Labor Day Salmon

This Labor Day weekend was one to remember.  I started out heading to the south sound with Craig where we met up with Ben Guss, Ravdakot, and WindandEmotion to try to catch some pinks.  On the way to the water I broke the tip off my salmon rod, so I was already off to a good start. The fish were few and far between but I managed to hook and subsequently loose 3 pinks, 2 after touching my net.  After heading back to Portland with my tail between my legs I switched out rods and loaded up the car for a few days of camping on the coast with my wife.  The first morning we were there I hit one of Tillamook county’s coastal bays, dropped a crab pot and started trolling for salmon.  I trolled a homemade spinner for a few hours with only a few sculpins and smolts to show for it.  On my way back to my crab pot, my rod doubles over and starts peeling line.  I tightened my drag and started thumbing the spool but can’t slow it down.  I am half convinced that I hooked a small seal.  I am soon at my backing and start giving chase.  I don’t have to chase for very long before the fish turns and starts running towards me.  I reel in as much slack as I can but can’t keep up.  I think I lost it, but my line tightens up again and off he goes for round number 2.  His second run is short and he quickly gives up.  I get him in the net without much struggle and use my fists of furry technique to subdue him.  Luckily for me Brad and his family, who were out crabbing, watched the battle and took this picture for me.

I then pull my empty crab trap and start heading in.  Shortly thereafter the marine patrol stops by for a visit.  This is all of 5 minutes after I dispatched the fish and have yet to fill in my tag.  I am not worried because I have never had someone actually check my tag on the water.  Usually the guys are too afraid to pull up along the kayak, all I have had to do is waive my tag and whatever else they want to see.  These guys felt brave and pulled up right alongside me, sending my crab pot to Davy Jones’ locker and nearly costing me a rod.  After searching for my crab pot and asking the obligatory questions about kayak fishing they get back to the task at hand and check my tag.  Well my fish in not tagged and they inform me that under normal circumstances that is a $109 fine, but because they already cost me a crab trap I am in luck.  I get back to the launch and the fish checker is waiting for me.  Her first words are “wow that’s big”, she said some other stuff after that but for some reason that did not stick.  I get the same response from my wife along with some other stuff that I don’t remember. 

The next night I cook up a small fillet on the campfire.  A little Paul Prudhomme’s Salmon Magic, some hot coals and a few smoldering cedar logs and viola a perfect campfire meal. 

Awesome nate! great fish, gotta love the 30 pounders! great report and nice meal...Love the grilled aspergrass

Glad to see you have your mojo back Nate!  That's a beauty!!!

-Spot-

That's an incredible fish!  Care to share any tips for us noobs on Nehalem Bay?

Wow, that thing is the size of a small seal. Congrats!

Great fish and story,Nate! Looks like picture of the month to me!

Sweet!!!! Great fish!!!


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That's an incredible fish!  Care to share any tips for us noobs on Nehalem Bay?

This was only my second time fishing there.  The guys at the mouth were doing well with cut plug herring behind a small flasher on the incoming tide.   The current really rips through there though making it tough to fish with a kayak.  I got this fish using my tried and true method of troll everywhere.   

Daaamn, what a hog!

Funny thing is Nate, at the HOW Dash Point event a few weeks ago we were talking about how we never get checked for licenses in kayaks 

Did you get your crab pot back?

Pretty lame that they cost you a crab pot... did they bump into you or what? I guess they kind of made it right by not ticketing you for the tag situation, but I'd still be pissed about my gear. It's kind of ridiculous to expect a kayaker to immediately fill in his tag, but I get the point of them trying to enforce it so people don't cheat.

Anyway, WOW! Nice fish! That thing is a beast! Length, weight?

Sorry you didn't get into any crabs; I've done well there (from a PB) every time I've gone. Hopefully the crabbing heats up (heading there in a few weeks).

Thanks for the report!

Damn Nate! You set the bar pretty high for AOTY!  It will be interesting to see if anyone tops you. Great fish and great report!

"This was only my second time fishing there.  The guys at the mouth were doing well with cut plug herring behind a small flasher on the incoming tide.   The current really rips through there though making it tough to fish with a kayak.  I got this fish using my tried and true method of troll everywhere."

Thanks, Nate!  I tried there a few weeks back left the ramp on the outgoing and was going to fish the jaws/ocean but did not like the look of the bar so trolled against the current back to the ramp and that was that.  15 minutes there and an hour back.

It seemed the boats in the channel were faced into the current almost backtrolling; definitely not doable in the yak.

I think I will try leaving from Wheeler or Nehalem docks next time and closer to the bottom of the tide and fish to the jetty and then ride/fish the incoming back.

Congrats again.

Awesome fish Nate!  +1 on pic of the month...that's a great picture.

That thing is HUUUGE!!  Nice work ndogg!!

NATE!!!  I'm so happy for you man.  Got the skunk off in a big way!   Congrats.
Kyle