Save the Date! Bonneville Bass Bonanza 3, June 4

So, I've been super stoked for this tourney since it was announced. Pre-fish day went great (found a nice little spot) and was catching some sizable fish on the regular. Tournament day came around and well (as usual) the wind was ripping and we couldn't get out of our cove (although Mike managed too). We fished in the cove for awhile and I managed one fish (more on that in a min). Around 9am, we decided to return to the launch and head down to Mayer and try our luck there. I had no luck (missed two fish and caught a 12"). So, about the previous fish, we're fishing the cove and I felt my spinnerbait take a little bump (pre-fish day, I missed a handful of fish due to setting the hook to early), so i talked myself out of setting the hook early on this one, another bump and then the line started slowly moving away from me. Thats when i launched a full on deep hook set.....line started peeling off and i thought for sure i had the winning fish on. The battle lasted a good 35-45 mins before I ever even saw the fish. Jason said the look of disappointment on my face was priceless......I reach back for my hawg trough as i can feel the fish coming up, then i see it and slowly place it behind me. It was at this point that i realize how and the crap am i going to get a salmon off (or into the boat). I've got no net and a small per of fish grips. Jason came over to try to help wrangle this thing in, as i was just as tired as the salmon at this point. She had made 5-6 runs during this time and I was fighting it on 10lbs test mono on a St. Croix Rage rod, Lew's speed spool reel (the brake setting was up as high as it would go, and i had to thumb it to slow the fish down on its runs). Needless to say, we decided the best course of action was from me to get it up and Jason was going to grab the spinnerbait and try to land it or get my lure back. He reached for the lure and it made a quick run, he ended up w/ the line in his and and the fish broke off and swam away. Long story short, it was exciting and fun, just wish it would've been the monster bass i thought i set the hook in. Until next year, see you guys then.

So, I've been super stoked for this tourney since it was announced. Pre-fish day went great (found a nice little spot) and was catching some sizable fish on the regular. Tournament day came around and well (as usual) the wind was ripping and we couldn't get out of our cove (although Mike managed too). We fished in the cove for awhile and I managed one fish (more on that in a min). Around 9am, we decided to return to the launch and head down to Mayer and try our luck there. I had no luck (missed two fish and caught a 12"). So, about the previous fish, we're fishing the cove and I felt my spinnerbait take a little bump (pre-fish day, I missed a handful of fish due to setting the hook to early), so i talked myself out of setting the hook early on this one, another bump and then the line started slowly moving away from me. Thats when i launched a full on deep hook set.....line started peeling off and i thought for sure i had the winning fish on. The battle lasted a good 35-45 mins before I ever even saw the fish. Jason said the look of disappointment on my face was priceless......I reach back for my hawg trough as i can feel the fish coming up, then i see it and slowly place it behind me. It was at this point that i realize how and the crap am i going to get a salmon off (or into the boat). I've got no net and a small per of fish grips. Jason came over to try to help wrangle this thing in, as i was just as tired as the salmon at this point. She had made 5-6 runs during this time and I was fighting it on 10lbs test mono on a St. Croix Rage rod, Lew's speed spool reel (the brake setting was up as high as it would go, and i had to thumb it to slow the fish down on its runs). Needless to say, we decided the best course of action was from me to get it up and Jason was going to grab the spinnerbait and try to land it or get my lure back. He reached for the lure and it made a quick run, he ended up w/ the line in his and and the fish broke off and swam away. Long story short, it was exciting and fun, just wish it would've been the monster bass i thought i set the hook in. Until next year, see you guys then.

YES!! I was waiting for this post after hearing your story! Did the GoPro get any footage? I can imagine it would be pretty funny with you guys struggling to figure out how to get it into one of the boats.

Fun story, thanks for sharing.

YES!! I was waiting for this post after hearing your story! Did the GoPro get any footage? I can imagine it would be pretty funny with you guys struggling to figure out how to get it into one of the boats.

Matt, I'm not sure how much footage came off the GoPro. Jason sent me the pic last night and said he didn't get much of it. I always forget to turn mine on and so there is no footage from my camera. When he sent me the pic he just said he didn't have much off it (I was really hoping that I could relive the disappointment/excitement of my look when i saw the fish).

Fun story, thanks for sharing.

Lauren, it's for sure a good story. I'll always remember my first kayak salmon. Just so everyone knows, i came home and throughout all my salmon gear.......from now on I'm taking my bass rod and boyd duckett spinnerbait (yeah right, i think that may be a once in a lifetime catch there).

YES!! I was waiting for this post after hearing your story! Did the GoPro get any footage? I can imagine it would be pretty funny with you guys struggling to figure out how to get it into one of the boats.

Matt, I'm not sure how much footage came off the GoPro. Jason sent me the pic last night and said he didn't get much of it. I always forget to turn mine on and so there is no footage from my camera. When he sent me the pic he just said he didn't have much off it (I was really hoping that I could relive the disappointment/excitement of my look when i saw the fish).

Bummer!! Glad you have at least the picture though!

So, I've been super stoked for this tourney since it was announced. Pre-fish day went great (found a nice little spot) and was catching some sizable fish on the regular. Tournament day came around and well (as usual) the wind was ripping and we couldn't get out of our cove (although Mike managed too). We fished in the cove for awhile and I managed one fish (more on that in a min). Around 9am, we decided to return to the launch and head down to Mayer and try our luck there. I had no luck (missed two fish and caught a 12"). So, about the previous fish, we're fishing the cove and I felt my spinnerbait take a little bump (pre-fish day, I missed a handful of fish due to setting the hook to early), so i talked myself out of setting the hook early on this one, another bump and then the line started slowly moving away from me. Thats when i launched a full on deep hook set.....line started peeling off and i thought for sure i had the winning fish on. The battle lasted a good 35-45 mins before I ever even saw the fish. Jason said the look of disappointment on my face was priceless......I reach back for my hawg trough as i can feel the fish coming up, then i see it and slowly place it behind me. It was at this point that i realize how and the crap am i going to get a salmon off (or into the boat). I've got no net and a small per of fish grips. Jason came over to try to help wrangle this thing in, as i was just as tired as the salmon at this point. She had made 5-6 runs during this time and I was fighting it on 10lbs test mono on a St. Croix Rage rod, Lew's speed spool reel (the brake setting was up as high as it would go, and i had to thumb it to slow the fish down on its runs). Needless to say, we decided the best course of action was from me to get it up and Jason was going to grab the spinnerbait and try to land it or get my lure back. He reached for the lure and it made a quick run, he ended up w/ the line in his and and the fish broke off and swam away. Long story short, it was exciting and fun, just wish it would've been the monster bass i thought i set the hook in. Until next year, see you guys then.

YES!!!!!!! Great story.not many if any can claim that.pritty fricking cool.

Yeah! That's cool....great there's a picture for the story. Looks pretty big,too.