferring to, so we can arrange to have people join in if they get north a bit later.  The cell reception is spotty around there (at best), so we may have to plan to correspond by VHF that day...  Once we're set on what locals (Hawk and I) will do that day we should be able to lay out an itinerary so people could locate us on the water from one of several spots along the Avenue of the Giants.

Hawk and I drifted Gould Bar to the hiker icon at Founder's Grove on this day:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,11436.0.html

and it took 2-3 hours, so Lansdale all the way to the forks would be a 4-6 hour trip.  I'm sure that we'll base it on river level, water color, weather, when folks are arriving...etc./a few other factors.  Roleez can provide excellent access at Williams Grove or Garden Club of America Grove.

Counting down:  3.14 weeks!   

You can't put hooks into water until first light so I like to be putting in around then. I think if we all met up at the big parking lot above the forks of the river around 6-7 am for the shuttle set-up that would give us plenty of time and we could do more floating than paddling. Abking is right about multiple put-in/ take-outs. I have them all downloaded into my GPS and will post waypoint cooridinates in the next following days. If getting to the cove to drop crab pots before evening is not terribly important for most I'd be game for a later start to the day. Let's play it by ear and see what folks are interested in doing.

Here is another map of the river. Can we start a head count for friday? I'll  reiterate that I have plenty of Floor, tent, and RV Space at my Home in Eureka for those who want to come up early otherwise there is the Burlington Campground located right in the middle of our run on the Eel

Obviously I'm only going to bring one yak.  Should I bring a Hobie Adventure or a Hobie Outback?  Trying to optimize for both the steelie run and salmon trolling. 

I have a gig Thursday night, but hell this sounds like too much fun to pass up.  I'm gonna do my best to head up Friday AM, and camp in my truck.

Too many of you I've been meaning to fish with, plus this will be a good time to learn how to catch salmon.

And Guitarzan...  a Tele man!  you can't be all bad!  I'll bring my yamaha and play riddem for ya.

Eric B

Obviously I'm only going to bring one yak.  Should I bring a Hobie Adventure or a Hobie Outback?  Trying to optimize for both the steelie run and salmon trolling. 

Boat size shouldn't matter but I'll add this is not a peddling river. You're going to have to paddle so leave the flippers at home or stow them away for the cove. I'm using my X-factor for both river and sea.

Can we start a head count for friday?

Yakuza and I are in for the steelhead drift on Friday. On Thursday, I work till 7PM, so I will have to get a couple of hours of sleep and hopefully leave the bay area by 3AM. This would put us up there around 730-830AM. We will be staying in a motel on Friday and Saturday nights in Shelter Cove. However, thanks for the offer!  I don't think I will need any tackle. I have a 10# steelhead rod and will pick up some plugs and spoons. I have a sturgeon anchor which hopefully will work on the river. Will probably bring an 8Wt fly rod also. BTW, thanks for organizing. It is going to be awesome. 

scott

It's been a while since I last posted and this will be my first saltwater kayak venture in a long time. I hope to join as well but that is deterministic on weather conditions. I'm planning to take that Friday off so at least I know that'll work out.

Good to see you around again, ark.

Thanks Eric. I've been pretty busy with my work (new job) and some personal stuff. But fishing is one of my true passions regardless if  I catch anything or not so it was inevitable that I'd be back.

Is anyone planning on fishing Shelter Cove on Friday? I would sure like to get some fresh Salmon. I thought Hawk posted he would be dropping Crab pots early, not sure when. I am game for some Friday fishing and possibly dropping some Crab pots at the Cove, sorry not really motivated by the river fishing option Friday am. Let me know.

Is that you Ken? I think half the folks are going to cove early and the other half are going to do a river run. Everyone will be salmon fishing Sat and Sun. My plan is to drop pots before nightfall for an overnight soak.
-Hawk

Does anybody know a good place to get crab traps? How much would they run as well?

Yes it is me Ken from Santa cruz. Thanks for the new boat it fished sandabs very well. I am planning to be at the cove on Friday am and would love to drop some pots with some company. I have four ready and rigged for 100'+-. Looking forward to some fishing time. Let me know if you are going to drop on Thursday night. I'll see if I can take time off of work to meet you there. Sc X Factor.