One that got away

Out at buoy 10 on Tuesday I hooked the biggest salmon I've ever seen.  Actually, I can't really confirm it, but it was about the size of the 37 pounder my dad landed in 1970.  The fish print is on their wall, so I see it often. 

This is the one photo that I had time to take.  I did get a really good look at the fish, but couldn't bring myself to take a hand off the rod for a better photo.  At first the photo looks unimpressive, but notice my line going into the water and you can't even see my flasher. I use 5' leaders, so assuming my flasher is at least a foot deep, that fish is six feet under water, minimum. Probably more like 7 or 8 ft under.

It completely spooled my reel twice.

Dayyyyynm!  That looks like a monster.  What the heck were you doing fiddling with the camera when you had that on the line?!?!?!

-Mark-

Epic. You'll be thinking about this fish for a while. Too bad it didn't end up on the grill, but you didn't leave completely empty handed. You got a huge adrenaline boost, a really nice fight, and a heckuva story.

Dayyyyynm!  That looks like a monster.  What the heck were you doing fiddling with the camera when you had that on the line?!?!?!

-Mark-

Exactly. Thanks for putting politely what I was thinking.

Dayyyyynm!  That looks like a monster.  What the heck were you doing fiddling with the camera when you had that on the line?!?!?!

-Mark-

I forgot to mention I already had a bonked chinook on board.  I was trolling for a coho at the time, so I knew I needed to release this one.  Still, I'll never forget this fish.

Dayyyyynm!  That looks like a monster.  What the heck were you doing fiddling with the camera when you had that on the line?!?!?!

-Mark-

I forgot to mention I already had a bonked chinook on board.  I was trolling for a coho at the time, so I knew I needed to release this one.  Still, I'll never forget this fish.

BAM!  That's the only acceptable excuse.   

Funny how the memories of the one that got away outlive the memories of those we land.  I suppose that's some solice.

-Mark-

I forgot to mention I already had a bonked chinook on board.  I was trolling for a coho at the time, so I knew I needed to release this one.  Still, I'll never forget this fish.

I'm sure it was a Tule then.

Looks huge.  It sounds like you got a better look at it than the photo.

It was a bright one.  I might try above the Tongue Point line on Sunday for another chance on a chinook. 

Funny how the memories of the one that got away outlive the memories of those we land.  I suppose that's some solice.

That is totally true.  I have really vivid memories of some big ones which got away.  I also have vivid memories of some photographs which I didn't take, or which I tried to take but which didn't come out.

Speaking of photographs, Kyle M's picture of the monster fish looks like a UFO (Unidentified Fishlike Object).

It was a bright one.  I might try above the Tongue Point line on Sunday for another chance on a chinook.

 That sounds like a good plan.
 I've put in at Skamakowa on the Washington side. Not sure about what available on the south side of the river.
 Where you thinking of getting wet down there