Klickitat highs and lows

Sat and Sunday were supposed to be a no fish days because of work sat and we had plans to go look at a new barrel horse for my wife on sunday.Plans changed and had to work sunday. I hate seeding. Managed to get off of work at 930. With a thumbs from Stephanie I loaded up and headed for lyle.

When I got there around 1030, the wind was less than predicted but more than a slight breeze.so what the hell I'm here let's do this.as I was unloading I talked to 2 boats that were just pulling in to load up.after brief conversation it was clear the day was far from stellar. Both boats were fishless, not a bite all day.not what I wanted to hear.i said goodbye and hopped on the revo and got going.

After 2 passes I swapped my pro troll and SB for my trusty prawn spinner and fish flash.trolled another pass that resulted in a takedown that didn't stick and 5 min later a 16" smallmouth that got the fire drill out of the way. Trolled another  pass with nothing so I decided to head up the Klickitat.

I was just ending my first pass in the canyon when my rod started to load up in my hands! I let it chew,then the rod took a shape jab into the water and I set the hook.fish on! It made a long dash to the rock wall then turned on a dime and shot away.when it stopped I gained line back.about 10 feet from the net I get my first visual of the fish.it was the biggest coho I have ever seen.  I'm no expert on Chinook as I have not caught many, but this fish was as big if not bigger than my personal best Chinook that was 18lbs.at that same 10 feet from the net it decided to gator roll up to my flasher. Not good is all I keep saying inside,then it rolled back down my leader and shot off again.the next few seconds ended abruptly as I felt the hook pop loose. I will leave the colorful language out.it took me a minute or two to compose myself.what a fish!just wasn't ment to be.

I got back to trolling. About 30yds later it again was tap,tap, takedown,hookset,fish on, fish off. What the hell is up here today! I check my hooks,sharp.drag ,just right. Just not my day.

Back at it on the next pass my rod dives violently. Gives a few good runs then gator rolls.what the hell is with these fish today.as he was all tied up i managed to slide a nice 29" buck in the net. Finally!

Another few more hit and miss I hook up again.this time I manage a 27" buck that was pinned with both hooks to fill my coho limit. What a day! All the ups and downs like that make me love the obsession even more. Thanks for reading now the for the fish porn.

I'm trying  to add pics and can't bare with me.

Nice write-up!  That's just what I needed in the middle of my work day.

-Mark-

Pics

Nice!!

Thanks, great report and congrats on the Coho limit. My son and I fished the mouth of the Klick 4 days last week. Sadly the one day we were in the Tandem Island we lost the only three salmon that hit. We were getting punished by the wind and catching shaker sturgeon. On the bright side, we did limit with 6 chinook on Wednesday...from a buddy's PB.

If you're going out again for Coho and want some company let me know.

iHop

What a great report Austin and one hell of a Ho-down! 

Nice work man! Sorry I couldn't make it Sunday - doubly sorry now!

Man,I love a great play by play.What an exciting day. ...great job Austin. Looking forward to getting up there.

Thanks everyone. It was a hell of a day.i was thinking  of going sunday but the rain might blow everything out.

Thanks everyone. It was a hell of a day.i was thinking  of going sunday but the rain might blow everything out.

I had planned on getting out there as well, but the wind and rain are looking a lot worse than I had previously hoped it would be.

Looking to do a maiden voyage on the Klickitat over the next week or so, but looking for any guidance on where to launch the kayak near the mouth of the Columbia.  Can anyone provide some coaching on this?  Thanks in advance for your support.

Also, any fishing reports would be great.  I'm assuming the coho run is still happening, but can't find much information on it.

Cosmo

looking for any guidance on where to launch the kayak near the mouth of the Columbia.  Can anyone provide some coaching on this?

The Klick has a late run but remember the numbers were low this season.  It still wouldn't surprise me if you found one.  It might look like a firetruck but it could be large.

Short pedal... is to cross the bridge in Hood River to Hwy 14.  Head East to Lyle and take a right on 7th st.  Cross over the train tracks and take the first right.  Drive for 200m and the road will start curving left down to the Columbia.

Longer pedal... is to launch at Mayer Park West in Rowena.  Just a straight shot on 84.

Good luck.

Looking to do a maiden voyage on the Klickitat over the next week or so, but looking for any guidance on where to launch the kayak near the mouth of the Columbia.  Can anyone provide some coaching on this?  Thanks in advance for your support.

Also, any fishing reports would be great.  I'm assuming the coho run is still happening, but can't find much information on it.

Cosmo

There are still fish around, but the bite has slowed considerably. I was out there on all Sunday morning and got one of only two fish I saw caught for about a half-dozen boats. My thumb-in-the-wind says the bite won't last as long as in previous years. FYL, Lyle ramp is slightly sketch with a risk of vandalism but much closer to the spot, like Snopro mentioned.

I drove by on my way to Hood River from Richland on Wednesday morning.  There was one lonely boat fishing it.  On Monday when I was heading east, I didn't see any.