South Fork of the Eel - 3/22

Started the day trying to get the family to buy into going with me to the South Fork for an adventure of just looking at the emerald water and maybe tossing a few lures.  No one wanted to go, so after hanging out, cleaning the patio, going for a bike ride, and seeing that little Collin was more into watching Spongebob today, I headed out solo and got down to the South Fork around 1PM.  I geared up to paddle upriver and decided I didn't even need the wetsuit or PFD on - shorts, booties, and rash-guard weather!  (PFD on-board and nearby).  I found the water to be getting too low and clear, but the slots were a beautiful green.  I passed a couple of pontoon boaters who later said they'd scored a nice 10-12 pound chromer upriver by Weott, and then got up to Women's Federation Grove hole where, simultaneously, I saw a guy and his kid walk down onto the bar, and a driftboat came right down into the hole as I got there from below.  I scooted right into the good spot and took a few casts, and they respectfully cruised by me, getting a little back-paddling of plugs in at the base of the hole, but basically it was spooked for everyone by the combination of events.  I headed upstream another quarter mile to the mouth of Bull Creek where I took a few casts and a quick dip - invigorating!     I drifted back down into the Women's Fed Grove hole and saw the guy and his kid skipping rocks.  It was no big deal because I wasn't feeling the mojo, but then, a few minutes later as I was drifting down into the hole, the guy called out to me:  "how's it going?  any hookups?"  "Naw - the water's getting a little low and clear, and it's hard as hell to catch steelhead..."  "Well there's one rolling right over there..."  he pointed to the far side and the bottom of the hole.  I had a plug out, working it down into the hole, and was just getting fouled by the current and starting to pull it in as I hooked up!  The fish immediately started working like a little torpedo, and I was impressed with how it could take line out against the drag that I thought was a little tight.  I reached up and turned on the video, then thought I'd lost it due to my video-greed!  I turned the video off in disgust, then realized it was still on!  I turned the video back on and proceeded to horse the fish in in just a few moments.  I elected to forgoe using the net so I wouldn't wipe this guy's slime off, and that proved to be a mistake.  I reached for the plug like it was a ling on a leadhead - the upper treble hook sunk into the tip of my middle finger and I'm surprised I didn't feel bone contact with that hook - it was buried!  The fish starts thrashing and it's all going right against my impaled middle finger tip.  I felt no pain!  The fish-adrenalin was ruling the moment.  I got him subdued and pulled the barbless but nasty-rusty hook out of my finger only to get it caught in the pinky of the other hand!     That one wasn't quite as deep, but both were way beyond a little puncture.  I got the fish between my wet legs and paddled over to shore where the guy and his daughter, who'd witnessed and cheered on the entire episode, helped me by taking the camera and getting some pics and videos while I untangled myself from my line and hooks and proceeded to revive the fish.  It had a big gash in one side of its tail - looked like either a really nasty otter swipe, or maybe a wound from the ocean.  Either way, it was impressive that this fish was still alive and looking bright and healthy with that partially-healed gash.  It revived well and took off, I thanked my new friends for the assistance - thanks, J-Bird and Jade!, and I headed back out to run the hole again!  There wasn't another bite in that hole at that time, so I said my goodbyes and headed downriver, back to my truck, and then back to Fortuna where I hit the ER for a tetanus shot!   

25" steelie, hooked and landed in the free-drifting yak.

The AOTY photo isn't the best, and I'll pull it if people don't like it, but it's officially my de-skunkage for 2008!

Wonderful day on the water - there will be a video, but it may be tomorrow - I'm burnt!   

Nice report. Ouch! That tail gash looks painful.

Your new friends take great pictures.

Your new friends take great pictures.

I coached hard!     "just keep taking pictures - you can't take too many..."

Eric, you are one hardy fisherman...going back out to the hole after having two fingers impaled!!! Beautiful scenery.

  Persistence pays off...good job Eric!!!

Finally! Now the pressure is off! Nice job and nice report.

CHEERS!

I've been secretly rooting for you, glad to see that you got the skunk off.  Lord knows you earned it.  Hear's to healed fingers and fish tails.    Job well done!!!

Michael

Ouch... who cares about photos of that fish.  I wanna see pics of that bloody finger.

Seriously... CONGRATS...Abking!

Like I said before, catching a steelie in the river off a yak is no easy task as I learned a few weeks back.  Those are well deserved AOTY points!

Thanks, Guys!   



Time for a password-activated helmet cam...   

Wow great fish, great video, nice work Eric

Cool.... video of your finger and the fish too.  However, I don't know if I really needed to see video of your midriff and you swimming topless.

Nice camera work and music!

Way to go Erik

Brads Lure to the rescue??

Cool.... video of your finger and the fish too.  However, I don't know if I really needed to see video of your midriff and you swimming topless.

Yeah - I'm in therapy for my freakishness!  ...but the therapy consists of making more videos!   

Brad's lure - you got it, Mick!  I wasn't trying to throw people off by showing the Little Cleo casts right before I got the fish...  I'll post up a pic of the successful plug.

 

Nice job, nice fish. CONGRATULATIONS.

Epic! Great footage and editing.  Congratulations!