South Fork Eel - 3/27/21

After my recent marketing blitz, Jose hit me up for a river date.  What's been a really tough steelhead season was rapidly winding down, so we agreed on a late May warm weather river tour with no fishing involved.  Several days later I saw a weather forecast and a river flow that just don't coincide very often at this time of year.  I asked if he wanted to move our appointment up to this weekend, and my guy was all in.  It was still planned as a get-acquainted, nature tour, but I offered to bring a couple of casting rods so we could at least toss spoons along the edges for the day - that turned into a steelhead season redemption kind of move.

I've gotta thank Jose for engaging me for a trip.  I don't think I've ever seen a day on the Eel River with no wind until after 5PM.  The mid morning covid-free shuttle went great, and by about dinner time we were all smiles over the river miles.

If you want some Eel, let's make a deal!   

Posting one photo at a time...  (CLUNKER SITE!   )

 

Keep your eyes on the prize, NCKA.   

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I got to try that with ya sometime. Thanks for sharing the rad adventure.

Thanks for sharing the trip and great pictures Eric.

That looks awesome, beautiful up here.  One day...
Thanks for sharing!

Dang...I hate you.   
I spent a week on North Coast in Mid-Feb.  Thought my timing was going to be good.  Water was perfect after storm.  Swung flies for 5 days and not one grab.  I didn't even see a fish...  I've got a native titan - other than being a heavy toad, could I float SF Eel in winter with that kayak?

Looks like an amazing trip.

I've got a native titan - other than being a heavy toad, could I float SF Eel in winter with that kayak?

Not without a guide, bruh!   

I’m on a 14’4” yak, and that’s usually what I outfit my guests on.  There are some tricks of the trade for sure.  You can’t back away from hazards like a driftboat or a pontoon can, so I show people how to paddle through tough spots.  I also stay on the lower SF where there are only a few bad spots.  You can basically get out and drag it around the hazards if necessary.  Higher green water flows are generally safer than a skinny flow.  The key is knowing the route in different flows. 

Badass documentation!

Hey Eric, thanks for the wonderful story, and pictures as usual. I spent a lot of time on the Eel  River at friends ranch. It was located near Covelo. In all the times I was there I only saw a pair of salmon once. Tons of pike minnows, and the occasional eel. The water was always crystal clear with lots of gravel, and good flow. There were deep pools but very little shade. Seemed to be the perfect environment for salmon, and steelhead to spawn. Do you think the low numbers were because of the pike minnows, or lack of shade?

Some amazing pics in there, E!

Do you think the low numbers were because of the pike minnows, or lack of shade?

Mark - I think the main problems are directly related to lack of flow in the main stem.  The diversion factors in big, but there are tons of users on the watershed below the diversion too, and by the time you look at the flows down near tidewater at Fortuna - the largest community on the entire Eel River - there just isn't the volume and flow that a river draining 3684 square miles should have.  This has to do with second growth fir guzzling way more water than old, mixed forest, but it also has so much to do with diversions - both at the Pilsbury project and downriver through all of the development there.  Until we look at rivers like they have a need and a right to a minimum flow, we will see the resources and richness available from them be minimized, scrutinized and ultimately squandered, if things remain as they are now.

I'm working on increasing awareness about it and changing what I can in my lifetime.