Fishing the North Coast

from North Coast Journal 12-31-2020 Edition

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FISHING THE NORTH COAST Steelhead Anglers Dealing with Tough Conditions

By Kenny Priest

fishing@northcoastjournal.com

From high water to low water, North Coast rivers are all feeling the e ects of the yo-yo syndrome. We’ve had some good storms roll through the area, bringing with them some decent river rises. Unfortunately, dropping fl ows have been as abrupt as the rises. This recipe does not make for quality steelhead angling. Having storms closer together keeping water levels a little more consistent, along with some snow in the hills, would be ideal. But this is 2020 and Mother Nature is going down swinging. And it looks like more of the same on the horizon. Storms later this week will bring the river levels up but they’ll descend just as quickly, making for a narrow window of opportunity.

The weather ahead

“We have two batches of rain headed our way,” said Scott Carroll of Eureka’s National Weather Service. “The fi rst system is forecast to arrive Wednesday afternoon and stick around into Thursday. A more signifi cant storm is set to arrive Friday night and will linger through the weekend, with the majority of the rain falling on Sunday. The Smith basin could see an inch on Sunday and we’ll see slightly less here locally. Rainfall totals for both of these systems combined is roughly 3 inches in the Smith basin and up to 2 inches in Humboldt.”

Mad River Steelhead Derby to start Jan. 1

The Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association’s (NCGASA) second annual Mad River Steelhead Derby starts Jan. 1 and runs through March 31. Anglers must be signed up prior to Jan. 1 to be eligible to win cash and prizes. Only hatchery steelhead can be entered. The largest steelhead wins $500, second place $300 and third place $150. A youth division Dave McGrouther, of Menlo Park, holds a 15-pound steelhead he caught winner (16 and released Dec. 27 while fishing the Smith River with guide Mick Thomas and under) wins a $150 of Lunker Fish Trips. He was using roe near Jedediah Smith State Park. Photo courtesy of Lunker Fish Trips tackle gift card. In addition, anglers who submit a winning trickle in all winter.” video of their catch in action get a $100 gift card to Bucksport Sporting Goods. Main stem Eel Anglers can sign up online at www.ncgasa. The main stem was muddy as of org or in person at RMI Outdoors and Tuesday, but dropping quickly. Predicted Bucksport. Part of the proceeds ben- to be at 1,500 cfs on the Scotia gauge by efi t the Mad River Steelhead Stewards Thursday and should be fi shable. volunteer angler’s broodstock collection program that works in concert with South Fork Eel the California Department of Fish and The South Fork was dirty Monday, Wildlife. For more information, visit www. mostly due to the muddy water coming madriversteelheaderby.com. from the East Branch at Benbow. Flows on The Rivers: Tuesday were right around 500 cfs. By the time it clears in the next couple days, it could be tough to drift. Haven’t heard of Smith any steelhead being caught as of yet.

The Smith dropped back into shape Sunday. Boat pressure was very light, and Van Duzen only a couple adult steelhead were land- Flowing at just under 300 cfs on Tuesed. There continues to be no shortage of day and predicted to get below 200 cfs half-pounders. Should remain in fi shable before the next rise. Reports have been shape through the next two small storms. hard to come by so far but there should be some steelhead around once it clears.

Chetco/Elk/Sixes

The Chetco blew out over the Mad weekend, reaching 9,000 cubic feet per The Mad has been the place to be for second Saturday, but was down to 5,100 winter steelhead. The river isn’t plugged cfs Sunday night, reports Andy Martin of with fi sh but there are some being caught Wild Rivers Fishing. “It will be in prime each day. Muddy conditions haven’t shape this week before another big storm slowed the angling pressure. arrives to start the new year,” said Martin. Read the complete fi shing roundup at “Plunkers caught a few steelhead Sunday www.northcoastjournal.com. in the high water. Catch rates tend to ● accelerate in early January on the Chetco Kenny Priest (he/him) operates and often remain good through February.” Fishing the North Coast, a fi shing guide

According to Martin, the Elk and Sixes service out of Humboldt specializing are kicking out a few late salmon. He said, in salmon and steelhead. Find it on “Guides reported catching salmon and Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and steelhead on Sunday on the Elk, while the www.fi shingthenorthcoast.com. For Sixes was still blown out. Salmon season up-to-date fi shing reports and North ends Dec. 31 on the Sixes but continues Coast river information, email kenny@ into January on the Elk, where fi sh will fi shingthenorthcoast.com.