First Fall Chinook Keeper Ever | Trask River Report 11/03/2016

I was hoping to bag my first fall chinook by kayak, but I got antsy and headed out to the Trask River this morning on foot. Here's the summary I've posted elsewhere:

The Story

Step 1: Buy fresh eggs. Step 2: Read on internets that only n00bs use fresh eggs. Step 3: Curse. Then try to cure eggs less than 24hrs before go time. Step 4: Get to fishing hole and gracefully fall down side of slippery ass Oregon death slope in front of people. Step 5: Laugh it off, you have TWO ankles for a reason, and prepare to not catch anything per usual. Step 6: Get confused when bobber goes down and you can't retrieve it. Step 7: Battle giant demon fish for 15 minutes. Step 8: Obtain netting aid from dude who didn't see you almost die falling down the side of a rocky, muddy, death slope. Step 9: Victory. Step 10: Wait, now I have to haul this sonofab!tch up the death hill and through the woods, back to my car? Step 11: Almost pass out. Step 12: Drop fish on ground and snap picture.

35", 16.8 lbs. Not bad for my first keeper!

Trask Report

I hit up the well known hole at mile marker 5. During the weekend it's a complete zoo, so I tried an off-day. Saw about 6 people there when I dropped in; some came and went as the day progressed. In all I saw maybe 12 souls out there by the time I left. Saw one guy with a coho on a stringer. Caught something myself (about 30 minutes after I arrived). Fished it four more hours and didn't see any bites so called it. Water was a tad high, but it was otherwise very fish-able. Will try again Monday.

Great fish and story. Congrats.  I know that spot.  I've been wanting to get my kayak into the Trask  tidewater or out of one of the boat launches, but  haven't gotten to it yet.

I remember my first chinook from the bank many years ago. Wrong gear, wrong place, no net, alone deep in a canyon on the Trask, no first hand knowledge of how powerful these fish are, but I managed to get him to bank and pounce on him.  I was so nervous and excited at the same time, that while I was fighting the fish, I already was already picturing how I would take pictures and show the fish off to my brothers.

Congrats.

And that's how it's done.  Nice fish.  Congratulations and thanks for the afternoon chuckle!

-Mark-

Most everyone has been there, and those that say otherwise are laughed at lol.  Great story and fish!  Those are the best tasting, the ones that come with black and blue marks on the fisherman.

Nice job.....where the hell was my invite? JACKASS  just kidding I infact know of most likely the exact same slippery ass hill i found a few years back but when I went down it I f'cked up my bad hip even more didn't get to fish it  and had to get help getting back up the damn hill. I'm seriously considering a side mounted winch with wireless remote
Nice fish BTW and aren't ankles overrated?

Haha, wasn't sure I was going until midnight. Plus somebody told me you don't like salmon?!

A buddy and I are considering hitting it again on Monday if anyone wants to join us (even though tomorrow will likely be epic). Probably start at mile marker 5 then move to 2. Maybe try the lower Wilson as well?

We both have yaks but banking for dummies seems a bit easier. Fresh chinook fight way harder than I expected!

You guys going to carry me down the hill and back up?

Depending on who goes, we might focus elsewhere. But there's also a few ways to get down there--one takes longer but is much safer. Found that out after the fact.

Great story and awesome catch.
Congrats.