Springer Fever claims another victim. :)

Count me in. I've got the fever. My second Springer trip this year and I was able to hook into my first Springer from a kayak. Springers seem to be a holy grail for some kayak anglers (it definitely is for me). It was one of my goals to bag one from my kayak this year.
Nate, Steve, and I fished the Willamette this morning. I started trolling a green dyed cut plug with a shortbus flasher for about an hour with no luck. Nate hooked into a nice native but other than that it was pretty slow. We marked quite a few fish with only a handful of powerboats around.
I reached the top of my troll and turned around to head back down for the downstream troll. But before I did I switched to a UV KoneZone flasher with a natural herring (just salt brined). 30 seconds after my bait found bottom; nibble... nibble... nibble....  zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
She came up like a rocket, spun my boat completely around and then cruised the surface at full tilt heading upstream. I thought for sure I was going to lose her when she dove on me and  suddenly came back up flying out of the water. I kept the pressure on the line and, after another mini-run (and tangling my net on everything possible) in the net she went.
She weighed in at 14 tasty pounds and a memory that will last quite a while.
Photos courtesy of Nate. Thanks Nate!

Great looking fish! It must have been that stupid...I mean Spot looking hat!

Nice fish!!!!

Arghhh...After a warmer march, April is frickin back to winter again here in Alaska.  But we will be hitting it hard over the next few weeks!  Hopefully we will be as lucky as you!!! 

So...where can I get a hat like that...does it really help?  lol.

Congrats!!!
How come you aren't using the shiny new Avet? (or is it just for your inshore rig?)

I'm so jealous. Hopefully I'll be able to join the club this year as well.

Noah & Kardinal, I've had that hat for a while but never wore it. I got it from Andy & Bax after being inspired by Spot. He rocks his like a Boss.
I know I said in an earlier thread I'm not superstitious, I guess I proved myself wrong. This is my new Springer hat

Skidplate - the Avet is my inshore and sturgeon reel (although I would have liked to try it out on this fish). For Springers and fall Kings I use the Calcutta TE.

Wow,nice fish Paul...great report. Sorry about the extra fin ndogg!

Awesome, congrats, RR, guess Battle Ground will never feel the same.


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Congrats!  Nice report. Even nicer fish!

Congrats on achieving one of your fishing goals for the season RR! Nice looking salmon!
Well, I've gotten enough example this weekend on how it's done.  I'm going to have to have my KoneZone inspected for defects...

CONGRATS!  I wish I could have got out there with you guys as planned. I would have loved to have seen that in person. 

It was pretty awesome to watch. I have never seen one skim the surface before. Sort of like watching one go up a shallow gravel bar.

I like the hat. Maybe you should pass it on to some deserving but unlucky fellow kayaker. I might even know one...



Wobbler

Congrats!!! awesome fish!!! I can't believe how hard they pull. You had a jumper too, that's  great!!! Whoo hoo!!

Way to go Bro!  When I was down a week or so ago I had booked a PB trip, nastiest day you could wont, and 1 hook up all day;)  All day I was thinking, "if I was in my yak at least I'd be warm".  Nice Fish!

You are lucky that fish stayed on.  I really thought it was going to come unbuttoned as soon as it jumped. 
Wobbler didn't mention it, but he hooked his first spring salmon too.  It was heading the wrong direction but it was slightly bigger then Craig's first spring salmon.

Thanks Ndogg, I forgot that monster take down (minor tug) and the awesome fight ("I think that there is something on my Line") to the dramatic conclusion ( "I don't remember putting two herring on my line"). How could I have forgotten!

Wobbler