Does anyone have advice on when to fish Middle fork Eel? I was thinking late April into May might be a good time if runoff isn't to high.
Does anyone have advice on when to fish Middle fork Eel? I was thinking late April into May might be a good time if runoff isn't to high.
Memorial Day used to be a great time, but I don't think you are allowed to fish the Middle Fork anymore.
I believe that the 'Middle Fork of the Eel River' has the largest average size "Summer Steelhead" we have in California. Maybe 6 to 12 pounds and larger?
Around 25 years ago there was a good articel by someone who was probably a fisheries biologist in Frank Amato's 'Salmon-Trout-Steelhead' magazine on all the rivers in California that had Steelhead in them all summer. This is usually way up river in deep shady pools where the water is cool. I have read and heard about the Summer Steelhead for many years.
Most have serious protection now.
You might get a shot at them in the spring as they are making their run up river if water conditions are right. When it rains in the fall they get active too.
I have heard about this fishery for many years. Many customers have told me stories about them in several rivers.
CA DF&G use to take snorkeling surveys on the Middle Fork of the Eel River. A friend of our, Ricardo?, worked on that project and reported it to us some years ago.
I think it has averaged population is about 1,500 fish that over-summer in the Middle Fork.
Oregon Salmon's (Galen Geller's) father use to belong to a small group who had a small piece of property on the middle fork ~60 years ago so they could fish those Steelhead. Mr Geller told use stories of catching those fish on bait-casting reels before anyone here was born.
Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)
567 Barber Street
Sebastian, Florida 32958
Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
Certified FFF Casting Instructor
Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
Cell: 530/753-5267
Web: www.billkiene.com
Contact me for any reason........
______________________________________
I spent 5/7 weekends in a row there last year. Got none. The one I finally saw I couldnt bring myself to harass.
1500 fish? Maybe 250....
The returns have not been at 1500 since 1987. From 2003-2005 the returns were 626-731 fish. Flows (snow pack) dictate the fishery. These fish fly upstream. Have seen them to 15 lbs, but typically 8-9 lbs. Big enough Where they over summer is off limits to fishing, but is awesome to see with a mask and snorkel.
Thanks guys for the great info..........my info is very old from hearing about it over the counter for decades.
Hopefully these fish will be left along and be there forever.
Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)
567 Barber Street
Sebastian, Florida 32958
Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
Certified FFF Casting Instructor
Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
Cell: 530/753-5267
Web: www.billkiene.com
Contact me for any reason........
______________________________________
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