Plan B pays off

Started the morning at the ghost hole in Tilly Bay.  There was a small flurry of a bite that happened right around 8am and a fish was being caught every 20 minutes or so but for how many boats were working the area it just didn't seem worth it to grind it out there for the rest of the incoming tide.  I ended up pulling in an oyster by snagging a thick ribbon of kelp that was attached to it so that was pretty interesting. 



At about 9:30 I decided to pull the switcheroo.  Got back to my truck and threw the kayak in the back and made the run up to Wheeler.  There were a lot of boats working the bay when I got there and I saw one boat hooked up as I was getting on the water.  I heard someone mention they just saw one caught on a spinner but I threw my herring in the water and decided I'd roll it until I had a better idea on what was working. 

I get downriver from the launch about a hundred yards and notice another boat is hooked up.  After they net their fish the mention to another boat that it hit a green spinner.  With that I promptly yank up my herring, leave the flasher on and throw a green spinner on.  I drop it down to the bottom and continue on. 

A minute or two after I drop my spinner down a boat passes and they guy running the kicker asks if I had got anything yet. 
"Nope, just got here", I reply.

Not more than 20 seconds later my rod starts bouncing.  I rip it out of the rod holder and the fight is on!  I was pretty well surrounded by boats but they all seemed to be paying attention and proceed to give me space.  I get the fish almost completely over the net but as he bumps the net the spinner flies out of his mouth.  I thrust the net further underneath the fish and as he is trying to swim over the net his head is corralled by the bow of my kayak and he falls into the net.  After I had thrust the net further to get the fish in I dropped my rod so I could control the net with both hands.  Normally this wouldn't be an issue, but in ripping the rod out of the rod holder so hard the leash had popped off.  So at the instant I net the fish my unleashed rod is being pulled off the kayak by the weight and flasher in the water and I catch it falling out of the corner of my eye.  I reach out while still looking at the salmon to make sure it's in the net and grab my rod by the bottom most piece of the rod butt.

With my rod in one hand and my net harboring a salmon in the other, I look up at the boat off my starboard side that was watching the whole thing and shook my head.
"You don't get that lucky very much", I say. 
They chuckled as they congratulated me.
"We thought you were going to lose both of them", they said.

I trolled around to try and get my second fish until well after high slack to no avail.  Most boats I had talked to seemed to have bagged at least one or two fish but it wasn't really a hot day.  Coho were jumping all over but most everyone that I saw were only catching chinooks. 

Get out there and get 'em!!

Great job!!  Really beautiful fish.  Got to get to the coast.

   That's a great story with an even better ending. Way to get em' ---both.

It's the double duece! Good job on keeping your rod and fish. Great report!

Nice job, Jeff!

You have been killing it this year.  How many is that for you?

Sweet! Hey I'm going to be on Nehalem Bay in a week - think there will still be fish around? I'll be in a small PB, but might be worth it to give it a shot while the crab pots soak.

You have been killing it this year.  How many is that for you?

Only old ladies count.   

Sweet! Hey I'm going to be on Nehalem Bay in a week - think there will still be fish around? I'll be in a small PB, but might be worth it to give it a shot while the crab pots soak.

You'd be a fool not to bring your salmon gear, but as a wise fisherman once said, "That Nehalem is a spurty b***h".    There are and will be fish in places all over the coast for the next couple months.

nice report and a beauty fish Jeff!

Sweet! Hey I'm going to be on Nehalem Bay in a week - think there will still be fish around? I'll be in a small PB, but might be worth it to give it a shot while the crab pots soak.

You'd be a fool not to bring your salmon gear, but as a wise fisherman once said, "That Nehalem is a spurty b***h".    There are and will be fish in places all over the coast for the next couple months.

Yeah, well, see other thread: I like catching fish way too much to spend time salmon fishing!    My kiddos will be with me so they might enjoy something with a bit more action. Yeah, that's it, it's all them. It's not me at all.

Awesome Fish great story. My nephew lives right there in wheeler . If your down again let me know I am only minutes away.

B E A U T I F U L

fish Jeff!

Incredible brotha! Reading this had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Great job Jeff!

It's great to land a fish surrounded by people who know what they're doing and make way for you. Well done!
T2

I think you make up stories to go with the fish you catch.     Just kiddin.  Way to go, Nice Nook!