And then this happened...

Thursday night I was up past midnight prepping gear for a three-day fishing and camping trip on the Klickitat. I had to be up at 4:30 am to take my girlfriend to the airport, so the plan was to pack the car early in the morning then head to the river directly from the airport. That didn't happen. I went home to sleep another hour and then packed up in a hurry and was out by 9 am.

I got to my campsite overlooking the river by 11 am. The plan was to set up camp, then get the kayak in the water for the night bite. I started to unpack.

Something was missing. Something... important. Somewhere between not sleeping and packing in a hurry, I forgot my goddamn fishing poles! I remembered to pack every little thing that I didn't need and forgot the one thing that I did!

Not willing to make the four-hour round trip back home, I packed up the car and started out for the Big 5 Sporting Goods in The Dalles. Luckily, a couple hundred yards down the highway, there was a small tackle and gun shop in Lyle. I found a decent rod and reel combo for a little over a hundred  and was back to my game plan.

I floated eggs for the night bite with no luck.

I was on the water for the sunrise, and damn it was cold and windy. I hovered eggs. No luck.

I came in for lunch. Made a run back to the tackle shop to pick up some various colored Wigglers and was back on the water in the afternoon. Trolled until my legs were sore and the sun was setting. No luck.

I watched the sunset on the Columbia, and then, defeated, started back up the Klickitat to my campsite. I'd fished about 10 hours that day with not a bite to show for it.

Figured I'd troll pretty shallow on the way back since so many fish were jumping at dusk the night before. I stuck on a green Blue Fox spinner and crossed my fingers. And then this happened...

A 30" Chinook hen! My first salmon from a kayak. My first salmon ever. Reeling her in was a blast. Getting her in the net was comical (it was my first net-worthy fish from my kayak). But getting her in the boat was the hardest because all my energy was used on laughing and yelling, "F*$K yeah!"

At this point, I'd forgotten about my fishing poles. Shit, I might have even been grateful. It's funny how a lot of bad luck can make a little good luck that much better.

The next morning I hooked a Jack then called it a good weekend.

(I did get some nasty poison oak though)

*I know this Klickitat fish story is posted in Oregon. Oregon is where I live so that's where I post.

A few photos from the weekend...

YEESSSSS!! Great report & what a memory at one of my favorite fisheries in this area. I've seen fishing miracles happen there for the believers on some unorthodox methods as the mystery of that river never let's you down. Way to persist MichelH, that was a lot of scrambling that payed off big time. Congrats!!🍾👊🏼🎣🐟🍻🔥

Great job! It's slowed down over the last week. I'm going to wait for Coho numbers to pick up before I head out myself. I have my freezer full enough with fall chinook, but I'd like a little coho to top it off.

Fred "True" Trujillo

excellent.

Awesome story, great pic, congratulations!  There is no finer feeling in the world!
Quick q:  I have launched my blue hobie outback (good kayak pick) from that campground before, and I ended up carrying my kayak to and from the launch via the trail on the left side of the pic- long walk with a heavy kayak- did you just drag it down the slope, as your yellow arrow indicates?  How did that go?

Beautiful fish 

Killer story and congrats on your first kayak salmon! From the read, I gather that you have the right kind of work ethic to put you onto many, many more in the future. Good work out there. The Klickitat is such a fun fishery and wind the wind isn't howling, very lovely and productive. Glad you hit pay dirt and I'm jealous of your three day camping trip there.

Congrats!  Glad all the hard work payed off for you.  That camping trip sounds like a blast.

Awesome! Great job.

Awesome story, great pic, congratulations!  There is no finer feeling in the world!
Quick q:  I have launched my blue hobie outback (good kayak pick) from that campground before, and I ended up carrying my kayak to and from the launch via the trail on the left side of the pic- long walk with a heavy kayak- did you just drag it down the slope, as your yellow arrow indicates?  How did that go?

Beautiful fish 

Yeah, I dragged it down and dragged it back up that steep bank. Going up wasn't that easy, but did it solo. The aluminum boat guys just rope their boats to the back of their trucks to tow it out. Might just do that next time if I have a buddy with me.

Awesome story, great pic, congratulations!  There is no finer feeling in the world!
Quick q:  I have launched my blue hobie outback (good kayak pick) from that campground before, and I ended up carrying my kayak to and from the launch via the trail on the left side of the pic- long walk with a heavy kayak- did you just drag it down the slope, as your yellow arrow indicates?  How did that go?

Beautiful fish 

Yeah, I dragged it down and dragged it back up that steep bank. Going up wasn't that easy, but did it solo. The aluminum boat guys just rope their boats to the back of their trucks to tow it out. Might just do that next time if I have a buddy with me.

Invite Casey, he's a master at hauling boats up steep embankments
Way to go man, that sounds like a super fun trip!

That was a great report, I got my first Coho this year from my yak, but not kings yet congrats that is a great looking fish.

Thx for sharing your story, and the fish porn! Love the "first time" stories. I am still waiting for my first yak salmon this year... The season closes the end of Oct down hwre on Cali

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