South Fork Eel River 1-13 (non-yak)

Couldn't pass up a chance to drift this beautiful river with friend Josh (Sean's grad student) and his freind Jon from Eureka.  I've done so many surveys on the Eel but never had the chance to drift it before.  We get to Benbow to launch the boat and Josh notices Jon's car in the lot.  Start backing the boat down and I turn to Josh and tell him if thats your buddy he's got a fish on right now.  We get out and grab the camera and help land the first fish of the day.  Jon poses for the pic and and away he went.  About a 8-9 lb. wild buck.  Wow, not even in the boat yet.  Well they run the shuttle and I waited.  It was so cold my boots froze on the ride up.  Only way to get them on was in the water. Muy frio!  Anyways we didn't touch a fish for quite awhile until Josh lands another same size 8-9 lb. wild buck.  Well we drifted quite a ways further and finally I got my chance.  I hook an absolute chrome female? at least 12 lbs. Took one jump, swam towards me and surfaces again, then nothing. It's gone. I reel in and my leader is gone, broke at the swivel, which can only mean one thing, faulty knot. Damn, to say the least.  That's not my style.  Two minutes later though Josh lands another chrome 7lb. buck that jumped four times and that was it for the day.  Water was almost too clear, but wow what a beautiful river.  Well I'm quite tired after the dark to dark drift.  First time posting pics, I tried to look up downsizing pics, but Mooch's link wouldn't go!

Nice fish!

The new forum software scales them for you automatically now. You can see the full size images but clicking on the scaled version.

Again, nice fish and way to brave the cold.

Beautiful fish guys!  I've never fished for them but hope to one day.

Way to go on getting some action, Joe!  Thanks for posting the report and pics.   

What did ya get 'em on????

Very nice fish boys!  Tote: Knowing most of the team I will say roe and puff balls, but I am sure Joe (bluefin17) will post up.

sounds like ROADTRIP time!!!!

Yeah roe and puff balls, we didn't pull plugs too much, flow was pretty low and clear.  Probably would have been better a couple days earlier.

Way to brave the cold with some action and pics! Thanks for sharing! Never tried it,yet. But I do need to!

Sweet looking fish!!

Jason