1/23/2023 - Eel River conditions

[Trouter925]

Just FYI if you're planning on going up North soon. Not sure how long things will take to clear, but some observations. I drove down 101 yesterday and pulled over a few times to look at the river.

Van Duzen is brown at 101. From the junction main stem Eel and S. Fork is brown. At the Miranda/ Phillipsville bridge is brown/green. Benbow / Piercy area is silty green, probably 2-3' visibility. I didn't see any boats on the water.

[Jeff F]

Thanks for that report. Always good to have first hand accounts from up there. I think all rivers except the Main Eel will be greenish this weekend.

[BumpBailey]

Just FYI if you're planning on going up North soon. Not sure how long things will take to clear, but some observations. I drove down 101 yesterday and pulled over a few times to look at the river.

Van Duzen is brown at 101. From the junction main stem Eel and S. Fork is brown. At the Miranda/ Phillipsville bridge is brown/green. Benbow / Piercy area is silty green, probably 2-3' visibility. I didn't see any boats on the water.

Perfect from Piercy to Benbow! Still pushy with vis maybe 2 feet in Miranda....

[Jeff F]

Perfect from Piercy to Benbow! Still pushy with vis maybe 2 feet in Miranda....

Thanks Bump. Was the East Fork dumping in mud at Benbow?

[BumpBailey]

Thanks Bump. Was the East Fork dumping in mud at Benbow?

Not at all. I was tempted to go down there and fish it! FYI- that was my back yard on Saturday night, I stayed in one of the cabins at the KoA.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

If you can catch a big fresh winter run Steelhead on a fly it could change your outlook completely.








I had an old friend, Jack McLoughlin, US Marine in World War II, Sacramento City Fire Fighter and top fly fisher of the Great Generation,

and member of the California Fly Fishers Unlimited "back in the day".


As a teenager, before World War II, he guided folks for Smallmouth Bass right in town on the lower American river before the dams.

He said all the Valley rivers had lots of Smallmouth before all the dams.


He taught me how to tie Shad and Steelhead flies. He taught me how to wipe a loop on the end of a shooting head.

He took me fly fishing for winter-run and half-pounders on the lower American river too.

He mostly fished Fall and Winter Steelhead and went to Idaho and Montana in the summer.


He told me that if I went to the North Coast in the winter and caught a fresh 10# hen Steelhead on a fly close to the ocean I would

quit fishing for the hatchery winter-run Steelhead on the lower American river.




When I worked in the sporting goods stores with lots of gun and gunsmiths we cut down a double barrel shot gun and put a sling on it

for Jack to take to the Amazon in the 1970s.......
.

[hwchubb]

A buddy is up there for the next 4-5 weeks, usually fishes the Mad but it’s still chocolate milk for some reason. They fished Redwood Creek and the Van Duzen the last 2 days. Both in good shape but very little action. They were fishing bobbers, and are usually pretty fishy, so surprised at their results or lack thereof.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

February 15th is the peak of the Winter Run..........on average.



___________________________________________

There was a camp host at a campground near the Mad river who was there for many decades.

A friend who used to go there said the host advised folks to be there on February 15th for the best average, yearly success.

He told my friend by that date the water was usually ruining consistently and fairly clear.

I heard this in the 1970s.............

[cutthroat22]

The Mad is still off color because it is spilling 200+ cfs of muddy water from Matthews dam. The other rivers are slow fishing especially considering the conditions and time of year. SF Eel looks great but not much pressure and even fewer fish. January used to be solid steelhead fishing on the north coast but the last several years have been tough. Hopefully Feb/March will be better.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

If you are fishing two-hand fly tackle for Steelhead and want to get a good chance of catching something and learn some good

techniques I would try to get out with top Spey guide Jason Hartwick.

http://www.steelheadonthespey.com/


If Jason is booked up he can probably recommend another good Spey guide.

[mogaru]

it seems very few fish are trickling in the rivers. Fished Garcia and Gualala river in perfect water conditions and got skunked. Not one local guy fishing. this says it all. Hoping for a better February.

[yubaman]

We just fished SF Eel and Mattole for 3 days. Water is absolutely perfect. We got a Squawfish and a smolt for 2 experienced indicator anglers over the 3 days. Feels like very few fish in the system right now. Never saw another bent rod on the river in those 3 days. Heard that a few were caught, but only a very few, on plugs.

[hwchubb]

That reflects everything I’m hearing. My buddy was on the Van Duzen for 6 days, and 3 very fishy guys ended up with 2 for the week. I got over on the Navarro for 2 hours Friday morning, most perfect looking steelhead green I’ve ever fished and never saw anything resembling a fish. Disappointing start to the coastal season.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Catching a Winter-run Steelhead on a fly is like trying to date a Super Model.

Many years ago there were no fly fishing guides for Winter Steelhead until the Indicators came on the scene.

In the 1960s hundreds of drift boat guides pulled plugs and bounced roe on the Eel river when it was incredible.

The big drought of the late 1970s killed the Steelhead runs on the North Coast.

It helps if you know locals on the Coast who are good anglers who can tell you when to come over.

When some of us went to the coast, many years ago, I enjoyed it when anyone on the river hooked a wild fresh run fish.


I am happy that I have heard the Eel river is slowly recovering.


The best thing that has happened in my lifetime is the removal of dams.




Remember, Fall Steelheading is far more productive for "most" in Nor Cal, OR and WA.

October is my personal pick for going. September, October and November are all good choices as well.




Again, most of my info here is to help the new to Steelheading, not you experts.

Also, my info is from the best fly fishers I know/knew, and the best guides and SH lodges.

[PV_Premier]

Not wasting my time or gas money this year based on what I’m hearing so far. If it doesn’t happen in the next couple weeks out there I don’t see it happening at all unfortunately.

[troutseeker]

Just noticed this thread now, otherwise I would have chimed in earlier. I visit family in Humboldt periodically and was hoping for a better winter steelhead season. I fished the S Fork Eel 4 days and Redwood Creek once around 2-3 weeks ago, swinging flies via spey rod. Through it all, I managed one legitimate "bump" on a guided float trip on the S Fork Eel and one potential half pounder on Redwood Creek. Only knew of one hookup, a half pounder on Redwood Creek by someone we met but it shook free quickly.

We were hoping to hit the Mad but as noted above, it hadn't cleared enough when I was there. What was really disconcerting was that we went up to the Mad River hatchery and saw only about 15 fish in the holding pool at the top of the fish ladder, and half those were half pounders. When the run is on, that pool is packed with adults. :(

I'll be up there again mid-March, which is on the late side but I have to be up there anyway, so I'll probably give it another go.

[BumpBailey]

I am/was planning on one more run north but, with all of the dismal reports I might just say F it. I know these fish are unicorns but man, if the gear and bait guys aren't getting any, it sure doesn't fill a swinger with much confidence!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Veteran North Coast Winter Steelhead fly fisherman, Walt Bennett, told me if the locals with fresh roe are not catching any, they are not there.



I heard, back then, that in the 1960s and '70s in the winter, there were about 200 drift boat guides pulling plugs in the Eel river, daily and most produced limits of large wild Steelhead for their 2 clients.

[yubaman]

Wow! I am guessing that number is maybe 50 now with about a third of those from outside the local area.

[Jeff F]

I'm heading up early tomorrow morning for a couple days. Probably fish the VD because the Eel is a little too big for my taste right now. And I know the VD pretty well. I figure if I concentrate on the spots I've caught fish before, I might luck into one. It's not like there are NO fish, just not in high numbers. I'll post a report upon my return next week.

~Jeff

[PV_Premier]

I'm heading up early tomorrow morning for a couple days. Probably fish the VD because the Eel is a little too big for my taste right now. And I know the VD pretty well. I figure if I concentrate on the spots I've caught fish before, I might luck into one. It's not like there are NO fish, just not in high numbers. I'll post a report upon my return next week.

~Jeff

Curious to know how it goes.

[TaylerW]

Northern Ca and Southern Oregon seem to have spotty numbers, up where I am we are doing alright. I only fish weekends these days and we are getting 4-6 fish every trip since early January. Not too bad in my opinion.....

[Jeff F]

I fished the Van Duzen on Friday. I actually lucked into very nice fish. The fish was a 30" chromer, probably pushing 12lbs or so. Stunning specimen. Got it on the swing using one of Carl Blackledge's comet type patterns he sells at a store here in Sonoma County. Thanks Carl! That fish was probably swimming in the ocean the day before. Just a gorgeous fish. It was the only grab I had all day.

The river was in prime shape. Lots of gravel got moved around during the deluges this winter. That place got annihilated! The main Eel was green, but still pretty big. The SF Eel was primo, but very crowded, as expected. I only ran into one drift boat all day on the VD.

There are fish to be had, but you just gotta get lucky.

~Jeff

[Carl Blackledge]

Jeff,

Glad to hear my fly worked for you. I have caught my biggest steelhead ever on a size 8 gold comet

I have about 4 boxes of steelhead flies I am going to post on here soon...I am asking $125.00

Carl Blackledge

[Jeff F]

Jeff,

Glad to hear my fly worked for you. I have caught my biggest steelhead ever on a size 8 gold comet

I have about 4 boxes of steelhead flies I am going to post on here soon...I am asking $125.00

Carl Blackledge

Ya Carl, it was the pattern with the silver body and orange hackle and tail. Unfortunately I lost the only two I had backcasting onto the cobble. But it got the job done prior to snapping them off on the rocks.

I love those flies because they sink fast and ride very nice on the swing when tied with a loop knot. After catching that fish, I'm very confident in fishing that fly!

~Jeff

[Jcolin]

Well done Jeff. Gotta love comets and bosses. Carl, are your flies sold at King’s? Or outdoor pro? Have made a few trips to the eel this season and been fishing the russian since it came into shape with nothing to hand. I was lucky to catch a downer about the same size as your fish on the gualala a month ago. It was my first tidal SH in CA, caught it above the raceway, and thought it ironic it was a spent buck heading back to the ocean. Other fishermen were saying that they were in and out real fast with the high water, hoping that has a bit to do with the low numbers on other rivers too, and fish came in and were back out by the time rivers dropped into shape

[Jeff F]

Well done Jeff. Gotta love comets and bosses. Carl, are your flies sold at King’s? Or outdoor pro? Have made a few trips to the eel this season and been fishing the russian since it came into shape with nothing to hand. I was lucky to catch a downer about the same size as your fish on the gualala a month ago. It was my first tidal SH in CA, caught it above the raceway, and thought it ironic it was a spent buck heading back to the ocean. Other fishermen were saying that they were in and out real fast with the high water, hoping that has a bit to do with the low numbers on other rivers too, and fish came in and were back out by the time rivers dropped into shape

I bought mine at Outdoor Pro Shop in Rhonert Park. Seems like Carl's flies are the only ones they really re-stock there anymore. They used to have a great selection of trout flies, but they haven't resupplied them in years. I wish we had a real fly fishing shop in Sonoma County.

[cutthroat22]

Ya Carl, it was the pattern with the silver body and orange hackle and tail. Unfortunately I lost the only two I had backcasting onto the cobble. But it got the job done prior to snapping them off on the rocks.

I love those flies because they sink fast and ride very nice on the swing when tied with a loop knot. After catching that fish, I'm very confident in fishing that fly!

~Jeff

I believe fishing with confidence is a critical factor. I'm glad you found a fly that gives you that confidence. Stick with it and catch more!