SF Eel - 2/4/18

Yesterday I had the honor and pleasure of guiding a great young man on his first kayak steelhead mission. The day was so strong - river was near perfect, weather was outstanding, crowds weren't a factor, and we managed to top off a bonanza of nature and physical challenge with a damn nice fish.

Please enjoy the story in the photos.

- 4 bald eagle sightings today!  2 juvenile (probably the same bird) and 2 adult (probably the same bird)

- Meet Theron Dale - 17 years old and ready to take on the world. Conscientious, studious, involved in various activities including a strong commitment to FFA.  Here he's helping to rid the Eel of the dreaded pikeminnow - it was a fish landed but not what we came for.

- We had lots of nice water all to ourselves today.

- If at some point you don't feel a little like you're floating on a cloud of pure bliss just for the nature experience, I'm not doing my job.

- Theron got the kayak down pat in short order - I need that to happen and expect it of anyone who takes on a trip like this. What was really cool is that he brought fishing skills too and got the steelhead techniques down fast as well - dealing with a snag while drifting in current being one of the biggest hurdles for sure.

- Look who got snagged in the belly while pecking at my bait...   Please be clear on this: the treatment of the animals we encounter is of paramount importance to me.  The treatment for these invasive species is death.

- Juvenile baldy gave us two great fly overs.

- I have a few different little side hikes that are options on my trips. They're not for everybody, and we don't always have the time to do it. Today I knew early on that Theron was the type of guy who would appreciate 15 minutes of awe-inspiring beauty as a leg stretcher right before lunch.

- This plunge pool is world class all by itself.

- We did lunch in the sunshine, taking our time, sharing some stories and really getting to know each other a bit.  Right as we start our first drift back on the yaks Theron hooks up on what would be the cherry on top of our day.

- Theron did a hell of a job fighting this fish as he drifted down into a rock wall while I scrambled around him trying to guide his yak toward the bank. At one point he saw the fish and knew it was a nice one, and I was on a mission to stay next to him with the net ready. He pulls the fish up, I dip the fine mesh net, feel the usual sludgy movement of that damn thing (LOVE my net for how it treats fish, but scooping with it can be like stirring cold honey), and just as I'm thinking his fish is going to dart away from the mouth of my net, it swims right in!  Can I get a Hallelujah?!!!

- We finished the afternoon with smiles on.

Hell yeah.

What Rock Hopper said. Hell Yeah!

Nice!

AWESOME!!!!

Congrats Theron and Eric on a great adventure and experience!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Awesome! What an amazing experience!

Only good times...what a way to start or continue a youthful fishing beginning.

Yes!!!! Dude I love it!!!!

awesome pictures, and fish. Does look a great way to spend the day. Congrats

Such a pretty fish. Eric, man you got a cool thing going. I have had a few opportunities in my years to help people get on their first Steelhead and I always get a kick out of it.
I really dig your posts on the Eel and can understand your love for teaching folks to catch and enjoy these amazing gifts from mother nature.
Keep it up! One of these days I will bring my yak up there and join you

Yup.
Always a nice read on how it's done!

Simply "AWESOME"

Thanks for the great write up and pictures Eric. 

Really awesome experience I was right there with you may have to take you up on one of these trips myself