Russian River 12/20/06

Left work at noon to take my Dad to the City, got stuck in traffic getting to his house, them stuck again leaving. He got pissed off and we decided to blow it off and of course got suck again getting back to his house. He lives in Windsor so instaed of hitting the freeway again his house is 5 mins from our place on the river where I keep my yak.

Decided to do a 1 mile drift to Memorial beach side drifting. Launched and as soon as I started drift I saw 5 shadows on the bottom reeled in cast upstream of them and bingo fish on, of course I didn't bring my net or anchor and fighting a fish that's screaming upstream is having your hands full after a 10 min battle I get him along side and he looks like a native buck 10 or 11lbs really short and fat I get my pliers out and get soaked unhooking him finally off he swims. Then I decided to forgo the drift since I know those fish are going to hold in the next hole up river so I paddle upstream and keep sidedrifting through the hole no luck after an hour I start towing a plug through the hole 5 strokes and bang rod goes bendo and line is screaming of the reel fish comes flying out of the water hot fish is all over the place, when he starts to tire I remember I have my orange gripper in my seat pocket fish on board Moms going to be happy steelies are her fav. It always amazes how strong these fish are the water is clear and I could see the fish really well so cool.

 I'm jazzed looking like a good year.

Awesome!

Way to go Mike! How much did the second one weigh?

John

30" 10lbs

 

NIIIIIIIIIICE!!

Z

Sweet fish.  I just saw a native 10 lb. steelie about 3 miles up one of our creeks we surveyed today.  I can't wait to get out there but I HAVE to go to SoCal for X-mas.    The river is finally in perfect shape and I'll be out of town.  I'll be back next Friday, if the river is in shape I'd like to hook up with you and do a drift.  It is supposed to rain tomorrow, maybe up to 1.5 inches, which should bring a lot more fish up.  IF it doesn't blow out, the weekend or as soon as it clears, which shouldn't take too long, it will be on.

Sounds good I am on vacation next week and am planning a drift with a few NCKAers  but if the River blows out I am going to cancel and take it when it's green.

Mickfish - Real nice kinda " after-thought" drift for steelies! I fished in waders through my first season before I landed #1. All my steelhead experience has been from shore, with a little in a guided drift boat. I noticed you lamented having no net or anchor along today - for those of us who haven't tried the yak on a down steam float in a fairly large river, trying to hook-up with an acrobatic speed deamon steelie - Could you give us some basic advice about how to go about it, what's needed and what to watch out for? I would think that control of the ship after a hook-up could be dicey!? Any light is always welcome. Thanks, Tom

Left work at noon to take my Dad to the City, got stuck in traffic getting to his house, them stuck again leaving. He got pissed off and we decided to blow it off and of course got suck again getting back to his house. He lives in Windsor so instaed of hitting the freeway again his house is 5 mins from our place on the river where I keep my yak.

Decided to do a 1 mile drift to Memorial beach side drifting. Launched and as soon as I started drift I saw 5 shadows on the bottom reeled in cast upstream of them and bingo fish on, of course I didn't bring my net or anchor and fighting a fish that's screaming upstream is having your hands full after a 10 min battle I get him along side and he looks like a native buck 10 or 11lbs really short and fat I get my pliers out and get soaked unhooking him finally off he swims. Then I decided to forgo the drift since I know those fish are going to hold in the next hole up river so I paddle upstream and keep sidedrifting through the hole no luck after an hour I start towing a plug through the hole 5 strokes and bang rod goes bendo and line is screaming of the reel fish comes flying out of the water hot fish is all over the place, when he starts to tire I remember I have my orange gripper in my seat pocket fish on board Moms going to be happy steelies are her fav. It always amazes how strong these fish are the water is clear and I could see the fish really well so cool.

 I'm jazzed looking like a good year.

Any recommendations on a rod and reel combo for steelhead fishing off a kayak?

  AWESOME Mike!!!

Any recommendations on a rod and reel combo for steelhead fishing off a kayak?

How much do you want to spend?

Hells Yeah Mike!

So nice to have that fishery right here!

Any recommendations on a rod and reel combo for steelhead fishing off a kayak?

How much do you want to spend?

Under 300, if possible.

Way to "Slay em" mickfish, I got a cheapo  steelhd rod the has never been bent.  
I need to get it bent with one of them "bucks"
SWEET Mike! You were talking about targeting them at MFF-Mendo.
 

Under 300, if possible.

If you are doing most of your fishing out of the yak I would get a shorter rod 7'6"-7'9" If shore fishing also I would get a 8'-8'6".
I would also spend more on the rod and buy an abu 4500 or 5500 little heavy but if you upgrade later you have a great all purpose or back-up reel.
I feel lighter is better you will be holding it all day long a lot of the time with your arms extended to keep line out of the water.
Sensitivity is very important, fast taper are what most people use but if I only had 1 rod I would opt for a moderate taper.

Some good rods are Loomis GL3 about $250+  Lamiglas Pro Certified or G1000 $200 or Shimano Rods in the $100+ range I have never fished a Shimano but I am going to buy a Compre for a yak rod so I don't have to fish my expensive rods on the longer drifts.

Reels Calcutta's Morrum's or Abu's any others just make sure they have a good drag.

PM me it you want my # to talk more.