Van Duzen

[Trouter925]

In general, does the Van Duzen clear more quickly than the S Eel?

[Jeff F]

In general, does the Van Duzen clear more quickly than the S Eel?

Not even close. The Van Duzen takes way longer to clear than the SF Eel. Usually, when the main Eel is green, the VD will be green. They pretty much go hand in hand.

The SF will green up even when the main Eel is a week away from being fishable. Look for flows on the Leggett gauge from about 800cfs down. That usually equates to green water, unless there's a slide somewhere.

For the VD, I wait until I see flows on the Bridgeville gauge below 450cfs or so. Mid to hi 300's is ideal, imho.

It's gonna be a while for all the rivers up there to come into shape. Long term forecast looks promising though. Not much rain coming. But with the main Eel peaking at 97K, it won't fish for a couple weeks. Nor will the VD, Mad, Redwood Ck, etc.

Hope this helps.

~Jeff Fisher

[winxp_man]

Jeff, sometimes it takes even longer. Fished the VD when we first met, well that year. The eel was green quite a bit before the VD.

Oh and I will send you some info from this year Jeff

[JasonB]

Also seems like the south fork and the Van Duzen are taking longer to clear in recent years. Such a shame those rivers have so many major landslides.
JB

[winxp_man]

Also seems like the south fork and the Van Duzen are taking longer to clear in recent years. Such a shame those rivers have so many major landslides.
JB

All the years of timber abuse on the river edge will do that Jason. And yes, sucks to see it. Remember one year on the VD there was a escavator out there taking rocks out because of the rocks coming down block the river mouth for opening into the Eel. Crazy!

[Jeff F]

Jeff, sometimes it takes even longer. Fished the VD when we first met, well that year. The eel was green quite a bit before the VD.

Oh and I will send you some info from this year Jeff

Looking forward to it, bro. Eric and I will be up there as soon as we get a window.

[Trouter925]

thanks for the info....all this rain...I am chomping at the bit....

[Petundra]

The Smith will clear first and it might be prime time up there after the flows drop.