The Eel....or the Mattole river?

[gcbuchwald]

Aloha--

I'm planning on going north next week to pursue some steelhead for the last week of the season but need some advice on the following:

SETUP: I plan on swinging flies with a two-handed spey rod.


1. i've never been to the mattole and am concerned if it's structure is "swingable". your thoughts?

2. I plan on using: leech patterns in pink, black/blue and purple;
large intruders in pink and black/blue;
and some smaller traditional spey flies in orange/pink and black/blue.
which of these patterns do you think will produce the most? any other recommendations?

(REFER TO THE ATTACHED PICTURE)13998


sorry for the lengthy post! thanks for your help

[Bwag]

Looking at the weather and river forecast, I think I'd keep driving for another 8-10 hours north, I like the choice of your flies but I can guarantee you one of those rivers will be chocolate milk and the other probably too.

[winxp_man]

Depending on what dates you are looking at.

Mattole is at 4290 Not fishable till 800 at the highest you will want to go swing it. More in the 5-600 range is awesome for wading.

The Main Eel is at 29,900 not fishable till at the most 4k usually good wading to lots of runs at 2.5-3k

The SF Eel at Miranda is at 6220 not fishable till at least 850..... The upper limits are fine when the reading at Leggett is below 1K more in the 500 for my likes.


How soon will these flow happen on the river well that is hard to guess if some more showers show up in some of the regions stated above.

[gcbuchwald]

thanks for the flow intel it's extremely helpful and actually is relief as NOAA is claiming both the south fork eel and the mattole will be in your reccomended ranges by wends--which is the first day i'll attempt to fish. there is no rain forecasted for next week up there so i'm crossing my fingers...

Aaron just to clarify, the mattole has some good swinging sections between the lower river and honeydew or does it taper down pretty quick into a narrow run?

thanks again!!

[winxp_man]

There are runs that are accessible for sure on the lower river. A bit of info. The road to the mattole is a real nasty one. No matter which way you take. Mattole road from the forks of the eel seems a bit worse.

[JasonB]

There are runs that are accessible for sure on the lower river. A bit of info. The road to the mattole is a real nasty one. No matter which way you take. Mattole road from the forks of the eel seems a bit worse.

No joke about that road, just when it seems safe to accelerate up to something slightly faster than a crawl you end up dropping into another giant pothole! Some sneaky ones too, we finally just accepted that it takes a long time to get anywhere there and it’s not worth trying to hurry. Good luck finding some green water and some chrome fish.
JB

[Terry Thomas]

As a reminder, most of the coastal steelhead rivers close on the last day of March. The main stem/Eel, Smith and Trinity remain open. Very doubtful that the ms/Eel will fish any time soon.

[gcbuchwald]

Hmmmm maybe I’ll have to try another river then ��
Any recommendations? Maybe the trinity?

[gitt]

The road to the mattole is a real nasty one. No matter which way you take. Mattole road from the forks of the eel seems a bit worse.

Took that tour with my wife a couple of years back via the Redwood State Park and then out on the Mattole Road. She got car sick and never thought we would make it back to the highway. When we did, her only comment was, "Those are three hours of my life that I will never get back. The road via Ettersburg has a great selection of abandoned vehicles or roadside pick a part. Think we counted at least 15 vehicles last month. Add the folks that make that daily drive into town, what I like to call the hermit commuter, and you are in for the thrill of your life. They know that road like the back of their hands. They just don't anticipate seeing you on the road as well.

[winxp_man]

Took that tour with my wife a couple of years back via the Redwood State Park and then out on the Mattole Road. She got car sick and never thought we would make it back to the highway. When we did, her only comment was, "Those are three hours of my life that I will never get back. The road via Ettersburg has a great selection of abandoned vehicles or roadside pick a part. Think we counted at least 15 vehicles last month. Add the folks that make that daily drive into town, what I like to call the hermit commuter, and you are in for the thrill of your life. They know that road like the back of their hands. They just don't anticipate seeing you on the road as well.


I got so used to that road its not even funny. The first time I was on it.... was at night. Sucked, and had to learn it quick hahaha!

[BumpBailey]

I got so used to that road its not even funny. The first time I was on it.... was at night. Sucked, and had to learn it quick hahaha!

I am sooooo glad you guys threw that little bit of info out there. I knew that road was there and I figured i'd take it eventually.... when the time came to fish the Mattole(never been)...... Thank you!!!!! Is it an easier drive from Garberville or is it 6 of 1, half dozen of the other?????

[John H]

All three ways to the Mattole are bad but imho the route from the south fork-main stem confluence is the least bad. It goes through some really awesome redwoods and has a good view of the honeydew area. The Ferndale route is long and rough but I saw a pig in the road on it one day. Apparently someone was letting their pig forage in the road. The Garberville route is long and windy and partially dirt. The road along the Mattole is riddled with potholes. Seems like it fell apart in the last few years. In spite of all that a lot of people haul boats and campers in there.