A Catching Day

Sure didn't look promising as I made my way to the river this morning.  Cloud cover was thicker than forecast and it felt like rain.  I was feeling lucky though 'cause I was on my way to the river rather than the cubicle.

There was a ton of boats on the river, including another kayak.  I didn't get a good look but thought it might be Wali.  (Was that you Wali?)

Missed the tide change bite.  Couldn't find my wet shoes.  Bait was brined 3 weeks ago and was starting to darken.  Who cares!  I'm fishing!

A quarter of the way thru my second pass and I'd only seen two fish hooked.  Not a good sign.  The fledgling bald eagles were putting on quite a show in the trees though so I turned my attention to them.  .2 MPH gave me lots of time to enjoy their juvenile antics. 

A buzzing sound brought me back.  Huh?  I looked at my rod and it was stretching down behind me.  No way!  I looked at my reel spinning fast.  FISH! Instantly my mind was filled with last year's netting disasters.  "Not this time"

A good hook placement gave me plenty of time to tire the bad boy, though I thought I'd lost him at one point when he slacked me.  I waited patiently for just the right moment and swam him strait into the net without incident.


With my limit reached, I went back to the car and traded my salmon gear for sturgeon gear.  Within seconds of dropping my 1st bait, I was hooked up with this cute little shaker.


On my second drop I hooked into a hot fish.  It burned my arms for nearly 20 minutes, coming fully out of the water 3 times.  I was sure he was a keeper till the tape was laid on him....  36.5" to the fork....

In the end, I used up all my herring (24).  Lost 2 in fights and caught a fish on each of the remaining 22.  Just.... one..... more..... and I coulda had a keeper.... 



-Spot-

Yer kickin' a$$ & takin' names! Looking forward to those springers gettin' down this way.

Awesome, I'm just sitting here waiting for them to swim upriver.

Nice Spot....I'm just waitin' for.....well, fall. But i'm not wishing it to get here very soon.

Nice Spot! You make it look easy. Were you around Portland?

Jealous!

Thanks guys!  I guess it was my lucky day.

Nonook, I was just west of PDX.  I'd be happy to show you.

Missed the tide change bite.  Couldn't find my wet shoes.  Bait was brined 3 weeks ago and was starting to darken.  Who cares!  I'm fishing!

-Spot-

So you brine up a bunch and freeze it? Have you ever colored your herring like swanny does?

So you brine up a bunch and freeze it? Have you ever colored your herring like swanny does?

I like to brine them up shortly before I fish with several drops of food coloring and some powdered milk.  These were just left vacuum packed in the fridge.

I'm afraid to freeze them as it seems to me that the swolen cells would rupture and turn the bait into mush.

There was a ton of boats on the river, including another kayak.  I didn't get a good look but thought it might be Wali.  (Was that you Wali?)

Yeah, that was me. A hour late and a bait short

YOU on the other hand, are the man! What Mr. Spot neglected to mention was that his was the only fish at the ramp today (that's what the fish checker told me when I left at bit before noon)
Actually, I did have some bait left and I seriously considered leaving it on your car to ripen
(jealousy is an ugly thing )

  I saw your flag waving in the distance, but I had to make tracks (I left the VHF in FL). I thought that was your green net.  Good job!  Wanna do it again in the morning?

Wow, Spot, what an awesome day!

I like the photos, especially this one:

  Wanna do it again in the morning?

I'd love to but I've got too many things to do tomorrow.

Dang, looks like that's as close as I'll ever get to actually fishing with you Wali...
One of these days.

and

Thanks Yakker!

One of those magical days eh Spot? Just beautiful! For a sec there I was thinking keeper springer and a keeper dino? BTW, I thought you weren't trying this year...

Z

I think he just wanted to show me how it's done after my 12 hour skunk. I was planning on going out this morning before work, but all night I was having dreams about people telling me I can't catch a salmon...My first grade teacher, my Mom, my ex girlfriends, Zee, Coos, etc....I woke up this morning ready to give up and decided to save what little energy I have left for this season for next week. It will be a long while before I fish from the yak again. At this point I'm just frustrated and fishing for all the wrong reasons and need to take a break.

If anyone has any tips, I'll take them. I've been fishing every day off for a month with nothing to show.

ENVY is a powerful thing! Way to inspire a guy who hasn't even gotten his yak wet yet!

I do love yak fishing, I'm just tired & a bit frustrated.