Ebay Success!!

A modern version of Old Man and The Sea.

I went out kayak trolling Elliot Bay trying to get my kayak fishing gear dialed in (only my second time with a downrigger on my kayak). The downrigger ball definitely causes it to want to turn, any suggestions?

About 45 minutes into it, at 60 feet depth, I got a hit on a 4" army truck coyote spoon 41" inches behind an 8" green flasher. That hit turned into a battle!

The beast came close to the boat within ten minutes, but then ran and ran again and again. Meanwhile I was trying to get my net situated, my downrigger pulled up, and my Ipod with a boring NPR story playing turned off...

I knew that this was the biggest salmon I had ever hooked and that it was hooked barely in the mouth, and I thought I would lose it. I was worried about my knots, my cheap rod, my netting technique,  and I knew that my best chance was to tire him out.

45 minutes later he was in my kayak safely under my legs. I had been towed and drifted around, luckily not under the docks, for quite a ways.  No one saw this, as no one else was out in the bay fishing! I waved to a another boat on the paddle in, but they didn't get why.

Pretty neat to be able to do this a few miles from my house in a big city. I hope salmon preservation efforts work!

- Matt

PS. I stopped at Outdoor Emporium on the way home and bought a scale: 26.5 lbs, 39".

Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/kuharicm/KayakingKing/

PPS. I want to try Richmond Beach, sounds like the pinks are sticking around there!

NICE!!!!


Now that's what I'm talking about!  Well done.  Good on ya man.  How'd she taste?

Great fish.

Nice work MattK! Nice fish ... and welcome to NWKA!

I went out kayak trolling Elliot Bay trying to get my kayak fishing gear dialed in (only my second time with a downrigger on my kayak). The downrigger ball definitely causes it to want to turn, any suggestions?

Nothing you can really do about that Matt.. just a problem with drag and a light craft. I use a Deep Six and it also puts up quite a bit of drag but I put my rudder a bit in the opposite direction to try and compensate for it. Still a pain in the ass bt that's trolling in a yak for ya.

Let me know when you're headed to RB and we can hook up.

Z

Congrats on the fish!!

The best you can do with the drag of the ball, is keep it as close to your center line as possible.

Absolutely INSPIRATIONAL fish story   

Congratulations, Matt!

Last salmon I hooked into on a kayak was over 12 years ago on the Willamette (Multnomah channel) paddling an Eddyline Wind Dancer with the rod holder jerry-rigged with bungies, duck tape and bedding compound.  It took me over an hour to land the 24 pound Chinook, and I had quite an audience by then.

Been researching to buy a sit on top, and your Success story has me STOKED!

I'm new here, but what's eBay got to do with it (ie:  post title - Ebay Success)?

Deb

 

Ebay is Elliott Bay, which is a terminal fishery in downtown Seattle. For years now, it has been the only place in Puget Sound to catch (and keep) mature kings.

Yeah, I gotta get down there for a nice big Chinook. I went to the locks yesterday and there were a LOT more Chinook in the ladder.

Welcome to NWKA Sheyakker! If you need any help with getting a SOT yak or rigging feel free to ask us all.

Z