Eel river overnighter

Spent the weekend camping on and running the stretch of S.fork Eel from Big bend to Smith redwoods state park also known as the town of leggett. Spent a good 15 hours keeping a line wet but for nothing more than fingerlings. My luck might have been different had I put on further downriver in Myers flat and run to the forks where everyone with a willow branch and bent nail was slaying em. I opted for a challenging run with some whitewater and due to a now serious lack of rain got my wish.

The scenery was mind blowing and the river was low enough in most places to walk. The water was absolutely frigid and fed mainly by springs and creeks that flow from the sheer cliff faces. The holes were plenty deep aquamarine all the way to the bottom. I fished them with jigs and roe. dragged every hole and down every run with my slinky weight. Bobber fished while I took pics and messed around. Great hiking right next to the river and camping on the river bar was a highlight.

Went through 20 or more class I-II rapids and my x-factor performed like a champ. Even when I got spun around mid rapid and rode the chute backward she handled like a log. At higher flows there would be more routes to choose with more fish also. I was impressed with the amount of gear I could get in my boat. A tent, sleeping bag, thermarest, stove and fuel, food for three days, change of clothes, 2 rods and tackle, wheel cart for portaging and cured roe that I nervously slept with to guard against foraging bears.

I'm not sure how to post a photo then caption so here is a mess of them

Very nice. Fishing from a tent- love it!

Here's some more pics. Filtering H2O, finding lures, shooting rapids, old fish hatchery

Looks like a great trip.   I hope I get a chance to check it out some day.

However, I think I'm keeping this photo for the next time Swellrider notices that one of us fishermen does something slightly wrong in our kayak.  I figure an upside down spinning reel must be equivalent to holding a paddle wrong or maybe a safe but sloppy landing here or there.

You got me!!! that's what happens when your trying to take pictures of yourself with a quick self-timer.

very cool adventure  Nice pics!!!!

Cool pics.  Looks like a fun trip.

Cool photos - thanks for posting.   

dont you just l;ove that color of the Eel?

allen

Very nice! were you solo the whole time?

alex 

I was solo the whole time. It would have been great to have a fishing buddy but after the second mile of rapids their nerves might have been shot. It was actualy quite easy but if your not used to fast moving water it could suck, fish or no fish. I was impressed how my x-factor performed. Several times I could hear the rapids ahead of me and had to scout them from my boat but most times I would pull over in a big pool above the rapid and scout a clean run or portage (drag) my boat around the rapid. I was thankful I wasn't in a hobie after all the dragging over rocks

Sweet pics. I am definately Jonzin.

Jason

Awesome pics!

Swellrider That is just a fantastic adventure. Let me know next time you plan on a river trip and I'll see if i could join you! That is just awesome!!!




alex

Fresh bear tracks always makes for "killer" dreams.