Saturday Springer Late Report

After 3 fruitless attempts, I finally managed to connect with my 1st 2016 springer. 

A beautiful morning and good company turned into a 1st pass takedown.  Good pulls.....and then nothing.  I look up to my buddy, Geoff, and say "gotta wait for it..."  Then 2 more pulls and the rod burried.

1st hookup of the year was, as always, a shakedown run.  Too many things to think about and muscle memmory was reluctant.  This fish was a dancer too.  As I fumbled with the Gopro and tried to figure out my net, the fiesty steelhead did a half arc around me, mostly above the surface.  With everything finally in place I could swear that the fish looked back, smiled and made a mad dash for freedom.  And with that, the fight was done.

Over the course of 3 passes and a couple of "Might-Have-Been" bites we witnessed 4 fish landed.  Not a lot considering the traffic.

At the end of the 3rd loop I see a couple of tugs on my rod... or maybe drags?  In either event I claimed the hit outloud, though by this point Geoff was probably getting pretty skeptical.  I let the bait drag for a couple of more strokes with no follow-up.  Curious as to the condition of my bait I reach forward and start cranking up the line when I see color... "Dude!" I scream as I draw the rod straight over my head, "He's still on!" 

I swear the fish looked confused as it let my line pull it to the surface.  I know I was.  I'd never seen a springer play dead before. I was still trying to figure out if it was hooked or just following when the clipped Chinook finally came to life. 

Thruout the entire fight, this fish would make a short run and then hide under my kayak, forcing me to high stick over and over. Several minutes in, I was still tenuous about how well hooked this fish was. I didn't want to let it get leverage in the endgame like his predecessor did, so I walked my potential prize in a big figure 8, below the surface, until I could get it lined up for a gentle scoop.  Unlike the take, the landing was textbook.  Feel for the turn, slip the net behind him and then release pressure so he can swim to the bottom of the basket.  Done!

Hopefully this is just the start of a freezer full!

Nice

Looks like you still got it Mark.... Goes to show you know what you teach and if I ever get truly interested in salmon fishing I'll be front and center for your seminars. Spot on old chap!

Great report. ..love a good play by play. ...congrats, Mark.
Have a great dinner and hope that this was just the beginning!

Great job Spot. Nice fish.

way to get on the books.

Again Mark, nicely done, Art